Patent ID: 8037072

Claim:
A method, comprising: executing, via a processor, a set of computer program instructions on a non-transitory computer readable medium for obtaining, via a processor, data records including: (a) asset information pertaining to storage assets in a data storage system; the storage assets including redundant storage assets having raw storage capacities exceeding usable storage capacities, the storage assets further including (i) internal storage assets directly accessible by respective host computers and (ii) external storage assets separate from the host computers, the asset information being organized according to (i) host-visible structure and (ii) location and protection, the host-visible structure including logical volumes, volume groups, file systems and databases, the location and protection including internal and external storage, the external storage further including primary storage and replica storage; (b) utilization information pertaining to use of the storage assets, the utilization information being organized according to (i) total capacity, (ii) used capacity, (iii) accessible capacity, and (iv) allocated capacity, these capacities being expressed in terms of raw and usable amounts; and (c) grouping information reflecting a grouping of the storage assets and the users into respective charge-related groups; selectively aggregating the asset and utilization information according to the grouping to obtain asset and utilization values usable for chargeback-related purposes; and presenting a graphical user interface reflecting the grouping, the graphical interface including information fields in which respective ones of the asset and utilization values are displayed.