The present invention provides improved techniques for managing storage resources, such as disk drives, I/O ports, and the like according to user demand for these storage resources. In a specific embodiment, a centralized SIoD system manages installed storage resources in a storage subsystem and connections via a network switch responsive to user demands. Specific embodiments provide users the capability to bring new resources on line, define pathways between resources and provide billing, payment and other accounting information based upon the configurations and connections established responsive to the user demands, for example.