SNIA Developer Conference September 15-17, 2025 | Santa Clara, CA
CDMI Cloud Storage Standard
The Cloud Data Management Interface (CDMI) defines the functional interface that applications will use to create, retrieve, update and delete data elements from the Cloud.
CDMI Features & Benefits
CDMI adds powerful data management capabilities that include administrationand management of user accounts, security access,monitoringand billing information, and even provides management of storage that is accessible by other protocols
CDMI clients can discover the capabilities of the cloud storage offering and use this information to tailor the management of containers and the data placed in them.
CDMI is an open international (ISO) standard designed to work alongside OpenStack Swift and Amazon S3 Models.
As part of this interface the client will be able to discover the capabilities of the cloud storage offering and use this interface to manage containers and the data that is placed in them. In addition, metadata can be set on containers and their contained data elements through this interface.
Cloud Data Management Interface (CDMI) 2.0.0
The Cloud Data Management Interface defines the functional interface that applications will use to create, retrieve, update and delete data elements from the Cloud.
As part of this interface the client will be able to discover the capabilities of the cloud storage offering and use this interface to manage containers and the data that is placed in them. In addition, metadata can be set on containers and their contained data elements through this interface.
This interface is also used by administrative and management applications to manage containers, accounts, security access and monitoring/billing information, even for storage that is accessible by other protocols. The capabilities of the underlying storage and data services are exposed so that clients can understand the offering.
CDMI Features & Benefits
CDMI adds powerful data management capabilities that include administrationand management of user accounts, security access,monitoringand billing information, and even provides management of storage that is accessible by other protocols.
CDMI clients can discover the capabilities of the cloud storage offering and use this information to tailor the management of containers and the data placed in them.
CDMI is an open international (ISO) standard designed to work alongside OpenStack Swift and Amazon S3 Models.
As part of this interface the client will be able to discover the capabilities of the cloud storage offering and use this interface to manage containers and the data that is placed in them. In addition, metadata can be set on containers and their contained data elements through this interface.
Support for other popular industry cloud offerings such as OpenStack Swift and Amazon
Commercially tested and implemented extensions and feature-sets including Multi-part MIME, Domain Auth Methods, Group Storage System Metadata, Domain Summary Extension for Bandwidth, Expiring ACE and Versioning extensions. A full list can be found here
100% backwards compatibility with CDMI v. 1.0.2 to ensure ease of use for investment protection and forward migration
Full details on the CDMI spec v1.1 can be found here
SNIA Technical Position: Cloud Data Management Interface (CDMI) v1.0.2
CDMI v1.0.2 Errata (changes since v1.0.1)
SNIA Technical Position: Cloud Data Management Interface (CDMI) v1.0
CDMI Reference Implementation
Working Draft
This early access version of the CDMI Reference Implementation is released for use in developing to the CDMI standard (above). This working draft CDMI Reference Implementation is being released so that developers can get started with integrating CDMI into their products and applications.
Working Group (TWG) continues to create additional functionality, subsequent releases of the CDMI Reference Implementation will be made available.
Get the working draft release.
- To provide feedback, please use the SNIA Feedback Portal.
- For more information on the CDMI Reference Implementation and specifications, please follow us on GitHub.
SNIA Cloud Resources
The SNIA has created the Cloud Storage Technical Work Group for the purpose of developing SNIA Architecture related to system implementations of Cloud Storage technology.
The Cloud Storage TWG:
Acts as the primary technical entity for the SNIA to identify, develop, and coordinate systems standards for Cloud Storage.
Produces a comprehensive set of specifications and drives consistency of interface standards and messages across the various Cloud Storage related efforts.
Documents system-level requirements and shares these with other Cloud Storage standards organizations under the guidance of the SNIA Technical Council and in cooperation with the SNIA Strategic Alliances Committee
How to get involved
The TWG will also assist and cooperate with other SNIA TWGs in their efforts to incorporate Cloud Storage into their standards work.