1. A method of characterizing a storage array network (SAN), comprising: a processor; and a memory with computer-executable instructions stored thereon, the memory operatively coupled to the processor such that, when executed by the processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the SAN to implement: collecting information associated with the SAN, the information comprising: hardware aspects that comprise device quantity, device type, device vendor, and device storage capacity, configuration aspects that comprise hardware component version, software component version, and firmware component version, and communication operation aspects that comprise MAC address, IP address, and enabled protocols; the information characterizing: (i) neighboring components, comprising switching devices, host devices and storage devices, that are local to the SAN and (ii) system components that are part of a system hosting the SAN; analyzing the collected information that characterizes the neighboring components and the system components; generating an assessment of one or more aspects of the SAN based on the analyzing, the assessment taking into consideration a combination of the neighboring components and the system components, such that the assessment characterizes behavior of the SAN within the system, and reporting the assessment.