Patent attributes
A SAN management agent computes a validator corresponding to a full data set from which a relative (change) data set is derived. The validator, such as a checksum, identifies the full data set to which the relative data set is applicable. The validator is transmitted with the relative data set, and the store process compares the validator with the previous validator stored with the full data set in a database. If the validators correspond (i.e. match), then the received relative data set is applicable to the full data set stored at the database, and the relative data set may be processed as a change set. The remote agent therefore computes the validator on a full data set at a remote node, and transmits the validator with the change set. Subsequent relative data sets may then compare the current validator of the DB data set with the validator from which the relative set was derived.
