Patent ID: 8176180

Claim:
A method, in a data processing system, for matching a storage dependent device to a storage subsystem, the method comprising: identifying storage requirements for the storage dependent device, wherein the storage dependent device is coupled to a network; identifying a set of storage subsystems that are coupled to the network; determining if at least one storage subsystem in the set of storage subsystems meets the storage requirements of the storage dependent device; responsive to identifying the at least one storage subsystem that meets the storage requirements of the storage dependent device, thereby forming an identified storage subsystem, determining if a use of the identified storage subsystem exceeds an assignment limit; responsive to use of the identified storage subsystem exceeding the assignment limit, removing the identified storage subsystem from the set of storage subsystems that meet the storage requirements of the storage dependent device; determining if another storage subsystem in the set of storage subsystems meets the storage requirements of the storage dependent device; responsive to identifying more than one storage subsystem that meets the storage requirements of the storage dependent device, determining at least one lowest cost storage subsystem, wherein the at least one lowest cost storage subsystem is determined based on user submitted criteria that specifies a maximum budget cost for a use of the storage dependent device and wherein a use of the lowest cost storage system either meets or comes closest to the maximum budget cost; and responsive to identifying the at least one lowest cost storage subsystem, coupling the at least one lowest cost storage subsystem to the storage dependent device.