If retrieved information from a storage area network resource does not enable simple and direct mapping of the respective unknown type of storage area network resource to a known type of storage area network resource with sufficient certainty (because the collection of data does not match any known unique groupings of data associated with known types of resources), then a mapping function attempts to automatically map the storage area network resource to a respective known type of storage area network resource. For example, the mapping function attempts to identify the specific identity of the storage area network resource in question. After repeating a process of mapping and determining identities of one or more different resources in a storage area network environment, an advisory process applies a set of configuration rules to identify whether an arrangement of resources will work properly.