Patent ID: 7231662

Claim:
A data storage management system attached to a data processing network having at least one host device and at least one storage volume, comprising: a resource allocation table designating a plurality of storage tiers, each tier having at least one partition, the storage tiers including a lowest level storage tier, wherein at least one host device and at least one storage volume is associated with each partition; an application table associating at least one application with each partition of the lowest level storage tier; a user profile table identifying: a Storage Master and associated user profile information; a Super User for each tier and associated user profile information; at least one Operator for each partition and associated user profile information; the user profile information including: a log-on code; at least one IP address range which the user is authorized to access; and at least one authorized command selected from a list of available commands; a user interface for receiving a log-on code and a requested operation input by a user; and a verification system responsive to the received log-on code and requested operation, operable to: restrict the user to the at least one authorized IP address range; and restrict the user to authorized commands.