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vSphere StorageThis type of information can be helpful when you need to track virtual machine-to-<strong>storage</strong> relationshipsand configuration, or to identify any changes in physical <strong>storage</strong> configuration.For more information, see the vSphere Monitoring and Performance documentation.• Storage capabilities. The <strong>storage</strong> provider collects and communicates information about physicalcapabilities and services that underlying <strong>storage</strong> offers.This information can be useful when, for example, you need to properly aggregate <strong>storage</strong> into tiers, orselect the right <strong>storage</strong>, in terms of space and performance, for a particular virtual machine.The capabilities appear on the list of system-defined <strong>storage</strong> capabilities. For details, see“Understanding Storage Capabilities,” on page 195.• Storage status. This category includes reporting about status of various <strong>storage</strong> entities. It also includesalarms and events for notifying about configuration changes.This type of information can help you troubleshoot <strong>storage</strong> connectivity and performance problems. Itcan also help you to correlate array-generated events and alarms to corresponding performance andload changes on the array.Storage Provider Requirements and ConsiderationsWhen you use the <strong>storage</strong> provider functionality, certain requirements and considerations apply.The <strong>storage</strong> provider functionality is implemented as an extension to the VMware vCenter StorageMonitoring Service (SMS). Because the SMS is a part of the vCenter Server, the <strong>storage</strong> providerfunctionality does not need special installation or enablement on the vCenter Server side.To use <strong>storage</strong> providers, follow these requirements:• vCenter Server version 5.0 or later.• ESX/ESXi hosts version 4.0 or later.• Storage arrays that support Storage APIs - Storage Awareness plug-ins. The <strong>storage</strong> providercomponent must be installed on the <strong>storage</strong> side. See the vSphere Compatibility Guide or check with your<strong>storage</strong> vendor.NOTE Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) does not support <strong>storage</strong> providers.The following considerations exist when you use the <strong>storage</strong> providers:• Both block <strong>storage</strong> and file system <strong>storage</strong> devices can use <strong>storage</strong> providers.• Storage providers can run anywhere, except the vCenter Server.• Multiple vCenter Servers can simultaneously connect to a single instance of a <strong>storage</strong> provider.• A single vCenter Server can simultaneously connect to multiple different <strong>storage</strong> providers. It ispossible to have a different <strong>storage</strong> provider for each type of physical <strong>storage</strong> device available to yourhost.Storage Status ReportingIf you use <strong>storage</strong> providers, the vCenter Server can collect status characteristics for physical <strong>storage</strong> devicesand display this information in the vSphere Web Client.The status information includes events and alarms.• Events indicate important changes in the <strong>storage</strong> configuration. Such changes might include creationand deletion of a LUN, or a LUN becoming inaccessible due to LUN masking.254 VMware, Inc.
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