Lifecycle Manager User’s Guide vCenter Lifecycle Manager 1.0.
Lifecycle Manager User’s Guide You can find the most up-to-date technical documentation on the VMware Web site at: http://www.vmware.com/support/ The VMware Web site also provides the latest product updates. If you have comments about this documentation, submit your feedback to: docfeedback@vmware.com Copyright © 2009 VMware, Inc. All rights reserved. This product is protected by U.S. and international copyright and intellectual property laws.
Contents About This Book 5 1 Overview of Lifecycle Manager 7 Lifecycle Process 7 Lifecycle Manager Terminology 7 Lifecycle Manager Roles 8 LCM Requester Role 8 LCM Tech Requester Role 8 LCM Approver Role 8 LCM IT Staff Role 9 System Requirements 9 Log In to LCM 9 2 LCM Requester and LCM Tech Requester Tasks 11 Request a Virtual Machine 11 Display Requested Virtual Machines 13 Check the Power State of a Virtual Machine 14 Power a Virtual Machine On and Off 14 Connecting to a Virtual Machine 14 Open a Vir
Lifecycle Manager User’s Guide 4 LCM IT Staff Tasks 25 Request a Virtual Machine 25 Display Requested Virtual Machines 27 Check the Power State of a Virtual Machine 28 Power a Virtual Machine On and Off 28 Connecting to a Virtual Machine 28 Open a Virtual Machine in a Web Browser 28 Use Remote Desktop to Connect to a Virtual Machine 29 Create or Revert to a Snapshot 29 Request to Extend the Life of a Virtual Machine 29 Decommission a Virtual Machine Immediately 30 Request to Change the Virtual Machine Cust
About This Book This book, the Lifecycle Manager Userʹs Guide, describes the tasks that users can perform using VMware® vCenter™ Lifecycle Manager (LCM). LCM allows you to request, approve, deploy, operate, and decommission a virtual machine. Intended Audience This book is intended for all LCM users that are using LCM to request, approve, deploy, operate, and decommission a virtual machine. LCM users are assigned specific roles that determine the tasks that they can perform.
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1 Overview of Lifecycle Manager 1 VMware vCenter Lifecycle Manager (LCM) automates the process of creating virtual machines and removing them from service at the appropriate time. The tasks that you can perform depends on the role that the LCM Administrator has assigned to you. This guide describes the tasks that each role can perform. For information about the tasks that the LCM Administrator can perform, see the Lifecycle Manager Administration Guide.
Lifecycle Manager User’s Guide Table 1-1. Terminology (Continued) Term Definition Extension Extending the life of a virtual machine that is to be decommissioned. If approval is required, the request for extension must be approved before the owner of the virtual machine can continue to use it. Infrastructure Attributes such as the network, domain, and datastore affect where the requested virtual machine is placed in VMware Infrastructure.
Chapter 1 Overview of Lifecycle Manager Receive requests for new virtual machines. Each request is presented with the fixed cost of the virtual machine, so the LCM Approver can determine the cost per day of using the virtual machine. Receive requests to extend the life of an existing virtual machine. Approve or reject requests. Generate reports. Review the catalog of requested virtual machines.
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2 LCM Requester and LCM Tech Requester Tasks 2 This chapter describes the tasks that you can perform if you are an LCM Requester or LCM Tech Requester.
Lifecycle Manager User’s Guide 6 (Optional) Specify who can connect to and view the virtual machine when it is running. If you do not specify a user or group, only you and the LCM Administrator can view the virtual machine. a From the Virtual machine view by drop‐down menu, select Group or User. b Type the name of the user or group, or search for a list of available group or user names and descriptions. c Type the email address for the user or group if email notifications are enabled. 7 Click Next.
Chapter 2 LCM Requester and LCM Tech Requester Tasks Display Requested Virtual Machines You can use filters to view the status of virtual machines that you have requested. In the Catalog view, you can use the following filters to view only virtual machines that meet the criteria. Table 2-2. Catalog View Filters Filter Description All Displays the virtual machines that you requested. Creating Displays the virtual machines that you requested that are being created.
Lifecycle Manager User’s Guide Check the Power State of a Virtual Machine You can check whether a virtual machine is powered on or off or suspended. To check the power state of a virtual machine 1 Log in to LCM. 2 Click Catalog. The icon to the left of the virtual machine indicates its power state. A green triangle indicates that the virtual machine is powered on. A red square indicates that the virtual machine is powered off.
Chapter 2 LCM Requester and LCM Tech Requester Tasks Use Remote Desktop to Connect to a Virtual Machine You can open a Windows virtual machine using an RDP client application. The client software must be installed on your computer. To open a virtual machine in a remote desktop 1 Log in to LCM. 2 Click Catalog and click a virtual machine name in the catalog list. 3 In the right pane, click Commands. 4 Click Connect.
Lifecycle Manager User’s Guide Decommission a Virtual Machine Immediately You can decommission a virtual machine before its scheduled date or if a virtual machine has no scheduled decommissioning date. To decommission a virtual machine immediately 1 Log in to LCM. 2 Click Catalog and click a virtual machine name in the catalog list. 3 Near the top of the right pane, click Decommission. 4 In the Comment text box, type the reason why you want to decommission the virtual machine. 5 Click Submit.
3 LCM Approver Tasks 3 This chapter describes the tasks that you can perform if you have the LCM Approver role.
Lifecycle Manager User’s Guide If you do not specify a user or group, only you and the LCM Administrator have control. 6 a From the Virtual machine control by drop‐down menu, select Group or User. b Type the name of the user or group, or search for a list of available group or user names and descriptions. c Type the email address for the user or group if email notifications are enabled. (Optional) Specify who can connect to and view the virtual machine when it is running.
Chapter 3 LCM Approver Tasks In the Requests view, you can use the following filters to view only virtual machines that meet the criteria. Table 3-2. Request View Filters Filter Description All Requests Displays the virtual machines that you requested. Waiting For Creation Displays the virtual machines that you requested that are waiting to be created. Waiting For Approval Displays the virtual machines that you requested that are waiting for approval.
Lifecycle Manager User’s Guide To suspend a virtual machine 1 Log in to LCM. 2 Click Catalog to view a list of the virtual machines. 3 Click a virtual machine name in the catalog list. 4 In the right pane, click Commands. 5 Click Suspend. Connecting to a Virtual Machine You can connect to a virtual machine from your Web browser or using an RDP client application. Only users and groups who were given control when the virtual machine was requested can connect to the virtual machine.
Chapter 3 LCM Approver Tasks 3 In the right pane, click Commands. 4 Click Snapshot. To revert to a snapshot 1 Log in to LCM. 2 Click Catalog and click a virtual machine name in the catalog list. 3 In the right pane, click Commands. 4 Click Revert to snapshot. The virtual machine returns to the state it was in when the snapshot was taken.
Lifecycle Manager User’s Guide Approve or Reject Requested Virtual Machines You can approve or reject virtual machine requests if the LCM Administrator has configured LCM to require an approval. If the LCM Administrator has enabled email notifications, you receive a notification when a virtual machine is requested. To approve or reject a virtual machine request 1 Log in to LCM. 2 If you received an email notification of a virtual machine waiting for approval, click the link in the email.
Chapter 3 LCM Approver Tasks Generate Reports You can generate reports for various LCM events. For example, reports can display the cost of provisioning and running a virtual machine. This information helps determine whether a virtual machine should be approved or rejected. To generate a report 1 Log in to LCM. 2 Click Reports. 3 Select the type of report. 4 (Optional) Define the report period. 5 Click Submit. The report appears in the right pane. You can save the report as an .xml file.
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4 LCM IT Staff Tasks 4 This chapter describes the tasks that you can perform if you have the LCM IT Staff role.
Lifecycle Manager User’s Guide 5 (Optional) Specify who can control the virtual machine request. If you do not specify a user or group, only you and the LCM Administrator have control. 6 a From the Virtual machine control by drop‐down menu, select Group or User. b Type the name of the user or group, or search for a list of available group or user names and descriptions. c Type the email address for the user or group if email notifications are enabled.
Chapter 4 LCM IT Staff Tasks Display Requested Virtual Machines You can use filters to view the status of virtual machines that you have requested. In the Catalog view, you can use the following filters to view only virtual machines that meet the criteria. Table 4-2. Catalog View Filters Filter Description All Displays the virtual machines that you requested. Creating Displays the virtual machines that you requested that are being created.
Lifecycle Manager User’s Guide Check the Power State of a Virtual Machine You can check whether a virtual machine is powered on or off or suspended. To check the power state of a virtual machine 1 Log in to LCM. 2 Click Catalog. The icon to the left of the virtual machine indicates its power state. A green triangle indicates that the virtual machine is powered on. A red square indicates that the virtual machine is powered off.
Chapter 4 LCM IT Staff Tasks Use Remote Desktop to Connect to a Virtual Machine You can open a Windows virtual machine using an RDP client application. The client software must be installed on your computer. To open a virtual machine in a remote desktop 1 Log in to LCM. 2 Click Catalog and click a virtual machine name in the catalog list. 3 In the right pane, click Commands. 4 Click Connect. Your RDP application opens and the virtual machine’s desktop appears in the RDP client.
Lifecycle Manager User’s Guide Decommission a Virtual Machine Immediately You can decommission a virtual machine before its scheduled date or if a virtual machine has no scheduled decommissioning date. To decommission a virtual machine immediately 1 Log in to LCM. 2 Click Catalog and click a virtual machine name in the catalog list. 3 Near the top of the right pane, click Decommission. 4 In the Comment text box, type the reason why you want to decommission the virtual machine. 5 Click Submit.
Chapter 4 LCM IT Staff Tasks Retry a Request If a request to commission or decommission a virtual machine encounters an error, the LCM IT Staff user can retry the request. To retry a request 1 Log in to LCM. 2 Click Placement. The virtual machines waiting to be placed are listed in the left pane. 3 Click the entry for the virtual machine that has encountered an error. 4 Click Retry near the top of the right pane. 5 Select Yes for Would you proceed? and click Submit.
Lifecycle Manager User’s Guide Generate Reports You can generate reports for various LCM events. For example, reports can display the virtual machines waiting for placement. To generate a report 1 Log in to LCM. 2 Click Reports. 3 Select the type of report. 4 (Optional) Define the report period. 5 Click Submit. The report appears in the right pane. You can save the report as an .xml file. 32 VMware, Inc.
Index A P approving virtual machine extensions 22 approving virtual machine requests 22 passwords 9 placing virtual machines 30 power state, checking 14, 19, 28 powering on virtual machines 14, 19, 28 C checking power state 14, 19, 28 commands Connect 14, 20, 28 Open console 15, 20, 29 Power on 14, 19, 28 Revert to snapshot 15, 21, 29 Snapshot 15, 21, 29 Suspend 14, 20, 28 connecting to virtual machines 14, 20, 28 CPU usage 12, 26 creating reports 23, 32 creating snapshots 15, 20, 29 customization temp
Lifecycle Manager User’s Guide decommissioning 16, 21, 30 displaying 13, 18, 27 extending life 15, 21, 22, 29 opening in RDP client 15, 20, 29 opening in Web browser 14, 20, 28 placing 30 powering on 14, 19, 28 rejecting extensions 22 rejecting requests 22 requesting 11–12, 17–18, 25–26 reviewing requests 21 snapshot 15, 20, 29 suspending 14, 20, 28 VMware WebCenter Remote MKS Plug-in 9, 14, 20, 28 W Web browsers opening virtual machines 14, 20, 28 supported 9 34 VMware, Inc.
