Abstract: A storage platform (100) with cloud-based management (182) creates and provisions a boot volume (138) for a server (110) in the storage platform (100) during system setup. A storage template (410) defines characteristics of the boot volume and provides a URL to an OS image (166 or 186) that a service processing unit (120) can use, without any further actions from the user, to populate the boot volume (138).

Abstract: Configuring, distributing, and managing virtual volumes in a storage system are automated and simplified so that administrators may be relieved of such tasks and non-storage administrators can make use of the storage technology. A cloud-based storage management infrastructure (180) can perform the automated process and may employ templates (186) that define necessary information and processes regarding how service processing units (120) are clustered in a storage platform (100), volume distribution of virtual volumes (132, 134, 138), volume properties, and presentation to servers (110), considering operating system and application requirements.

Abstract: A storage processing unit (SPU), which may be resident in a server in a storage system, provides a boot volume to the server and provides storage services. The SPU may execute a process including taking three snapshots of the boot volume respectively after writing an operating system image into the boot volume, after writing component images or otherwise customizing contents of the boot volume, and after the server boots from the boot volume. For updates, stability, or recovery of the storage system, the SPU may promote any of the snapshots to be the boot volume before the server reboots.