HP WBEM Services for HP-UX System Administrator Guide (5900-1624, April 2011)

1 Introduction to HP WBEM Services
This chapter describes HP WBEM Services, the architecture, and how it functions with other products.
HP WBEM Services is an implementation of the DMTF-WBEM standard on HP-UX systems. HP
WBEM Services enables management solutions to deliver increased control of enterprise resources
at reduced cost. WBEM is a platform and resource-independent DMTF standard that defines a
common information model and a communication protocol to monitor and control resources from
various sources.
HP WBEM Services can operate on both the homogeneous and heterogeneous IT environments.
It supports multi-platform and multi-operating system management tools. HP WBEM Services
leverages the existing training and knowledge base of current IT staff, while preparing for different
environments in the IT plan. In homogeneous environments, WBEM optimizes the management
information and capabilities, using a standard method, regardless of the architecture or platform
specifications, for example, PA-RISC and IPF systems.
HP WBEM Services includes a set of providers that enable management applications to access
information about managed resources in the operating environment. These applications include
HP Systems Insight Manager (HP SIM) or HP System Management Homepage (HP SMH). For
developers, HP WBEM Services facilitates the creation of management applications for HP-UX
systems. As a result, developers can optimally manage HP Servers and workstations.
HP WBEM Services functions as a mediator between providers and clients. Information is stored
and exchanged, using the WBEM standards developed by Distributed Management Task Force,
Inc.
HP WBEM Services is based on The Open Group’s Pegasus Open Source Software (OSS) project.
For more information on Pegasus Open Source Software, see http://www.opengroup.org/pegasus.
HP WBEM Services and common standards
HP WBEM Services is based on the following standards:
• “Common Information Model” (page 5)
• “CIM in Extensible Markup Language” (page 6)
• “CIM operations over HTTP” (page 6)
Common Information Model
The Common Information Model (CIM) specification is a language and a methodology for describing
management data. CIM is a conceptual object-oriented information model that describes managed
resources. CIM is not constrained to a particular implementation. The CIM specification includes
the following:
• CIM Object — A representation of managed resource. 3
• CIM Class — CIM objects that have similar properties and purposes. The definitions of CIM
classes are grouped into meaningful collections called schemas.
• CIM Instance — A representation of managed object that belongs to a particular class. These
objects can be shared by any WBEM-enabled system or application.
Managed Object Format (MOF) is the language used to define CIM classes and instances. MOF
files are ASCII files that use the MOF language to describe the CIM objects.
Using the CIM specification, HP WBEM Services accepts requests for information from any platform
in a heterogeneous IT environment. HP WBEM Services collects and maintains information about
managed resources in the HP WBEM Services repository, which also adheres to CIM.
For more information on CIM, see the CIM Specification Version 2.2 available at:
HP WBEM Services and common standards 5