3PAR CIM API Programming Reference for InForm OS 2.3.1 (320-200164 Rev B, February 2010)

InForm OS Version 2.3.1 CIM API Programming Reference

2.1

Concepts

In this chapter

2.1 About SMI-S 2.1

2.2 About the WBEM Initiative 2.2

2.1 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 about SMI-S, refer to the Storage Management Initiative Web site at

http://www.snia.org/smi/home.