Patent ID: 7523187
Filing Date: 2009-04-21
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for providing management information associated with a storage area network, the method comprising steps of: displaying a physical network topology associated with the storage area network on a display screen, the physical network topology including identification of at least one switch resource that supports connectivity among host resources and storage resources in the storage area network; receiving a signal indicating a selected at least one managed resource associated with the storage area network; and displaying a virtual network topology associated with the selected at least one managed resource in relation to the physical network topology; displaying an expandable folder in a hierarchical tree, the hierarchical tree including resources present in the storage area network; displaying multiple selectable symbols in the expandable folder, each of the multiple selectable symbols in the folder representing corresponding zones in the storage area network; receiving selection of a given selectable symbol in the folder; in response to receiving the selection of the given selectable symbol, overlaying a selected zone, as represented by the given selectable symbol, on the physical, network topology; wherein overlaying the selected zone on the physical, network topology includes: highlighting which portions of the physical network topology represent the selected zone; utilizing distinctive markings in the hierarchical tree to indicate the selected zone in the folder; and wherein highlighting which portions of the physical network topology represent the selected zone, includes: utilizing distinctive markings in the physical network topology to indicate which portions of the physical network topology represent the selected zone from the folder; for each additional zone selected from the folder: utilizing distinctive markings in the physical network topology to indicate each additionally selected zone; utilizing distinctive markings in the physical network topology to indicate which portions of the physical network topology, represent each additionally selected zone in the folder; and the distinctive markings in the folder and the distinctive markings in the physical network topology enabling a viewer to identify which portions of the physical network topology correspond to different selected zones in the folder.