Patent ID: 7003527

Claim:
A method for managing elements in a storage area network, the method comprising the steps of: initializing a plurality of access wrappers, each access wrapper defining operations for management of a respective class of elements operating within the storage area network; providing, to a management client, connection data associated with a specific element associated with one of the plurality of access wrappers, the connection data identifying connection data parameters for performing management of the specific element in the storage area network; receiving at least one generic management command for the specific element, the at least one generic management command including at least a portion of the associated connection data for the specific element; translating the at least one generic management command into an operation of at least one vendor-specific command, including the at least a portion of the associated connection data, to manage the specific element in the storage area network; and wherein each access wrapper maintains a set of connection data groups, each connection data group identifying connection data parameters required to address and communicate with a respective vendor specific element associated with that access wrapper that operates in the storage area network; and wherein the step of providing, to a management client, connection data associated with a specific element associated with one of the plurality of access wrappers comprises the steps of: providing, to the management client, a respective connection data group for each element in a set of elements operating in the storage area network; and providing, to the management client, an interface handle to each element in the set of elements.