1. A program product, stored on a tangible computer readable storage medium, for managing a plurality of storage area networks including a plurality of data storage volumes and one or more hosts, the program product operating in an environment that includes an intelligent multi-protocol switch (IMPS) combined with a storage and switch controller including at least one microprocessor and a disk array for storing meta-data related to the plurality of data storage volumes such that the one or more data storage networks are managed by the controller using the meta-data and by controlling the IMPS, wherein the program product includes computer-executable logic encoded on a tangible computer-readable medium for executing the following steps: executing as a software agent on an intelligent multi-protocol switch (IMPS); executing as IMPS controlling software that cooperates with the software agent on a storage and switch controller, wherein the storage and switch controller includes at least one microprocessor and a disk array for storing meta-data related to the plurality of data storage volumes; and managing the one or more data storage networks by using the meta-data and by controlling the IMPS through execution of the agent and the IMPS controlling software.