Interactive display of a data storage infrastructure for a communication network

• US 7,788,302 B1
• Filed: 01/19/2006
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Mirza, Nasir Mahmood, Thakur, Brajendra Singh
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Tim T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Engelskirchen; Jeremy D
• Application Number:
  US11/335,358
• Time in Patent Office: 1,685 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/827
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0605 by facilitating the interaction with a user or administrator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0649 Lifecycle management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0653 Monitoring storage devices or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]

Abstract

A data storage infrastructure is disclosed for a communication network. The data storage infrastructure comprises data storage systems and a storage management system. The data storage systems are comprised of disk systems that are comprised of disks. The storage management system displays a first view of the infrastructure including the data storage systems, receives a first input selecting one of the data storage systems, and in response, displays a second view of the disk systems in the selected data storage system. The storage management system receives a second input selecting one of the disk systems in the selected data storage system, and in response, displays a third view of the disks in the selected disk system. The storage management system receives a third user input selecting one of the disks in the selected disk system, and in response, displays product information for the selected disk.

Claims

1. A data storage infrastructure for a communication network that produces a plurality of data flows of network data, the data storage infrastructure comprising:

a plurality of data storage systems in communication with a plurality of storage interfaces via a plurality of network links and configured to store the network data, wherein the data storage systems are comprised of disk systems and wherein the disk systems are comprised of disks;

a storage management system configured to display a first graphical view of the data storage infrastructure including the storage interfaces, the data storage systems, and the network links;

the storage management system further configured to receive a first user input selecting, from the first graphical view, one of the data storage systems of the first graphical view, and in response to the first user input, to display a second graphical view of the disk systems in the selected data storage system, receive a second user input selecting, from the second graphical view, one of the disk systems in the selected data storage system of the second graphical view, and in response to the second user input, to display a third graphical view of the disks in the selected disk system, receive a third user input selecting, from the third graphical view, one of the disks in the selected disk system of the third graphical view, and in response to the third user input, to display product information for the selected disk;

the storage management system further configured to receive a fourth user input selecting, from the first graphical view, the storage interfaces of the first graphical view, and in response to the fourth user input, to display a fourth graphical view of the selected storage interfaces, receive a fifth user input selecting, from the fourth graphical view, one of the storage interfaces, and in response to the fifth user input, to display product information for the selected storage interface;

the storage management system further configured to receive a sixth user input selecting, from the first graphical view, the network links, and in response to the sixth user input, to display a fifth graphical view of the selected network links, receive a seventh user input selecting, from the fifth graphical view, one of the network links, and in response to the seventh user input, to display product information for the selected network link; and

the storage management system further configured to determine and display a gap between the current data storage infrastructure and a target data storage infrastructure, wherein the gap comprises a personnel gap, a hardware gap, and a software gap, and the personnel gap indicates a difference between current hours and targeted hours for a primary organization and a secondary organization, wherein the primary organization comprises a main organization that provides a service, and the secondary organization comprises a support organization that assists in providing the service.

2. The data storage infrastructure of claim 1 wherein the data storage systems are further comprised of computer systems, and the storage management system is configured to display the second graphical view including the computer systems in the selected data storage system, receive an eighth user input selecting one of the computer systems in the selected data storage system, and in response to the eighth user input, to display product information for the selected computer system.

3. The data storage infrastructure of claim 1 wherein the data storage systems are further comprised of tape systems, and the storage management system is configured to display the second graphical view including the tape systems in the selected data storage system, receive an eighth user input selecting one of the tape systems in the selected data storage system, and in response to the eighth user input, to display product information for the selected tape system.

4. The data storage infrastructure of claim 1 wherein:

the data storage infrastructure is further comprised of a plurality of data storage interfaces configured to exchange the network data between the communication network and the data storage systems; and

the storage management system is configured to display the first graphical view including the data storage interfaces, receive an eighth user input selecting one of the data storage interfaces, and in response to the eighth user input, to display product information for the selected data storage interface.

5. The data storage infrastructure of claim 1 wherein the product information indicates a product identification.

6. The data storage infrastructure of claim 1 wherein the product information indicates a product vendor.

7. The data storage infrastructure of claim 1 wherein the product information indicates a product location.

8. The data storage infrastructure of claim 1 wherein the product information indicates a product installation date.

9. The data storage infrastructure of claim 1 wherein the product information indicates total product capacity.

10. The data storage infrastructure of claim 1 wherein the product information indicates unused product capacity.

11. A method of operating a data storage infrastructure for a communication network that produces a plurality of data flows of network data, the method comprising:

in a plurality of data storage systems in communication with a plurality of storage interfaces via a plurality of network links, storing the network data, wherein the data storage systems are comprised of disk systems and wherein the disk systems are comprised of disks;

in a storage management system, displaying a first graphical view of the data storage infrastructure including the storage interfaces, the data storage systems, and the network links;

in the storage management system, receiving a first user input selecting, from the first graphical view, one of the data storage systems of the first graphical view, and in response to the first user input, displaying a second graphical view of the disk systems in the selected data storage system;

in the storage management system, receiving a second user input selecting, from the second graphical view, one of the disk systems in the selected data storage system of the second graphical view, and in response to the second user input, displaying a third graphical view of the disks in the selected disk system;

in the storage management system, receiving a third user input selecting, from the third graphical view, one of the disks in the selected disk system of the third graphical view, and in response to the third user input, displaying product information for the selected disk;

in the storage management system, receiving a fourth user input selecting, from the first graphical view, the storage interfaces of the first graphical view, and in response to the fourth user input, displaying a fourth graphical view of the selected storage interfaces;

in the storage management system, receiving a fifth user input selecting, from the fourth graphical view, one of the storage interfaces, and in response to the fifth user input, displaying product information for the selected storage interface;

in the storage management system, receiving a sixth user input selecting, from the first graphical view, the network links, and in response to the sixth user input, displaying a fifth graphical view of the selected network links;

in the storage management system, receiving a seventh user input selecting, from the fifth graphical view, one of the network links, and in response to the seventh user input, displaying product information for the selected network link; and

in the storage management system, determining and displaying a gap between the current data storage infrastructure and a target data storage infrastructure, wherein the gap comprises a personnel gap, a hardware gap, and a software gap, and the personnel gap indicates a difference between current hours and targeted hours for a primary organization and a secondary organization, wherein the primary organization comprises a main organization that provides a service, and the secondary organization comprises a support organization that assists in providing the service.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the data storage systems are further comprised of computer systems, and wherein displaying the second graphical view comprises displaying the second graphical view including the computer systems in the selected data storage system, and further comprising in the storage management system, receiving an eighth user input selecting one of the computer systems in the selected data storage system, and in response to the eighth user input, displaying product information for the selected computer system.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the data storage systems are further comprised of tape systems, and wherein displaying the second graphical view comprises displaying the second graphical view including the tape systems in the selected data storage system, and further comprising in the storage management system, receiving an eighth user input selecting one of the tape systems in the selected data storage system, and in response to the eighth user input, displaying product information for the selected tape system.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the data storage infrastructure is further comprised of a plurality of data storage interfaces configured to exchange the network data between the communication network and the data storage systems, and wherein displaying the first graphical view comprises displaying the first graphical view including the data storage interfaces, and further comprising in the storage management system, receiving an eighth user input selecting one of the data storage interfaces, and in response to the eighth user input, displaying product information for the selected data storage interface.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the product information indicates a product identification.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the product information indicates a product vendor.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the product information indicates a product location.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the product information indicates a product installation date.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the product information indicates total product capacity.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the product information indicates unused product capacity.