Method and system for administration of storage objects

Abstract

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a method of generating a representation of a storage network. The method includes generating a tree model representation of a storage network, the tree model comprising a plurality of nodes, wherein each node represents a portion of the storage network currently being displayed on a display device. The method also includes receiving a request from a client system to view contents of a node in the tree model. The method also includes, in response to the request, obtaining tree information for the node in the request, the tree information related to an additional portion of the storage network not being displayed. The method also includes adding an additional node to the tree model based on the tree information and displaying the additional portion of the storage network that is represented by the additional node.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of generating a representation of a storage network, comprising:
 generating a tree model representation of a storage network, the tree model comprising a plurality of nodes, wherein each node represents a portion of the storage network currently being displayed on a display device;   receiving a request from a client system to view contents of a node in the tree model;   in response to the request, obtaining tree information for the node in the request, the tree information related to an additional portion of the storage network not being displayed;   adding an additional node to the tree model based on the tree information and displaying the additional portion of the storage network that is represented by the additional node.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising identifying a root node via a registry and adding the root node to an initial tree model. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising receiving an indication from the root node that indicates that one or more of the root node's child nodes have changed. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein obtaining the request from the client system to view the contents of the node comprises receiving a viewing registration from the client system. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising sending at least a portion of the tree model to the client system based on which nodes of the tree model have viewing registrations from the client system. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising receiving a first cookie corresponding to the node and adding the node and the first cookie to a tree table. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , comprising receiving a second cookie corresponding to the node and comparing the second cookie with the first cookie to determine whether the node or one of the node's child nodes has changed. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising sending an event to the client system to indicate that the tree model has changed, wherein the event causes the client to receive an updated tree model. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising obtaining a request from the client system to close the additional node in the tree model and, in response to the request, removing the additional node from the tree model so that the additional portion of the storage network that is represented by the additional node is no longer displayed. 
     
     
         10 . A storage network, comprising:
 a processor that is adapted to execute machine-readable instructions;   a storage device that is adapted to store data, the data comprising a memory device that stores instructions that are executable by the processor, the instructions comprising:   a tree model generator to generate a representation of a storage network, the tree model comprising a plurality of nodes, wherein each node represents a portion of the storage network currently being displayed on a display device; and   a viewing request receiver to receive a viewing request from a client system to view contents of a node in the tree model;   in response to the viewing request, the tree model generator is to:   obtain tree information for the node in the request, the tree information related to an additional portion of the storage network not being displayed; and   add an additional node to the tree model based on the tree information and display the additional portion of the storage network that is represented by the additional node.   
     
     
         11 . The storage network of  claim 10 , wherein the machine-readable instructions comprise an event receiver configured to receive an indication from a tree source indicating that the node has changed. 
     
     
         12 . The storage network of  claim 10 , wherein the machine-readable instructions comprise an event generator configured to send an indication to the client that a portion of the tree model has changed. 
     
     
         13 . The storage network of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions comprise a tree integrator configured to generate a tree table corresponding to a viewed portion of the storage network, the tree table adapted to provide an indication that the node has changed. 
     
     
         14 . The storage network of  claim 10 , wherein the node is associated with an information packet adapted to determine whether the node has changed. 
     
     
         15 . The storage network of  claim 14 , wherein the information packet comprises a node cookie and a child cookie, the node cookie is incremented if the node changes, and the child cookie is incremented if the child node has changed. 
     
     
         16 . The storage network of  claim 13 , wherein the tree table comprises a data entry for a prior node cookie, a current node cookie, a prior child cookie and a current node cookie. 
     
     
         17 . The storage network of  claim 11 , wherein the tree source comprises a RAID array. 
     
     
         18 . The storage network of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions are stored on a central server and wherein the central server sends a portion of the tree model to a client system. 
     
     
         19 . A tangible, computer-readable medium, comprising code configured to direct a processor to:
 generate a tree model representation of a storage network, the tree model comprising a plurality of nodes, wherein each node represents a portion of the storage network currently being displayed on a display device;   receive a viewing request from a client to view a node of the storage network;   in response to the viewing request, obtain tree information for the node in the viewing request, the tree information related to an additional portion of the storage network not being displayed; and   add an additional node to the tree model based on the tree information and display the additional portion of the storage network that is represented by the additional node.   
     
     
         20 . The tangible, computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , comprising code configured to direct the processor to generate a tree table comprising the node and a data set adapted to indicate whether the node or a child of the node has changed.