HP Storage Provisioning Manager (SPM) Version 2.0 User Guide

1 Introduction
Data storage and SPM
HP Storage Provisioning Manager (SPM) is a software tool that manages storage provisioning
within the HP Matrix Operating Environment (Matrix OE). It provides a secure service-centric
management interface to storage, enabling storage services to be resourced with available storage
from the SPM catalog, and securely automating storage management tasks by interfacing directly
with storage arrays and storage area networks. SPM is always working, even when the user
interface is not running.
There are three main use models:
• In the on-demand provisioning model, a storage administrator populates the SPM catalog with
arrays, storage pools and networks, then sets up access rights on those pools. Consumers
then provision new volumes from existing pools through the use of storage services. Provisioning
policy is controlled by the storage architect by means of template requirements.
• In the pre-provisioned model, a storage administrator populates the SPM catalog with arrays,
storage pools , all of the volumes and networks that will be used to fulfill storage services,
then sets up access rights for those volumes. Consumers then request storage though storage
services, and SPM returns a list of service candidates corresponding to existing volumes.
Volume selection policy is controlled by the storage architect by means of template requirements.
• In the request-based model, the server administrator requests storage before it is imported or
created by SPM. The storage architect or administrator then adds arrays and volumes to fulfill
the requirements within that service.
NOTE: All models can be used in conjunction with any combination of the other models.
SPM environment
SPM is automatically installed as part of the HP Matrix Operating Environment product. The
relationship that SPM has with Matrix OE and the storage it manages is described in Figure 1.
Data storage and SPM 9