Patent ID: 8150877
Filing Date: 2012-04-03
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method for performing data storage system management of a data storage system, the method comprising: providing an active element manager component that interacts with a user using a user interface to perform data storage system management operations to provision storage for one of a plurality of different applications from a data storage device of the data storage system, said active element manager component interacting with said user having a first user identifier using said user interface at one of a plurality of levels when performing the data storage management operations to provision storage, each of said plurality of levels providing a different level of abstraction in connection with performing, said data storage management operations, each of said plurality of levels being in accordance with a different level of proficiency and knowledge for performing said data storage management operations to provision storage, said plurality of levels including a first level providing a customized interface that varies with the particular one of the plurality of applications for which the data storage management operations are performed, wherein when a user interacts at said first level when performing the data storage management operations to provision storage for the particular application, interface language and menu options to provision storage are customized for, and vary with, the particular application, wherein if a user interacts at said first level to provision storage for a first application, said interface language and said menu options are customized for the first application, and if a user interacts at said first level to provision storage for a second application different from the first application, said interface language and said menu options are customized for the second application thereby varying from said interface language and said menu options used to provision storage for the first application; receiving user relevant information at said active element manager component from an external environment which has connectivity to said active element manager component and is external with respect to a data storage system environment including said data storage system, said user relevant information including information about an entity for purchase or license using said external environment which is relevant to said first user identifier; and displaying, for an active element management session having said first user identifier, said user relevant information via said user interface, said user interface providing for display a first portion of said user relevant information about said entity for purchase or license and a first connection to said external environment, wherein, upon selection of said first portion, said active element manager component connects to a target location in said external environment that is associated with said entity and said active element manager component provides context information to said external environment, said context information including information about a current state of the data storage system.