Required and optional initial tasks

After IBM® Spectrum Control Base Edition is installed, different tasks are required before the server can become fully operational.

Refer to the following tables for information about the required and optional management tasks.

Note: Unless specified otherwise in the 'Management method' column, you can initiate tasks from either the graphical user interface (GUI) or command-line interface (CLI) .
Table 1. Required tasks in sequential order
Step Required task Management method Relevant cloud interface Refer to
1. Set a password for the 'ibmsc' user if necessary (a Linux root user action), and then switch to the 'ibmsc' user. CLI All
2. Run initial setup to define high-availablity groups, add SSL certificate and set storage system credentials. If you complete the initial setup, you can skip steps 4–6 below. GUI All
3. Log in to the GUI and then change the password of the initial admin user. GUI All
4. Define a high-availability group GUI IBM Storage Provider for VMware VASA
5. Add SSL certificate for the Spectrum Control Base server CLI or GUI All
6. Add the storage system access credentials CLI or GUI All
7. Add the storage systems to be used CLI or GUI All
Table 2. Optional tasks
Step Optional task Management method Relevant cloud interface Refer to
1. Set the VASA access credentials ("VASA Secret") to allow connection of vCenter servers that require VASA functions. CLI or GUI IBM Storage Provider for VMware VASA
2. Define storage spaces and services. GUI
  • IBM Storage Enhancements for VMware vSphere Web Client
  • IBM Storage Plug-in for VMware vRealize Orchestrator
  • IBM Storage Provider for VMware VASA
3. Add vCenter servers. CLI or GUI IBM Storage Enhancements for VMware vSphere Web Client
4. If you want to use vWC plug-in for managing volumes created on storage resources attached to specific services, delegate the services to the previously added vCenter servers. CLI or GUI IBM Storage Enhancements for VMware vSphere Web Client
5. Establish integration with vRealize Orchestrator (vRO).
Note: Not applicable for the DS8000 family storage systems.
GUI IBM Storage Plug-in for VMware vRealize Orchestrator
6. Delegate storage services to the previously added vRO server.
Note: Not applicable for the DS8000 family storage systems.
GUI IBM Storage Plug-in for VMware vRealize Orchestrator
7. Establish integration with vRealize Operations Manager (vROps).
Note: Not applicable for the DS8000 family storage systems.
CLI or GUI IBM Storage Management Pack for VMware vRealize Operations Manager
8. Configure LDAP-based directory user access to Spectrum Control Base. CLI -
9. Manage the Spectrum Control Base users. CLI -
10. Back up or restore a Spectrum Control Base configuration, including the data of all existing user accounts, credentials, storage systems, and storage resources. CLI -