Patent ID: 8161083
Filing Date: 2012-04-17
Classification: G06F

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 performs data storage system management operations in connection with a data storage device of the data storage system, said data storage management operations including provisioning storage of the data storage system for an application in response to a received request; collecting, using said active element manager component, context information, said context information including information about a current state of the data storage system and including any error condition resulting from provisioning storage of the data storage system in response to the received request; receiving user relevant information by said active element manager component from an external environment which has connectivity to said data storage system and is external with respect to a data storage system environment including said data storage system, said user relevant information including information about a virtual user community included in said external environment which is relevant to a first user identifier; and displaying, for an active element management session having said first user identifier, said user relevant information via a user interface, said user interface providing for display a first portion of said user relevant information about said virtual user community 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 associated with said virtual user community in said external environment and provides said context information to said external environment, wherein said first portion of said user relevant information is determined in accordance with user community information of the first user identifier, the user community information including query terms of one or more prior queries made by the first user identifier within said virtual user community, electronic papers downloaded by said first user identifier, and a technical level of proficiency of said first user identifier within said virtual user community for said application having its data stored on the data storage system, said technical level of proficiency being determined using recorded activity information of said first user identifier, said recorded activity information indicating participation by said first user identifier in said virtual user community and including a proficiency ranking indicating a number of correct or favorable responses of the first user identifier posted in response to questions of other user identifiers of said virtual user community, said recorded activity information and said application being specified in user profile information for said first user identifier.