1. A method of specifying a logical volume of a plurality of logical volumes in a networked computer system including a plurality of storage elements, a plurality of host computers, and a communications network that couples together the plurality of storage elements and the plurality of host computers, wherein each of the plurality of storage elements is a unitary storage system comprising at least one physical storage device, wherein at least one of the plurality of logical volumes is stored on each of the plurality of storage elements, the method comprising acts of: assigning a logical volume identifier to the logical volume, the logical volume identifier being assigned independent of the identity of the host computer initially creating the logical volume and being usable by at least one of the plurality host computers to access, via the communications network, the logical volume on at least one of the plurality of storage elements; and assuring that the logical volume identifier uniquely identifies the logical volume among the plurality of logical volumes in the networked computer system.