Storage Array (EqualLogic) Status: Not Responding in VMM

Question

We have a customer running SCVMM 2012 SP1, using 2 nodes and the underlying storage is an EqualLogic box.
Worked fine for a while, but a couple of weeks ago their SCVMM started complaining about failed jobs regarding the storage provider. The error message is:
Error (2912)
An internal error has occurred trying to contact the VP-SCVMM01.customer.local server: :a:DestinationUnreachable: :MI RESULT 6:The requested object could not be found..
WinRM: URL: [http://vp-scvmm01.customer.local:5985], Verb: [GET], Resource: [http://schemas.microsoft.com/wbem/wsman/1/wmi/root/microsoft/windows/storage/MSFT_StorageSubSystem?ObjectId={1}\\VP-SCVMM01\root/Microsoft/Windows/Storage/Providers\EQL_StorageSubSystem.ObjectId="6019CB11A5A29937571EA5"]
The handle is invalid (0x80070006)
Recommended Action
Check that WS-Management service is installed and running on server VP-SCVMM01.customer.local. For more information use the command "winrm helpmsg hresult". If VP-SCVMM01.customer.local is a host/library/update server or a PXE server role then ensure that VMM agent is installed and running.
The storage provider in SCVMM is listed as "not responding" as is the Array itself.
Anybody any idea to resolve this?
The closest thing I could find was this thread, somebody mentions the same problem: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/12038.vmm-2012-sp1-installing-and-configuring-dell-equallogic-ps-series-smp-provider.aspx
Only difference is that we didn't do any upgrade or change. Based on his comment I would like to remove the storage provider and re-add it but I want to make sure that removing it doesn't break anything for the LUN's or the fact they keep being presented
to the hosts.

Answer 1

Hello...
What version of Dell EqualLogic Host Integration Tools for Microsoft are you using?
Are you able to manage EqualLogic storage using the SMP Provider from native Windows File and Storage Services in Server Manager?
Basic troubleshooting steps I would recommend are to restart the "EqualLogic SMP Host Service" - and perhaps also restart "Windows Remote Management (WS-Management)" Service.
Has anything recently changed on the Dell EqualLogic group - such as admin account credentials, ip address changes, or the introduction of management interfaces?  I would check to ensure that the SMP Provider is properly configured (username, password,
group ip or management ip, etc...).  You can do this via the Dell EqualLogic PowerShell Tools or via Dell EqualLogic Auto-Snapshot Manager / Microsoft Edition. 
Here is a useful Deployment and Configuration Guide for using the Dell EqualLogic SMP Provider with SCVMM 2012 SP1: 
http://en.community.dell.com/techcenter/extras/m/white_papers/20437936.aspx
Keep me posted.  Good luck.