US Patent 7653712 Methods and apparatus for processing configuration data

An agent of a storage area network generates a first checksum value for a first set of zone configuration data used to at least initially configure the storage area network. At a later time, after a potential change to the first zone configuration data of the storage area network, the agent generates a checksum value based on current zone configuration data presently used to configure the zone in the storage area network. The agent then compares the first checksum value and the second checksum value to identify whether there has been a change to the first zone configuration data. That is, if the first checksum value does not equal the second checksum value, the agent flags that there has been a change to zone configuration data of the storage area network. Users can control behavior of zoning importation and activation depending on whether current zone configuration data has been changed.