Delegating storage services to a vCenter server

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

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

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

The service delegation is done on the Spectrum Connect side, providing more control to storage administrators as opposed to the VMware administrators on the vSphere environment side. After the delegation, the services and their pools become visible and manageable on the vSphere Web Client side (by using the IBM Storage Enhancements).
  1. On the Interfaces pane, click the vCenter server to which you want to delegate one or more services.
  2. On the Spaces/Storage 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. Right-click on a service that you want to delegate to the vCenter server, and then select Delegate to vCenter_IP_address, or click the Attach/Delegate button on the service.
    The service color changes to indicate the successful delegation, as illustrated below.

    You can continue the process by right-clicking available services under the current storage space.

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