SAN Switch Fabric Connectivity Management via Port Utilization Ranking

The system performs self-service by automatically evaluating connectivity options, ranking switches, and determining optimal paths without requiring manual administrator intervention. The patent implements automated monitoring of port utilization metrics and switch performance degradation events, then uses this data to autonomously recommend and establish optimal connectivity paths between host devices and storage arrays.

The patent replaces the mechanical manual evaluation process with an automated electronic system that collects switch fabric conditions, processes performance metrics, and calculates optimal paths using computational algorithms. This substitution eliminates the need for administrators to manually evaluate connectivity options, thereby reducing administrative time while maintaining ease of operation.

The system implements universality by creating a vendor-agnostic connectivity evaluation platform that can assess and manage switches from multiple different vendors within the same SAN environment. The patent uses standardized performance metrics and ranking algorithms that work across diverse switch types, enabling unified management of heterogeneous network infrastructure without increasing evaluation complexity.

The patent simplifies connectivity evaluation by transforming complex multi-vendor switch configurations into standardized parameters such as port utilization metrics and performance degradation events. By converting diverse switch characteristics into comparable quantitative parameters, the system enables automated ranking and path determination across heterogeneous network equipment, thereby maintaining versatility while reducing evaluation complexity.