Introduction

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The following sections provide an overview of SMI-S and the SMI-S: Array PowerPack:

What is SMI-S?

Storage Management Initiative Specification, or SMI-S, is a standard that allows users to manage heterogeneous storage devices in a Storage Area Network (SAN).

An HTTP server, called a provider, sends and receives XML requests to the storage devices to manage those devices and retrieve information about those devices.

SL1 communicates with the provider to retrieve information about the SAN and its devices.

What Does the SMI-S: Array PowerPack Monitor?

To monitor storage arrays using SL1, you must install the SMI-S: Array PowerPack. This PowerPack enables you to discover, model, and collect data about storage arrays and their component devices.

The SMI-S: Array PowerPack includes:

  • An example credential you can use to create Basic/Snippet credentials to connect to the SMI-S Provider.
  • Dynamic Applications to discover and monitor the storage arrays
  • Device Classes for each type of storage array component device monitored by SL1

If you are monitoring EMC VNX storage arrays, then you should install and use the EMC: VNX PowerPack. For more information, see the section on Monitoring Dell EMC VNX.

If you are monitoring EMC VMAX storage arrays, then you should install and use the EMC: VMAX PowerPack. For more information, see the section on Monitoring Dell EMC VMAX.

If you are monitoring Hitachi Data Systems Virtual Storage Platform arrays, then you should install and use the Hitachi Data Systems: VSP PowerPack. For more information, see the section on Monitoring Hitachi Data Systems.

Installing the SMI-S: Array PowerPack

Before completing the steps in this section, you must import and install the latest version of the SMI-S: Array PowerPack.

By default, installing a new version of a PowerPack overwrites all content from a previous version of that PowerPack that has already been installed on the target system. You can use the Enable Selective PowerPack Field Protection setting in the Behavior Settings page (System > Settings > Behavior) to prevent new PowerPacks from overwriting local changes for some commonly customized fields. For more information, see the section on Global Settings.

Ensure that you are running version 12.1.2 or later of SL1 before installing this PowerPack. For details on upgrading SL1, see the relevant SL1 Platform Release Notes.

To download and install the PowerPack:

  1. Search for and download the PowerPack from the PowerPacks page (Product Downloads > PowerPacks & SyncPacks) at the ScienceLogic Support Site.
  2. In SL1, go to the PowerPacks page (System > Manage > PowerPacks).
  3. Click the Actions button and choose Import PowerPack. The Import PowerPack dialog box appears.
  4. Click [Browse] and navigate to the PowerPack file from step 1.
  5. Select the PowerPack file and click Import. The PowerPack Installer modal displays a list of the PowerPack contents.
  6. Click Install. The PowerPack is added to the PowerPacks page.

If you exit the PowerPack Installer modal without installing the imported PowerPack, the imported PowerPack will not appear in the PowerPacks page. However, the imported PowerPack will appear in the Imported PowerPacks modal. This page appears when you click the Actions menu and select Install PowerPack.