1. In a storage area network (SAN) comprising one or more host digital data processors in communication with a plurality of storage devices, the improvement comprising: a manager process, in communication with at least the one or more host digital data processors, that maintains a representation of the SAN, a graphical output device, a user interface process, coupled to the graphical output device, the user interface process controlling the output device for purposes of displaying at least an attribute of the SAN, an interface element, coupled to the manager process and to the user interface process, that effects retrieval of the representation maintained by the manager process and transmission of the retrieved representation to the output device for display.