Patent ID: 8918537

Claim:
A system for selecting a path through which to send data in a storage area network, the system comprising: a management server configured to: determine a topology of the storage area network, analyze a plurality of paths for sending data through the storage area network, and generate a path quality index based on the topology of the storage area network determined and the analyzing of the plurality of paths, the path quality index indicating a quality of individual paths within the plurality of paths; and a host configured to: receive the path quality index from the management server; wherein the management server is configured to analyze a plurality of paths comprises the management server being configured to analyze the plurality of paths by analyzing a plurality of factors, the factors comprising a resiliency of a path, a redundancy of a path, a number of connections in a path, a quality of a path, and a cost of using a path, wherein the management server is further configured to analyze the resiliency factor by determining the class of storage area network products within a path; and automatically select a path from the plurality of paths through which to send data based on the path quality index.