Patent ID: 7877466

Claim:
A method for allocating storage resources in a storage area network, the method comprising: receiving a configuration request from a host for storage resources, the configuration request received at a network virtualization server in a fibre channel network having a plurality of loops each including a plurality of storage devices; analyzing network topology information including loop topology information associated with the fibre channel network and access times from the host to the plurality of storage devices; determining that a first storage device and a second storage device reside on different loops and have similar access times from the host, the first storage device residing in a first fabric loop including a plurality of first fabric loop storage devices, the first fabric loop configured to allow access to only one first fabric loop storage device at a given time; and configuring storage resources to include the first storage device and the second storage device upon determining that the first storage device and the second storage device reside on different loops and have similar access times from the host.