1. A computer-implemented method in which at least one computer system executes software instructions retrieved from computer storage, the computer-implemented method comprising: maintaining a domain model table in a relational database, records in the domain model table including unique identifier values specifying different domain models for managing and viewing different resource types in a storage area network environment; maintaining at least one data table in the relational database to store data values as well as corresponding references to specific domain models in the domain model table to which the data values pertain; and utilizing the domain model table and the at least one data table in the relational database to define attributes of a given storage area network resource differently for each of multiple domain models; maintaining a resource type table in the relational database records in the resource type table specifying different possible types of resources present in the storage area network environment: maintaining a resource attribute table in the relational database records in the resource property table specifying resource types associated with each of the different possible types of resources specified in the resource; maintaining a resource instance table for purposes of indicating actual resources present in the storage area network environment, the actual resources including the common resource: in addition to storing data values as well as corresponding references to specific domain models in the domain model table to which the data values pertain, storing a respective set of identifier values for each of multiple data values in the at least one data table: and for a particular data value in the at least one data table, the respective set of identifies including: i) a first identifier value specifying a resource type in the resource type table for which the particular data value pertains, ii) a second identifier value specifying a resource attribute type in the resource property table to which the particular data value pertains and iii) a third identifier value specifying an actual resource present in the storage area network environment to which the particular data value pertains.