Unified and automated installation, deployment, configuration, and management of software-defined storage assets

A system, comprising;

• a processor;
• and
• a non-volatile memory in operable communication with the processor and storing computer program code that when executed on the processor causes the processor to execute a process operable to perform the operations of:
• accessing a consumption request to consume storage assets, the consumption request comprising a stack parameter and a resource characteristic parameter, wherein the stack parameter specifies at least one type of storage asset that is requested, and the resource characteristic parameter specifies at least one functional capability required of the storage asset;
• determining, based on the stack parameter, a set of one or more first storage assets able to satisfy the consumption request;
• for each first storage asset in the set that is not deployed, generating a first workflow configured to deploy the respective first storage asset in the set that is not deployed;
• for each second storage asset in the set that lacks the resource characteristic parameter, generating a second workflow configured to implement that resource characteristic in the respective second storage asset;
• and
• configuring the set of storage assets to satisfy the consumption request, wherein the configuring comprises running the first and second workflows.

A computer program product including a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer program code encoded thereon that when executed on a processor of a computer causes the computer to operate a storage system, the computer program product comprising:

• computer program code for accessing a consumption request to consume storage assets, the consumption request comprising a stack parameter and a resource characteristic parameter, wherein the stack parameter specifies at least one type of storage asset that is requested, and the resource characteristic parameter specifies at least one functional capability required of the storage asset;
• computer program code for determining, based on the stack parameter, a set of one or more first storage assets able to satisfy the consumption request;
• computer program code for generating, for each first storage asset in the set that is not deployed, a first workflow configured to deploy the respective first storage asset in the set that is not deployed;
• computer program code for generating, for each second storage asset in the set that lacks the resource characteristic parameter, a second workflow configured to implement that resource characteristic in the respective second storage asset;
• and
• computer program code for configuring the set of storage assets to satisfy the consumption request, wherein the configuring comprises running the first and second workflows.