A management control center identifies multiple remotely located agents
and their corresponding abilities to manage devices in a storage area
network on behalf of the management control center. In response to
learning capabilities of the multiple agents, the management control
center assigns a first agent of multiple agents in the storage area
network to handle execution of a first set of management functions
associated with a given device in the storage area network. Additionally,
the management control center assigns a second agent of multiple agents
in the storage area network to handle execution of a second set of
management functions associated with the given device. This technique of
assigning multiple agents (rather than a single agent) different
management functions alleviates a management control center from having
to coordinate direct communications with and control many different types
of vendor devices in the storage area network.