Visualization of new storage area network devices and connectivity with a topology based map

A system for visualizing a topology of a network for a data center, comprising:

• a user interface;
• a memory comprising computer-executable instructions for implementing the user interface;
• and
• a processor executing the computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
• providing, via the user interface, a first subwindow that lists a set of devices that are not physically present in the data center and are unconnected to the network;
• providing, via the user interface, a second subwindow that lists a set of device types corresponding to devices that are physically present in the data center;
• receiving, via the first subwindow in the user interface, user-inputted device information for a first device, the first device having a first device type;
• populating a map view window of a user interface screen with a graphical representation of the first device;
• receiving, via the second subwindow, user-inputted information for a second device, the second device having a second device type that is different than the first device type;
• receiving, via the user interface, connector information for a user-inputted connector, the connector connecting the first device with a graphical representation of the second device in the map view window;
• upon receiving the connector information, searching a database for device information for the second device;
• and
• validating, from the user-inputted device information of the first device and the device information of the second device, compatibility of the first device and the second device including determining interoperability between the first device and the second device;
• wherein the first subwindow and the second subwindow list varying device types including the first device type and the second device type.

A computer device for visualizing a topology of a network for a data center, comprising:

• a user interface operable by a processor of the computer device, wherein the computer device displays a user interface screen via the user interface, the user interface configured for:
• providing a first subwindow that lists a set of devices that are not physically present in the data center and are unconnected to the network;
• providing a second subwindow that lists a set of devices that are physically present in the data center;
• receiving, via the first subwindow, user-inputted device information for a first device, the first device having a first device type;
• populating a map view window of the user interface screen with a graphical representation of the first device;
• receiving, via the second subwindow, user-inputted information for a second device, the second device having a second device type that is different than the first device type;
• receiving, via the user interface screen, connector information for a user-inputted connector, the connector connecting the first device with a graphical representation of the second device in the map view window;
• upon receiving the connector information, searching, via the computer device, a database for device information for the second device;
• validating, from the user-inputted device information of the first device and the device information of the second device, compatibility of the first device and the second device including determining interoperability between the first device and the second device;
• and
• upon successful validation, enabling a topology view of the first device, the second device, and the connector via the map view window;
• wherein the first subwindow and the second subwindow list varying device types including the first device type and the second device type.