HP Systems Insight Manager - Manual (Page 102)

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 include:
•
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 Meta-Object Facility (MOF). Unified Modeling Language (UML)
creates 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 DTD, which can 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 LAN without prior configuration. SLP is 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 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 CIMOM ), that monitors WBEM requests (CIM operations over HTTP) from a CIM
client, and responds to those requests.
•
CIM provider, that communicates to a particular type of managed resource (for example, HP MSA
arrays), provides the CIMOM with information about the managed resource. 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.
102 Storage integration using SMI-S