Patent ID: 8924521

Claim:
A method, comprising: managing a plurality of storage area network devices using a systems manager based upon a common model of information protocol wherein the systems manager includes a processor and instructions and manages storage area network devices through provider modules installed on provider servers, each provider module managing one or more specific storage area network devices in accordance with a common storage management protocol; receiving by the systems manager, storage area network device information for a storage area network device to be managed by the systems manager; in response to the received storage area network device information, the systems manager automatically determining if an installed provider module is suitable for the storage area network device to be managed by the systems manager; in response to a determination by the systems manager that an installed provider module is suitable for the storage area network device to be managed by the systems manager, the systems manager identifying the provider module determined to be suitable for the storage area network device to be managed by the systems manager; and in response to a determination by the systems manager that an installed provider module is not suitable for the storage area network device to be managed by the systems manager, the systems manager automatically installing in a provider server an additional provider module that is suitable for the storage area network device to be managed by the systems manager.