User interface architecture for storage area network

In a storage area network (SAN) comprising a plurality of digital data processors in communication with a plurality of storage devices, the improvement comprising:

• a console having a display for presenting a model of topology of the SAN,
• a user interface process coupled to the console that effects the display of the SAN topology on the console display,
• a manager process that maintains a topological representation of the SAN, and
• an element coupled to the user interface process and the manager process,
• the element receives a request for SAN topology data from the user interface process, and effects retrieval, in response to the request, of the topology representation maintained by the manager, and the element further transmits the retrieved topology representation to the user interface element for presentation by the display.