HP 3PAR CIM API Programming Reference (OS 3.1.2 MU2) (QL226-97015, June 2013)

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
DescriptionStandard
The CIM standard is the data model for WBEM. CIM
provides a conceptual framework for describing
The Common Information Model (CIM) standard
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.
CIM-XML
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 SLP is a method for applications
to identify WBEM-based management systems. For more
WBEM Discovery using Service Location Protocol (SLP)
information regarding WBEM and CIM, refer to the DMTF
web site at http://www.dmtf.org.
10 Concepts