User interrace providing information system topology presentation

Abstract

A user interface includes a graphical topological representation of an information system. Information is collected regarding connections between switches, storage nodes and computer nodes in the information system. Any sub networks in the system are identified based on the collected information and classified as LANs or SANs. Connections between the various components are determined, and a layout of any identified LANs, computer nodes, SANs, and storage nodes is established for generating the topological representation in the user interface. The graphical topological representation of the information system is displayed in the user interface with the LAN icons, computer node icons, SAN icons and storage node icons laid out in a matrix-like arrangement of columns and rows, such that for LANs, computer nodes, SANs and/or storage nodes that are connected to each other, the corresponding icons are located on or near a same row in the graphical topological representation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer system comprising:
 a user interface;   a memory being configured to store topology information regarding a topology of an information system, the information system including a plurality of networks, each of which is configured by a plurality of switches, and a plurality of storage systems; and   a processor being configured to:   select a first storage system from the plurality of storage systems using the topology information stored in the memory;   control to display, in the user interface, a first storage icon corresponding to the first storage system;   select a first network from the plurality of networks and a plurality of first switches, which configure the first network of the plurality of networks, from the plurality of switches by referring the topology information stored in the memory,   control to display, in the user interface, a first network icon corresponding to the first network, the first network icon containing a plurality of first switch icons corresponding to the plurality of first switches; and   control to display, in the user interface, a connection line which connects the first storage icon and the first network icon in case that the plurality of first switches are coupled to the first storage system in the topology information stored in the memory.   
     
     
         2 . A computer system according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to manage a plurality of columns in the user interface, the plurality of columns including a network column in which the first network icon is displayed and a storage column in which the first storage icon is displayed. 
     
     
         3 . A computer system according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to manage a plurality of rows in the user interface, the plurality of rows including a first row in which the first network icon and the first storage icon are displayed. 
     
     
         4 . A computer system according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 manage a lattice, in the user interface, comprised by a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows;   control to display the first network icon in a network column of the plurality of the columns and a first row of the plurality of rows; and   control to display the first storage icon in a storage column of the plurality of the columns and the first row.   
     
     
         5 . A computer system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first network is a storage area network and the plurality of first switches are a plurality of IP switches configuring the storage area network. 
     
     
         6 . A computer system comprising:
 a user interface;   a memory being configured to store topology information regarding a topology of an information system, the information system including a plurality of networks, each of which is configured by a plurality of switches, and a plurality of servers; and   a processor being configured to:   select a first server from the plurality of servers using the topology information stored in the memory;   control to display, in the user interface, a first server icon corresponding to the first server;   select a first network from the plurality of networks and a plurality of first switches, which configure the first network of the plurality of networks, from the plurality of switches by referring the topology information stored in the memory,   control to display, in the user interface, a first network icon corresponding to the first network, the first network icon containing a plurality of first switch icons corresponding to the plurality of first switches; and   control to display, in the user interface, a connection line which connects the first server icon and the first network icon in case that the plurality of first switches are coupled to the first server in the topology information stored in the memory.   
     
     
         7 . A computer system according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to manage a plurality of columns in the user interface, the plurality of columns including a network column in which the first network icon is displayed and a server column in which the first server icon is displayed. 
     
     
         8 . A computer system according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to manage a plurality of rows in the user interface, the plurality of rows including a first row in which the first network icon and the first server icon are displayed. 
     
     
         9 . A computer system according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 manage a lattice, in the user interface, comprised by a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows;   control to display the first network icon in a network column of the plurality of the columns and a first row of the plurality of rows; and   control to display the first server icon in a server column of the plurality of the columns and the first row.   
     
     
         10 . A computer system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first network is a storage area network or a local area network, and the plurality of first switches are a plurality of IP switches or a plurality of FC switches configuring the storage area network or the local area network. 
     
     
         11 . A computer system comprising:
 a user interface;   a memory being configured to store topology information regarding a topology of an information system, the information system including a plurality of networks, each of which is configured by a plurality of switches, and a plurality of virtual machines; and   a processor being configured to:   select a first virtual machine from the plurality of virtual machines using the topology information stored in the memory;   control to display, in the user interface, a first virtual machine icon corresponding to the first virtual machine;   select a first network from the plurality of networks and a plurality of first switches, which configure the first network of the plurality of networks, from the plurality of switches by referring the topology information stored in the memory,   control to display, in the user interface, a first network icon corresponding to the first network, the first network icon containing a plurality of first switch icons corresponding to the plurality of first switches; and   control to display, in the user interface, a connection line which connects the first virtual machine icon and the first network icon in case that the plurality of first switches are coupled to the first virtual machine in the topology information stored in the memory.   
     
     
         12 . A computer system according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to manage a plurality of columns in the user interface, the plurality of columns including a network column in which the first network icon is displayed and a server column in which the first virtual machine icon is displayed. 
     
     
         13 . A computer system according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to manage a plurality of rows in the user interface, the plurality of rows including a first row in which the first network icon and the first virtual machine icon are displayed. 
     
     
         14 . A computer system according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 manage a lattice, in the user interface, comprised by a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows;   control to display the first network icon in a network column of the plurality of the columns and a first row of the plurality of rows; and   control to display the first virtual machine icon in a server column of the plurality of the columns and the first row.   
     
     
         15 . A computer system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first network is a storage area network or a local area network, and the plurality of first switches are a plurality of IP switches or a plurality of FC switches configuring the storage area network or the local area network. 
     
     
         16 . A computer system comprising:
 a memory being configured to store information regarding a topology of an information system, the information system including a plurality of networks, each of which is configured by a plurality of switches, and a plurality of storage systems; and   a processor being configured to:   control to display a first storage icon corresponding to a first storage system of the plurality of storage systems;   control to display a first network icon corresponding to a first network of the plurality of networks, the first network icon containing a plurality of first switch icons corresponding to a plurality of first switches of the plurality of switches, wherein the first network is configured by the plurality of first switches in the topology of the information system; and   control to display, if the plurality of first switches are coupled to the first storage system in the topology of the information system, a connection line which connects the first storage icon and the first network icon instead of the plurality of first switch icons.   
     
     
         17 . A computer system according to  claim 16 , wherein the processor is further configured to manage a plurality of columns in the user interface, the plurality of columns including a network column in which the first network icon is displayed and a storage column in which the first storage icon is displayed. 
     
     
         18 . A computer system according to  claim 16 , wherein the processor is further configured to manage a plurality of rows in the user interface, the plurality of rows including a first row in which the first network icon and the first storage icon are displayed. 
     
     
         19 . A computer system according to  claim 16 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 manage a lattice, in the user interface, comprised by a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows;   control to display the first network icon in a network column of the plurality of the columns and a first row of the plurality of rows; and   control to display the first storage icon in a storage column of the plurality of the columns and the first row.   
     
     
         20 . A computer system according to  claim 16 , wherein the first network is a storage area network and the plurality of first switches are a plurality of IP switches configuring the storage area network. 
     
     
         21 . A computer system comprising:
 a memory configured to store information regarding a topology of an information system, the information system including a plurality of networks, each of which is configured by a plurality of switches, and a plurality of servers; and   a processor being configured to:   control to display a first server icon corresponding to a first server of the plurality of servers;   control to display a first network icon corresponding to a first network of the plurality of networks, the first network icon containing a plurality of first switch icons corresponding to a plurality of first switches of the plurality of switches, wherein the first network is configured by the plurality of first switches in the topology of the information system; and   control to display, if one of the first switches is coupled to the first server in the topology of the information system, a connection line which connects the first server icon and the first network icon instead of the one of the first switches.   
     
     
         22 . A computer system according to  claim 21 , wherein the processor is further configured to manage a plurality of columns in the user interface, the plurality of columns including a network column in which the first network icon is displayed and a server column in which the first server icon is displayed. 
     
     
         23 . A computer system according to  claim 21 , wherein the processor is further configured to manage a plurality of rows in the user interface, the plurality of rows including a first row in which the first network icon and the first server icon are displayed. 
     
     
         24 . A computer system according to  claim 21 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 manage a lattice, in the user interface, comprised by a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows;   control to display the first network icon in a network column of the plurality of the columns and a first row of the plurality of rows; and   control to display the first server icon in a server column of the plurality of the columns and the first row.   
     
     
         25 . A computer system according to  claim 21 , wherein the first network is a storage area network or a local area network, and the plurality of first switches are a plurality of IP switches or a plurality of FC switches configuring the storage area network or the local area network. 
     
     
         26 . A computer system comprising:
 a memory configured to store information regarding a topology of an information system, the information system including a plurality of networks, each of which is configured by a plurality of switches, and a plurality of virtual machines; and   a processor being configured to:   control to display a first server icon corresponding to a first virtual machine of the plurality of virtual machines;   control to display a first network icon corresponding to a first network of the plurality of networks, the first network icon containing a plurality of first switch icons corresponding to a plurality of first switches of the plurality of switches, wherein the first network is configured by the plurality of first switches in the topology of the information system; and   control to display, if one of the first switches is coupled to the first virtual machine in the topology of the information system, a connection line which connects the first server icon and the first network icon instead of the one of the first switches.   
     
     
         27 . A computer system according to  claim 26 , wherein the processor is further configured to manage a plurality of columns in the user interface, the plurality of columns including a network column in which the first network icon is displayed and a server column in which the first virtual machine icon is displayed. 
     
     
         28 . A computer system according to  claim 26 , wherein the processor is further configured to manage a plurality of rows in the user interface, the plurality of rows including a first row in which the first network icon and the first virtual machine icon are displayed. 
     
     
         29 . A computer system according to  claim 26 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 manage a lattice, in the user interface, comprised by a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows;   control to display the first network icon in a network column of the plurality of the columns and a first row of the plurality of rows; and   control to display the first virtual machine icon in a server column of the plurality of the columns and the first row.   
     
     
         30 . A computer system according to  claim 26 , wherein the first network is a storage area network or a local area network, and the plurality of first switches are a plurality of IP switches or a plurality of FC switches configuring the storage area network or the local area network.