Storage templates

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Storage templates specify properties of a storage volume, such as thin provisioning, compression, and storage port groups to use. They make it easy to quickly and accurately deploy storage volumes and images.

When you register a storage provider on IBM® Power® Virtualization Center, a default storage template is created for that provider. You can also create new storage templates on the Configuration page. Each template is specific to one storage provider, but multiple storage templates can be created for one storage provider.
Notes:
  • When registering a pluggable storage device, a default storage template is created. However, you can create a new storage template for a pluggable storage device using the REST API. For details, see Functions available on pluggable and integrated storage drivers.
  • Initiator port groups (IPGs) define the set of VIOS ports to be used for volume attachment when using NPIV storage. This feature enables different set of VIOS ports for each type of volume attachment and allows to scale the number of volumes that can be attached to a virtual machine. To learn more about port groups, see Configuring initiator port groups.

If no disks or images use the template, you can delete and modify it on the Configuration page. If existing disks or images use the template, you cannot delete the template; you can change only the name and whether it is the default template for that storage provider. If you want to change a storage template that is already being used, you can make a copy and update the new version.

To create a new storage volume, specify a storage template for the storage provider. All of the properties that are specified in the storage template are applied to the new volume.

When deploying images, you specify one or more storage templates. You can choose one or more storage templates that are applicable to the storage providers on which the source images are located.

To view, create, and work with storage templates, go to Configuration > Storage templates.

Note: The storage connectivity group associated with a virtual machine can affect the availability of storage templates when attaching a new volume to be created. This is because a storage connectivity group might only contain VIOS and port members that do not have connectivity to a particular storage array.