Proactive management of a plurality of storage arrays in a multi-array system

1. A method of proactive management in a multi-array system, the method comprising:

receiving, at a storage array services provider from a plurality of storage arrays of the multi-array system, one or more performance metrics;

comparing one or more performance metrics of a particular storage array in the plurality of storage arrays to one or more corresponding performance metrics of other storage arrays in the plurality of storage arrays;

generating one or more action recommendations based on the comparison, each action recommendation specifying one or more actions for improving the conditions of the particular storage array; and

presenting the one or more action recommendations in accordance with a received selection of one or more organizational options.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein each action recommendation is associated with one of the storage arrays in the multi-array system and each action recommendation further comprising a criticality level; and

wherein presenting the of one or more action recommendations includes highlighting at least one of the one or more action recommendations in dependence upon the criticality level of the action recommendation.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein presenting the one or more action recommendations includes presenting projected effects of implementing a particular action recommendation.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

determining a proposed schedule for implementing the one or more action recommendations; and

presenting the one or more action recommendations to a user including presenting the proposed schedule for implementing the one or more action recommendations.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the organizational options include:

one or more filtering criteria;

one or more sorting criteria; and

one or more search criteria.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising

receiving a selection of at least one of the one or more action recommendations; and

receiving an instruction to apply all selected action recommendations.

7. An apparatus for proactive management in a multi-array system, the apparatus comprising a computer processor, a computer memory operatively coupled to the computer processor, the computer memory having disposed within it computer program instructions that, when executed by the computer processor, cause the apparatus to carry out the steps of:

receiving, at a storage array services provider from a plurality of storage arrays of the multi-array system, one or more performance metrics;

comparing one or more performance metrics of a particular storage array in the plurality of storage arrays to one or more corresponding performance metrics of other storage arrays in the plurality of storage arrays;

generating one or more action recommendations based on the comparison, each action recommendation specifying one or more actions for improving the conditions of the particular storage array; and

presenting the one or more action recommendations in accordance with a received selection of one or more organizational options.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein each action recommendation is associated with one of the storage arrays in the multi-array system and each action recommendation further comprising a criticality level; and

wherein presenting the one or more action recommendations includes highlighting at least one of the one or more action recommendations in dependence upon the criticality level of the action recommendation.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein presenting the one or more action recommendations includes presenting projected effects of implementing a particular action recommendation.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising computer program instructions that, when executed by the computer processor, cause the apparatus to carry out the steps of:

determining a proposed schedule for implementing the one or more action recommendations; and

presenting the one or more action recommendations to a user including presenting the proposed schedule for implementing the one or more action recommendations.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the organizational options include:

one or more filtering criteria;

one or more sorting criteria; and

one or more search criteria.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising computer program instructions that, when executed by the computer processor, cause the apparatus to carry out the steps of:

receiving a selection of at least one of the one or more action recommendations; and

receiving an instruction to apply all selected action recommendations.

13. A computer program product for proactive management in a multi-array system, the computer program product disposed upon a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer program product comprising computer program instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to carry out the steps of:

receiving, at a storage array services provider from a plurality of storage arrays of the multi-array system, one or more performance metrics;

comparing one or more performance metrics of a particular storage array in the plurality of storage arrays to one or more corresponding performance metrics of other storage arrays in the plurality of storage arrays;

generating one or more action recommendations based on the comparison, each action recommendation specifying one or more actions for improving the conditions of the particular storage array; and

presenting the one or more action recommendations in accordance with a received selection of one or more organizational options.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein each action recommendation is associated with one of the storage arrays in the multi-array system and each action recommendation further comprising a criticality level; and

wherein presenting the plurality of action recommendations includes highlighting at least one of the one or more action recommendations in dependence upon the criticality level of the action recommendation.

15. The computer program product of claim 14 , wherein presenting the one or more action recommendations includes presenting projected effects of implementing a particular action recommendation.

16. The computer program product of claim 14 , further comprising computer program instructions that, when executed, cause the computer to carry out the steps of:

determining a proposed schedule for implementing the one or more action recommendations; and

presenting the one or more action recommendations to a user including presenting the proposed schedule for implementing the one or more action recommendations.

17. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprising computer program instructions that, when executed, cause the computer to carry out the step of:

receiving a selection of at least one of the one or more action recommendations; and

receiving an instruction to apply all selected action recommendations.