A processing device generates a relationship view of managed entities in a storage area network based on objects stored in a relational database. Each managed entity (e.g., file system, database, volume, storage device, etc.) in the storage area network has a corresponding managed object stored in the relational database. Generally, managed objects of a particular type are categorized into one or more tables. Such tables are related to one another by foreign key attributes, which represent relationships between types of managed objects (and thus a relationship between corresponding managed entities). Relationships among the managed objects in the relational database may be generally classified as either association or containment. Association identifies a logical relationship between managed objects. Containment identifies groups of managed objects that are logically associated with each other. The processing device uses these identified relationships to generate the appropriate relationship view for a selected managed entity.