Here, the user may receive or view the metadata (226) through a client-side array services module (228) stored in RAM (238) of a client-side user computer (204). In the example of FIG. 2, the client-side user computer (204) is depicted as being coupled through the SAN (158) to the storage array (202) for use in storing data in the storage array. Alternatively, the client-side user computer (204) may be a device that is not connected to the storage array (202) for purposes of storing data but rather may be connected only via a LAN for purposes of receiving results of the cloud storage array services. Consider, for example, a client-side user computer that is implemented as a mobile device that is carried by a system administrator. Although the mobile device is not coupled to the storage array for purposes of data storage, the system administrator may utilize the mobile device to request and receive results from various reporting services that indicate storage array performance characteristics, errors, alerts, and the like.

In some embodiments, prior to the storage array services module (182) initiating cloud storage array services (184) locally, such cloud storage array services may be provided remotely via the storage array services provider (176). In such an embodiment, the cloud storage array services (184) may be stored in RAM (24) of the storage array services provider (176) and be accessible via an API exposed by the storage array services provider via data communications over the Internet (172) or some other wide-area network.