A method and apparatus for managing the availability and assignment of data
in a storage system that is coupled to a network. A user interface is
provided that executes on a host processor that is coupled to the storage
system over the network. The user interface communicates with a
configuration database in the storage system to identify host processors
that are logged into the storage system over the network, to identify
storage volumes on the storage system, to identify whether access to a
particular storage volume on the storage system is permitted from a
particular host processor, and to identify a network path by which host
processors are logged into the storage system over the network. In one
embodiment, a graphical user interface is provided that can be used to
graphically represent host processors, host bus adapters, storage systems,
and storage system adapters and storage volumes on the storage system. The
graphical representation provided by the graphical user interface permits
a user to graphically view a topology of the network at varying levels of
detail, selectable by the user. The graphical user interface also permits
a user to allow or deny access to storage systems or a particular storage
volume on storage system from one or more of the host processors, host bus
adapters, etc., by selecting and manipulating graphical representations
thereof. In another embodiment, a command line user interface is provided
with similar functionality.
