HP 3PAR StoreServ 7450 4-node HP 3PAR CIM API Programming Reference (OS 3.1.2 - Page 10

1 Concepts About SMI-S SMI-S enables management of Storage Area Networks (SANs) in a heterogeneous, multi-vendor environment. SMI-S uses an object-oriented model based on the Common Information Model (CIM) to define objects and services which comprise a SAN. By leveraging vendor and technology independent standards, SMI-S allows management application vendors to create applications that work across products from multiple vendors. The SMI-S model is divided into several profiles, each of which describes a particular class of SAN entities (such as disk arrays or Fibre Channel switches). These profiles allow for differences in implementations but provide a consistent approach for clients to discover and manage SAN resources and facilitate interoperability across vendor products within the SAN. SMI-S also defines an automated resource discovery process using Service Location Protocol version 2 ( SLPv2). This allows management applications to automatically find SAN resources and then probe them to determine which of the SMI-S profiles and features they support. For more information, refer to the Storage Management Initiative Web site at www.snia.org/smi/ home. About the WBEM Initiative SMI-S is based on the Web-Based Enterprise Management (WBEM) Initiative, which is defined by the Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF). WBEM is a set of management and Internet standard technologies developed to unify the management of distributed computing environments. The DMTF has developed the following core set of standards that make up WBEM: Table 1 Core Standards for WBEM Initiative Standard The Common Information Model (CIM) standard CIM-XML Description The CIM standard is the data model for WBEM. CIM provides a conceptual framework for describing management data for systems, networks, applications and services, and allows for vendor extensions. SMI-S uses CIM to model those objects and relationships that comprise a SAN. CIM-XML is a method of exchanging CIM management data. CIM-XML uses an xmlCIM payload and HTTP(s) as the transport mechanism. This protocol is defined by the following specifications: • Specification for the Representation of CIM in XML Defines a standard for the representation of Common Information Model (CIM) elements and messages in XML, written in Document Type Definition (DTD). • CIM Operations over HTTP - Defines a mapping of CIM Messages onto HTTP that allows implementations of CIM to interoperate in an open, standardized manner. It uses the CIM XML DTD that defines the XML Schema for CIM objects and messages. WBEM Discovery using Service Location Protocol (SLP) WBEM Discovery using SLP is a method for applications to identify WBEM-based management systems. For more information regarding WBEM and CIM, refer to the DMTF web site at http://www.dmtf.org. 10 Concepts