HP Systems Insight Manager - Manual (Page 246)

About SMI-S
SMI-S replaces multiple disparate managed object models, protocols, and transports with a single
object-oriented model for each type of component in a storage network. The specification was created by
SNIA to standardize storage management solutions. SMI-S enables management applications (such as HP
SIM) to support storage devices from multiple vendors quickly and reliably because they are no longer
proprietary. SMI-S detects and manages storage elements by type, not by vendor.
Key components
The key SMI-S components are:
•
Common Information Model (CIM)
•
Web-based Enterprise Management (WBEM)
•
Service Location Protocol (SLP)
CIM
CIM, the data model for WBEM, provides a common definition of management information for systems,
networks, applications and services, and allows vendor extensions. SMI-S is the interpretation of CIM for
storage. It provides a consistent definition and structure of data, using object-oriented techniques. The standard
language used to define elements of CIM is Managed Object Format (MOF). Unified Modeling Language
(UML) is used to create a graphical representation (using boxes and lines) of objects and relationships.
WBEM
WBEM is a set of management and internet standard technologies developed to unify the management of
enterprise computing environments. WBEM includes the following specifications:
•
xmlCIM: Defines XML elements, conforming to Document Type Definition (DTD), which can be used to
represent CIM classes and instances
•
CIM Operations over HTTP: Defines a mapping of CIM operations onto HTTP; used as a transport
mechanism
SLP
SLP enables computers and other devices to find services in a local area network without prior configuration.
SLP has been designed to scale from small, unmanaged networks to large enterprise networks.
Profiles
SMI-S is organized around profiles, which describe objects relevant for a class of storage subsystem. SMI-S
includes profiles for arrays, Fibre Channel host bus adapters (HBAs), Fibre Channel switches, and tape
libraries. Other storage devices (for example, NAS heads) are expected to be added in the future. Profiles
are registered with the CIM server and advertised to clients using SLP. HP SIM determines which profiles it
intends to manage, and then uses the CIM model to discover the actual configurations and capabilities.
SMI-S implementation
SMI-S is implemented with the following components:
•
CIM server (called a CIM Object Manager or CIMOM), which listens for WBEM requests (CIM operations
over HTTP) from a CIM client, and responds.
•
CIM provider, which communicates to a particular type of managed resource (for example, HP MSA
arrays), and provides the CIMOM with information about them. In theory, providers for multiple types
of devices (for example, HP MSA arrays and Brocade switches) can be plugged into the same CIMOM.
However, in practice, all storage vendors provide the CIMOM and a single provider together, and
they do not co-exist well with solutions from other vendors.
246 Storage integration