Correlated analysis of wasted space and capacity efficiency in complex storage infrastructures

A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on a computing device, causes the computing device to:

• collect metric data from a plurality of agents associated with a plurality of storage area network elements;
• consolidate the metric data into a single representation of storage capacity utilization and waste across the entire storage area network;
• and
• output the single representation of storage capacity utilization and waste for use in administering the storage area network, wherein the single representation of storage capacity utilization and waste comprises a hierarchical representation comprising a plurality of layers, wherein the plurality of layers correspond to layers of the storage area network.

A data processing system, for monitoring storage capacity utilization, comprising:

• a storage management module;
• and
• a plurality of agents, associated with a plurality of storage area network elements, and coupled to the storage management module, wherein the storage management module:
• collects metric data from the plurality of agents,
• consolidates the metric data into a single representation of storage capacity utilization and waste across the entire storage area network, and
• outputs the single representation of storage capacity utilization and waste for use in administering the storage area network, and wherein the single representation of storage capacity utilization and waste comprises a hierarchical representation comprising a plurality of layers, wherein the plurality of layers correspond to layers of the storage area network.