Abstract: Techniques for identifying and selecting equivalent sets of agents with defined capabilities to perform certain actions are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, determining agents to gather information for a storage area network fabric may be performed through the use of fabric discovery operations which identify agents capable of performing various actions within the fabric. From the determined capabilities of the agents, a dynamic capability grid may be populated to assist with the generation of a list of equivalent subsets to perform the various actions. The most efficient set of agents from each equivalent subset may then be selected to perform actions, with other sets of agents in the equivalent subset available as secondary choices in case of an unexpected failure. For example, a fabric probe may be executed in a storage area network using discovered agents from a list of equivalent subsets to most efficiently accomplish network operations such as zoning and topology.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides techniques for updating fabric alert definitions defined for a fibre channel or other fabric-based network within a storage management system. One embodiment provides techniques for detecting fabric merges, fabric segmentations, and principal switch changes of the fabric and modifying fabric alert definitions as a result of these changes. Thus, any alert definitions scoped by fabric will remain relevant even after fabric structural changes, and duplicate and/or redundant alerts may be reduced within the storage management system. In a further embodiment, detection of fabric changes is performed by first storing relationships between fabrics and switches, and comparing the current relationships between the fabrics and the switches against the stored relationships. Upon recognition of changes within the fabrics, the fabric alert definitions may be automatically analyzed and updated.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are provided for configuring a network feature for a network fabric. The apparatus includes an input module, a discovery module, a selection module and an assignment module. The input module receives a network feature configuration for a network fabric. The discovery module determines the network feature capabilities of each of a plurality of agents coupled to the network fabric. The selection module selects a preferred agent from the plurality of agents. The assignment module assigns the preferred agent to apply the network feature configuration to the network fabric through a management interface coupling the preferred agent to the network fabric.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for performing zone entity modifications to entities in a network wherein a set of generic zone entity modification commands with an estimated lower processing cost is selected for each modification. Prior zone entity modifications in the network and the associated quantity of entities and processing time associated therewith are stored in a data structure. In response to a zone entity modification request, data associated with the current request is evaluated in view of processing time for prior zone entity modifications. An estimate of processing time for the zone entity modification request is calculated for at least two sets of generic zone entity modification commands. The set of generic commands with an estimated lower processing cost is selected and applied to the current zone entity modification request.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for performing zone entity modifications to entities in a network wherein a set of generic zone entity modification commands with an estimated lower processing cost is selected for each modification. Prior zone entity modifications in the network and the associated quantity of entities and processing time associated therewith are stored in a data structure. In response to a zone entity modification request, data associated with the current request is evaluated in view of processing time for prior zone entity modifications. An estimate of processing time for the zone entity modification request is calculated for at least two sets of generic zone entity modification commands. The set of generic commands with an estimated lower processing cost is selected and applied to the current zone entity modification request.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are provided for configuring a network feature for a network fabric. The apparatus includes an input module, a discovery module, a selection module and an assignment module. The input module receives a network feature configuration for a network fabric. The discovery module determines the network feature capabilities of each of a plurality of agents coupled to the network fabric. The selection module selects a preferred agent from the plurality of agents. The assignment module assigns the preferred agent to apply the network feature configuration to the network fabric through a management interface coupling the preferred agent to the network fabric.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention is a method for processing network discovery data. An example of the method includes defining a plurality of network data aggregations. This example also includes assigning a current state value to at least one of the data aggregations. This example further includes, for at least one current state value, determining if the current state value is different than a corresponding prior state value. This example also includes merging data corresponding with at least one data aggregation determined to have a current state value that is different than a corresponding prior state value, with prior data corresponding with at least one data aggregation determined to have a current state value that is not different than a corresponding prior state value.