Patent ID: 7328325

Claim:
A computer accessible memory medium comprising program instructions for implementing a mapping tool, wherein the program instructions are executable to implement: a storage hierarchy representation interface configured to provide a user with a first representation of a source storage hierarchy and a second representation of one or more target storage devices, wherein the source storage hierarchy includes a source storage device with one or more contained storage devices; a command interface allowing the user to request a hierarchical mapping of the source storage device to at least a subset of the one or more target storage devices; and remapping software; wherein, in response to the request for the hierarchical mapping, the remapping software is configured to: determine whether the requested hierarchical mapping violates a validity requirement; provide an indication of an invalidity of the requested hierarchical mapping in response to a determination that the requested hierarchical mapping violates the validity requirement; and create the requested hierarchical mapping of the source storage device and each of the one or more contained storage devices to the at least a subset of the one or more target storage devices, in response to a determination that the requested hierarchical mapping does not violate the validity requirement.