Network composing apparatus specifying method, system for executing the method, and program for processing the method

#The present invention relates to a network composing apparatus specifying system that specifies apparatuses composing a network, which correlates icons arranged in a topology diagram representing the network configuration to the actual apparatuses, and more particularly to a network composing apparatus specifying system that is effective in specifying apparatuses composing a storage network.

#In conventional computer systems, storage apparatuses were configured to be directly connected to the respective computers, with the storage apparatuses directly linked to the respective computers to play the role of their memory apparatuses. However, with the increase in the volume of stored information, and when the computer system migrates to a large-scale system that may connect computers and storage apparatuses through a network such as a local area network (LAN), it has become necessary to manage a large number of computers and storage apparatuses. Thus, as the scale of the system expanded, it posed a problem of increasing total cost of ownership (TCO).

#Because of this, more and more corporations are installing systems using Storage Area Networks (SANs) which are capable of collectively managing storage apparatuses dispersed over a network. A SAN may be a storage area network that connects groups of computers and groups of storage apparatuses using fibre channels in which the plurality of storage apparatus groups are physically integrated, and the plurality of computer groups can use storage regions (volumes) of the storage apparatus groups through the network. A SAN has a very important role of not only physically integrating groups of storage apparatuses but also integrating their management. Because of this, storage administrators in a corporation can collect the volumes used by a number of computers and mange the same by utilizing tools that are effective in managing the network system with the SAN, thus reducing the cost for managing storage apparatuses.

#FIG. 1 shows an example of a system structure of a network composing apparatus specifying system in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

#FIG. 2 schematically shows a structure of a portable management console 112 in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

#FIG. 3 schematically shows a structure of a management console 111 in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

#The following is an explanation of an apparatus specifying system that may specify an individual apparatus among a plurality of apparatuses composing a network (hereafter referred to as a “network composing apparatus specifying system”). The network composing apparatus specifying system in accordance with a first embodiment specifies which apparatus that composes part of a storage network corresponds to an apparatus icon among a plurality of icons indicated in a topology diagram.

#FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the system configuration of the network composing apparatus specifying system of the present embodiment. The network composing apparatus specifying system is formed from at least one group of apparatuses that composes a network (i.e., network composing apparatuses), including at least one portable management console 112, a group of server apparatuses (e.g., server apparatus A101, server apparatus B 102), an FC switch 103 (fibre channel switch), a group of storage apparatuses (e.g., storage apparatus A 104, storage apparatus B 105), a management server apparatus 106 and a management console 111.

#By using either the management console 111 or the portable management console 112, the administrator is able to perform topology management and fault management of the group of apparatuses (hereafter referred to as an “apparatus group”, with the individual apparatus being referred to as an “apparatus”) including the server apparatus A 101, the server apparatus B 102, the FC switch 103, the storage apparatus A104 and the storage apparatus B105.