Network management system for enabling a user to configure a network of storage devices via a graphical user interface
First Claim
1. A method for interactively configuring a storage network, comprising the steps of:
- (a) generating a graphical configuration display to a user, said graphical configuration display representing available storage network devices to be configured, said devices representing configuration choices for a configuration step;
(b) interactively selecting a configuration choice by selecting one or more of said represented available storage network devices with a pointer, thereby specifying a configuration step;
(c) incrementally updating said configuration display to depict the configuration step specified by step (b) and the available storage network devices to be configured after performing the configuration step performed by step (b); and
(d) repeating steps (b) through (c) until said storage network is configured.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A network configuration program assists a user in planning the configuration of devices in an information processing network. Preferably, a planning function is part of a storage management program for managing a network of storage devices. After specifying a set of hardware to be configured, the storage management program presents a graphical display representing available hardware. The user performs sequential configuration steps by selecting represented devices with a pointer, and designating ports or other information as required. For example, where connections between two devices are being specified, the user selects a first device with the pointer, drags a line to a second device, and selects the second device to indicate the connection. Because a typical network must satisfy numerous constraints, which are difficult for the user to keep in mind, the storage management program determines, from among the available devices, which ones can be connected to a selected device without violating any of the network constraints. These connectable devices are then highlighted on the graphical display so that the user can visually interpret the valious configuration options available at that stage. The display is updated at each configuration step, to reflect the cumulative steps completed at that point in the overall configuration task. Updating the display also reflects the available choices for the next configuration step. In this manner, a user without extensive knowledge of system and device constraints is guided through the configuration process.
171 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for interactively configuring a storage network, comprising the steps of:
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(a) generating a graphical configuration display to a user, said graphical configuration display representing available storage network devices to be configured, said devices representing configuration choices for a configuration step; (b) interactively selecting a configuration choice by selecting one or more of said represented available storage network devices with a pointer, thereby specifying a configuration step; (c) incrementally updating said configuration display to depict the configuration step specified by step (b) and the available storage network devices to be configured after performing the configuration step performed by step (b); and (d) repeating steps (b) through (c) until said storage network is configured. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computer program product for interactively configuring a storage network, said computer program product including a plurality of computer executable instructions stored on a computer readable medium, wherein said instructions, when executed by said computer, cause the computer to perform the steps of:
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(a) generating a graphical configuration display to a user, said graphical configuration display representing available storage network devices to be configured, said devices representing configuration choices for a configuration step; (b) interactively receiving a configuration choice selection from a user, said selection being made by selecting one or more of said represented available storage network devices with a pointer, thereby specifying a configuration step; (c) incrementally updating said configuration display to depict the configuration step specified by step (b) and the available storage network devices to be configured after performing the configuration step performed by step (b); and (d) repeating steps (b) through (c) until said storage network is configured. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for interactively configuring an information processing network, comprising the steps of:
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(a) generating a graphical configuration display to a user, said graphical configuration display representing a plurality of available devices to be configured; (b) interactively selecting a representation of a first device with a pointer, said first device to form a first end of a network connection; (c) automatically determining, from among a plurality of devices, a plurality of connectable devices, said connectable devices being devices which may be connected to said first device; (d) displaying said representations of said connectable devices in a distinctive form; (e) interactively selecting with a pointer, from the representations of connectable devices, a representation of a second device, said second device to form a second end of said network connection, thereby specifying a network connection; (f) incrementally updating said configuration display to depict the plurality of devices having the connection specified by steps (b) through (e); (g) repeating steps (b) through (f) until said network is configured. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A network configuration planning apparatus, comprising:
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a processor; a memory system; an interactive display for displaying graphical information to a user and receiving selections from a pointing device; means for generating a graphical image of said network on said interactive display from a representation of a network configuration in said memory system, said graphical image including representations of configuration choices; means for receiving selections of configuration choices from said pointing device, each said configuration choice specifying a respective one of a sequence of configuration steps; and means for incrementally updating said representation of a network configuration in said memory system with each said configuration step; and means for incrementally updating said graphical image responsive to incrementally updating said representation of a network configuration. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification