Patent ID: 7664839

Claim:
A method comprising: detecting a storage device, wherein the storage device is accessible via a storage area network, the storage device is relocated in the storage area network, and the storage device has an unknown classification; establishing access to the storage device by a node of the storage area network; retrieving identifying data from the storage device; determining a classification of the storage device using classification information, wherein the classification information comprises a type of the storage device, and information regarding contents of the storage device, and the classification information is retrieved from a persistent data store using the identifying data; if the classification information is absent from the persistent data store, causing a recognizer on the node to access the storage device; storing the type of the storage device and the information about the contents in a persistent storage area of the storage area network; determining compatibility of the storage device with a requester, wherein the determining comprises checking the type of storage device for compatibility with the requester, and the requester makes a request for the storage device; and if the type of the storage device is compatible with the requester, establishing access to the storage device by the requester.