HP ProLiant BL660c Integrating HP Insight Management WBEM Providers with HP Sy - Page 2

Abstract The goal of this paper is to help users move from Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) to HP Insight Management WBEM Providers for Windows. Overview HP has introduced a new product meant to eventually replace SNMP. Based on Web-based Enterprise Management (WBEM), HP Insight Management WBEM Providers for Windows improves management, security, reliability, and ease of use, while simplifying integration with existing management tools and processes. Insight Providers for Windows, which enables HP to deliver a wellintegrated set of standards-based management tools, is built on top of Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI). WMI is the Microsoft® implementation of WBEM, a set of industry-standard technologies for accessing system information in a distributed management environment. Advantages of using Insight Providers for Windows include: • Improved security over SNMP. As SNMP is not encrypted, it does not require strict credentials. The Insight Providers for Windows can run over http and https and requires a valid account credential. • More transparent; WMI service instead of agents. The Insight Providers run within the existing WMI Common Interface Model Object Manager (CIMOM). This makes the data collection agents more transparent. After deciding to upgrade to Insight Providers for Windows, it is important to decide how to incorporate the management capabilities of Insight Providers for Windows. A variety of client software is available for this purpose. The management infrastructure provided by the Insight Providers can be accessed using the System Management Homepage (SMH), which is in the ProLiant Support Packs (PSPs). In addition, users can configure HP Systems Insight Manager (HP SIM) version 5.2 and later to leverage Insight Providers for Windows infrastructure. Many client applications are available for WMI that can be used to interface with the Insight Providers. Users can easily write scripts for fully customized management. For more information, see the following web sites: • Using WMI: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa393964.aspx • Scripting access to WMI: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa393256.aspx • Further information: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa390436.aspx HP SIM 5.2 and the HP Insight Management WBEM Providers for Windows are fully integrated for identification, inventory, event monitoring, disk thresholding, and status polling. Updates to the System Management Homepage (SMH) The System Management Homepage of HP SIM allows data collection from either the Insight Providers or SNMP agents. After installation of Insight Providers for Windows, SMH defaults to using Insight Providers for Windows as its data source. An SMH setting page allows users to set the data source and to switch easily between the two data sources (Insight Providers for Windows or SNMP). The overall layout of the SMH remains the same; however, the individual sub-pages have undergone several changes. While content and information are similar, the layout redesign provides a more userfriendly, faster interface. 2