Patent ID: 8428986
Filing Date: 2013-04-23
Classification: G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus to analyze storage environment costs, the apparatus comprising: a processor; a memory in communication with the processor, the memory comprising: a first input module that receives as input first storage environment data corresponding to a first storage environment, the first storage environment data comprising one or more variables associated with a cost of implementing and operating the first storage environment; a second input module that receives as input target storage environment data corresponding to a target storage environment, the target storage environment data comprising one or more variables associated with a cost of implementing and operating the target storage environment, wherein the first storage environment and the target storage environment are multi-tier storage environments and wherein the first storage environment data and target storage environment data comprise one or more variables associated with a cost of implementing a multi-tier storage environment; a cost module that determines a cost associated with implementing and operating the first storage environment based on the received first storage environment data and that determines a cost associated with implementing and operating the target storage environment based on the received target storage environment data; and a comparison module that compares the determined cost of the first storage environment to the determined cost of the target storage environment; and a display module that displays results of the compared costs.