GUI – Attaching storage services to a vCenter server

You must attach to the vCenter server any storage service that you want to use for volume management operations on the vSphere Web Client side.

Before you begin

  • Storage services can be attached only with Spectrum Control Admin, Storage Admin, System Admin, or Security Admin storage credentials (see GUI – Entering the storage system credentials).
  • When working with DS8000®, services can be attached only with Spectrum Control Admin or Logical Operator storage credentials.
  • Working with VMware VVols requires the Storage Integration Admin access level configured at the XIV® storage system side.

Any other type of storage credentials (read-only, application admin) cannot perform service attachment. If your credentials are not sufficient, contact your storage administrator for assistance.

About this task

The service attachment is done on the Spectrum Control Base side, providing more control to storage administrators as opposed to the VMware administrators on the vSphere environment side. After the attachment, the services and their pools become visible and manageable on the vSphere Web Client side (by using the IBM Storage Enhancements).

Procedure

  1. On the Applications pane, click the vCenter server to which you want to attach one or more services.
  2. On the Spaces/Services pane, select the storage space from which you want to choose storage services. The available services that reside on the selected storage space are immediately displayed.
  3. Click on a service that you want to attach to the vCenter server. The service color changes to green to indicate the successful attachment, as illustrated below.

    You can continue the process by clicking unattached services under the current storage space.

    Figure 1. vCenter server with attached services
    This image shows the vCenter server with attached services.
    The vCenter server provides indication for the allocated and used storage space.
    • Allocated – amount of storage space available on all pools connected to the attached services.
    • Used – amount of storage space used by volumes on all pools connected to the attached services. The volumes are created using IBM Storage Enhancements for VMware vSphere Web Client.