HP XP Array Manager Software - Manual (Page 105)

Virtualizing external storage
This module describes virtualizing external storage so that external volumes can be managed.
About virtualizing and unvirtualizing volumes
Virtualizing volumes is the process of mapping external storage system volumes to an internal storage
system.
Virtualized volumes allows for centralized management of volumes from multiple external storage
systems, in addition to the volumes from the single storage system being managed with HP XP7
Command View Advanced Edition.
The volumes in the external storage system (registered and referred to as external volumes ) can
be managed in the same way as the volumes in the internal storage system (registered and referred
to as
internal volumes ). Volume virtualization provides the capability to optimize storage services
to applications by facilitating movement of data between tiers and migration of data between different
generations of technology.
When external storage is managed by an internal storage system, external volumes will be listed in
the External Storage folder of the internal storage system.
External volumes can be used for various purposes, including:
• External volumes can be allocated to hosts the same as internal volumes are.
• Important data on internal volumes can be backed up to external volumes.
• Infrequently accessed data on internal volumes can be moved to external volumes for archiving.
There are two procedures for virtualizing volumes:
• Virtualizing volumes:
In XP7 Command View AE, external volumes are mapped by specifying the external storage system,
internal storage system, external volumes, and number of external paths. Although XP7 Command
View AE manages only registered storage systems, external volumes in unregistered storage systems
can also be mapped.
If the external storage system is registered as a management target of XP7 Command View AE,
you can directly specify individual external volumes in that storage system, or can specify just the
size and number of volumes. XP7 Command View AE suggests mapping plans accordingly.
• Discovering and virtualizing volumes:
If XP7 Command View AE does not manage the external storage system, XP7 Command View AE
detects the external volumes allocated to the internal storage system's external ports, and then
selects the volume to be used. If no volume that meets the conditions exists in the external storage
system, a volume is automatically created from free space in the parity group.
When you want to complete a data migration or discard devices, you must cancel the virtualization.
When you unvirtualize volumes, the virtualized volumes are unmapped from the specified external
storage.
• If you are unvirtualizing volumes from a registered storage system, the volumes are automatically
unallocated. You also have the options to delete the volumes or host group.
• If you are unvirtualizing volumes from an unregistered storage system, the volumes are only un-
mapped. Other management tasks are not available.
User Guide 105