Approaches to storage discovery
BMC Discovery performs discovery of storage entities by using the following main approaches:
- Discovery by using management software
- Direct discovery by using an embedded provider
- Direct discovery by using the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)
Discovery by using management software
Many storage entities are managed by using bespoke storage management software. For example, the Hitachi Virtual Storage Platform is managed by using the Hitachi HiCommand Server. During routine discovery, if storage management software is discovered, a software instance (SI) representing the software is created. The creation or confirmation of an SI representing storage management software triggers the appropriate storage discovery pattern. The storage discovery pattern interrogates the management software by using Web-Based Enterprise Management (WBEM) credentials and queries to identify any storage entities that it manages.
When the pattern discovers the managed storage entity, it creates a Storage System node to represent it, and other nodes to represent the associated storage components.
Direct discovery by using an embedded provider
Some storage entities that are managed by storage management software can also be discovered directly, bypassing the management software. This is possible if the storage chassis runs an embedded WBEM/Storage Management Initiative - Specification (SMI-S) provider in the chassis. During routine discovery, if a WBEM/SMI-S provider in the storage chassis is discovered, a Storage Device node representing the chassis is created. The creation or confirmation of the Storage Device node triggers the appropriate storage discovery pattern. The storage discovery pattern interrogates the WBEM/SMI-S provider by using WBEM credentials and queries to discover the associated storage components.
When the pattern discovers the storage entity, it creates a Storage System node to represent it and other nodes to represent the associated storage components.
Direct discovery by using SNMP
Some other storage entities, such as the NetApp products, can be discovered directly through SNMP. In this case, when an SNMP discovery of an IP address finds a storage entity, a Storage Device node representing the chassis is created. The creation or confirmation of the Storage Device node triggers the appropriate storage discovery pattern. The storage discovery pattern continues discovery of the storage entity by using further SNMP requests to discover the associated storage components.
When the pattern discovers the storage entity, it creates a Storage System node to represent it and other nodes to represent the associated storage components.
Further information
For more information about storage discovery and the model built in BMC Helix Discovery, see BMC Discovery.
Storage systems discovery information and metrics are organized by vendor.