Patent ID: 8051113

Claim:
A machine implemented method for a storage environment having a cluster based storage system and a non-cluster based storage system, comprising: (a) collecting information regarding a plurality of components of both the cluster based storage system and the non-cluster based storage system; (b) generating a layout having a plurality of data structures for storing information regarding the plurality of components of both the cluster based storage system and the non-cluster based storage system; (c) receiving a client request for information regarding a component of the storage environment; (d) retrieving a data structure associated with the component of the storage environment; (e) presenting information regarding the component to the user; the method further comprising: using the layout for presenting an integrated view of the storage environment on a display device with selectable options for selecting the cluster based storage system components and the non-cluster based storage system components; receiving a request for selecting the cluster based storage system; displaying components and attributes of the cluster based storage system from the integrated view; and wherein the layout is generated by a management application that maintains relationships between a plurality of physical components and a plurality of logical components for the cluster based storage system and the non-cluster based storage system.