Lifecycle Manager User's Guide vCenter Lifecycle Manager 1.1.0 This document supports the version of each product listed and supports all subsequent versions until the document is replaced by a new edition. To check for more recent editions of this document, see http://www.vmware.com/support/pubs.
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 © 2010 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 Manager Process 7 Lifecycle Manager Terminology 7 Lifecycle Manager Roles 8 Supported Browsers 9 Log In to LCM 10 2 LCM Requester and LCM Tech Requester Tasks 11 Request a Virtual Machine as an LCM Requester 11 Request a Virtual Machine as an LCM Tech Requester 12 Display Requested Virtual Machines 14 Check the Power State of a Virtual Machine 15 Power a Virtual Machine On or Off 15 Suspend a Virtual Machine 16 Connecting to a Virtua
Lifecycle Manager User's Guide 4 LCM IT Staff Tasks 29 Request a Virtual Machine as an LCM IT Staff User 29 Display Requested Virtual Machines 31 Check the Power State of a Virtual Machine 32 Power a Virtual Machine On or Off 32 Suspend a Virtual Machine 33 Connecting to a Virtual Machine 33 Create a Snapshot 34 Revert to a Snapshot 34 Request to Extend the Life of a Virtual Machine 35 Decommission a Virtual Machine Immediately 35 Request to Change the Virtual Machine Customization Attributes Deploy a Vir
About This Book ® This book, the Lifecycle Manager User's 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 who want to request, approve, deploy, operate, or decommission a virtual machine. LCM users are assigned specific roles that determine the tasks that they can perform.
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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 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 LCM Tech Requester Role An LCM Technical Requester is an advanced LCM Requester. In addition to the tasks that an LCM Requester can perform, the LCM Tech Requester can customize the settings for the CPU, memory, and shares, of the virtual machine. LCM Approver Role An LCM Approver approves or rejects requests. The LCM Approver is notified by email about new requests if email notifications are enabled. An LCM Approver can perform certain tasks.
Lifecycle Manager User's Guide Log In to LCM You must use a Web browser to connect to LCM. Procedure 1 In your Web browser, type the URL provided by your LCM Administrator. The default is http://server_name:8280/vmo/lifecycle/default.html. 2 Type the user name and password provided by your LCM Administrator. The user interface options shown depends on the LCM role that you have been assigned. 10 VMware, Inc.
LCM Requester and LCM Tech Requester Tasks 2 If you are an LCM Requester, you can request virtual machines and perform the basic LCM user tasks. If you are an LCM Tech Requester, you can perform all tasks that an LCM Requester can perform, and you can also modify customization attributes for your virtual machines requests.
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 from 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 2 LCM Requester and LCM Tech Requester Tasks 3 (Optional) To specify a commissioning date, select Yes for Set commissioning date? and select a date. If you do not specify a commissioning date, the virtual machine is created at the first available opportunity after approval. 4 (Optional) To specify a decommissioning date, select Yes for Set decommissioning date? and select a date.
Lifecycle Manager User's Guide Customization Template Attributes If you are an LCM Tech Requester, you can assign custom values for template attributes. Table 2-1. Customization Template Attributes Attribute Values Memory reservation (MB) Minimum is 0 (default is 256) Memory limit/size (MB) Minimum is -1; must be a multiple of 4 (default is 1024); must be greater than the Memory reservation value Selecting -1 maintains the same memory as the vCenter template.
Chapter 2 LCM Requester and LCM Tech Requester Tasks Table 2-2. Catalog View Filters (Continued) Filter Description Canceled Displays the virtual machines that you created and then canceled. Errors Displays the virtual machines that you created that have errors. Waiting For Approval Displays the virtual machines that you requested that are waiting for approval. Waiting For Placement Displays the virtual machines that you requested that are waiting to be correctly placed.
Lifecycle Manager User's Guide 4 In the right pane, click Commands. 5 Click Power on or Shut down. Suspend a Virtual Machine Users and groups who were given control when the virtual machine was requested can suspend the virtual machine. The LCM Administrator also has rights to suspend any virtual machine. Procedure 1 Log in to LCM. 2 Click the Catalog view. 3 In the catalog list, click a virtual machine name. 4 In the right pane, click Commands. 5 Click Suspend.
Chapter 2 LCM Requester and LCM Tech Requester Tasks Procedure 1 Log in to LCM. 2 Click the Catalog view. 3 In the catalog list, click a virtual machine name. 4 In the right pane, click Commands. 5 Click Connect. Your RDP application opens and the virtual machine’s desktop appears in the RDP client. Create a Snapshot A snapshot captures the states of a virtual machine’s hard drives. A snapshot does not capture the virtual machine's memory and power state.
Lifecycle Manager User's Guide Request to Extend the Life of a Virtual Machine If you want to continue using a virtual machine beyond its scheduled decommissioning date, you can request an extension. An LCM Approver must approve the extension request if the LCM Administrator has configured LCM to require an approval. Procedure 1 Log in to LCM. 2 Click the Catalog view. 3 In the catalog list, click a virtual machine name. 4 In the right pane, click Extension.
Chapter 2 LCM Requester and LCM Tech Requester Tasks 7 Click Next. 8 Change the attribute values as needed. 9 Click Submit. VMware, Inc.
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LCM Approver Tasks 3 If you are an LCM Approver, you can approve or reject requests, and also perform all basic LCM user tasks.
Lifecycle Manager User's Guide 4 (Optional) To specify a decommissioning date, select Yes for Set decommissioning date? and select a date. If you do not specify a decommissioning date, the virtual machine remains in service until it is decommissioned manually. 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.
Chapter 3 LCM Approver Tasks Catalog View and Request View Filters You can use filters to view only virtual machines that meet a certain criteria. In the Catalog view, you can use the following filters to view only virtual machines that meet the criteria. Table 3-1. 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. Procedure 1 Log in to LCM. 2 Click the Catalog view. The icon to the left of the virtual machine indicates its power state. n A green triangle indicates that the virtual machine is powered on. n A red square indicates that the virtual machine is powered off. n Two parallel yellow bars indicate that the virtual machine is suspended.
Chapter 3 LCM Approver Tasks Open a Virtual Machine in a Web Browser From your Web browser, you can connect to a virtual machine running any guest operating system. Prerequisites To connect via your browser, you must have the VMware WebCenter Remote MKS Plug-in installed in your browser. Procedure 1 Log in to LCM. 2 Click the Catalog view. 3 In the catalog list, click a virtual machine name. 4 In the right pane, click Commands. 5 Click Open console.
Lifecycle Manager User's Guide Revert to a Snapshot You can use the snapshot to return to the saved state. Snapshot commands are available to the users and groups who were given control when the virtual machine was requested. The LCM Administrator can also use snapshots. You can access only one snapshot at a time. If you need to revert to a snapshot earlier than the most recent one, contact your LCM Administrator. Procedure 1 Log in to LCM. 2 Click the Catalog view.
Chapter 3 LCM Approver Tasks Review Requests for Approval You can view the list of virtual machines waiting for approval. Procedure 1 Log in to LCM. 2 Click Approvals. The virtual machines requesting approval are listed in the left pane. 3 Click a virtual machine name to view configuration and status information. 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.
Lifecycle Manager User's Guide Approve or Reject Requests for Customization Changes You can approve or reject a request to change the customization template attributes of a virtual machine 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 customization change is requested. Procedure 1 Log in to LCM. 2 Click Approvals. 3 Click the entry for the virtual machine that requires approval.
LCM IT Staff Tasks 4 If you are LCM IT Staff user, you can manually deploy requested virtual machines, modify customization attributes, and also perform all basic LCM user tasks.
Lifecycle Manager User's Guide Procedure 1 Log in to LCM and click the Requests view. 2 Click Request. 3 (Optional) To specify a commissioning date, select Yes for Set commissioning date? and select a date. If you do not specify a commissioning date, the virtual machine is created at the first available opportunity after approval. 4 (Optional) To specify a decommissioning date, select Yes for Set decommissioning date? and select a date.
Chapter 4 LCM IT Staff Tasks Customization Template Attributes You can assign custom values for template attributes. Table 4-1. Customization Template Attributes Attribute Values Memory reservation (MB) Minimum is 0 (default is 256) Memory limit/size (MB) Minimum is -1; must be a multiple of 4 (default is 1024); must be greater than the Memory reservation value Selecting -1 maintains the same memory as the vCenter template.
Lifecycle Manager User's Guide Table 4-2. Catalog View Filters (Continued) Filter Description Canceled Displays the virtual machines that you created and then canceled. Errors Displays the virtual machines that you created that have errors. Waiting For Approval Displays the virtual machines that you requested that are waiting for approval. Waiting For Placement Displays the virtual machines that you requested that are waiting to be correctly placed.
Chapter 4 LCM IT Staff Tasks 4 In the right pane, click Commands. 5 Click Power on or Shut down. Suspend a Virtual Machine Users and groups who were given control when the virtual machine was requested can suspend the virtual machine. The LCM Administrator also has rights to suspend any virtual machine. Procedure 1 Log in to LCM. 2 Click the Catalog view. 3 In the catalog list, click a virtual machine name. 4 In the right pane, click Commands. 5 Click Suspend.
Lifecycle Manager User's Guide Procedure 1 Log in to LCM. 2 Click the Catalog view. 3 In the catalog list, click a virtual machine name. 4 In the right pane, click Commands. 5 Click Connect. Your RDP application opens and the virtual machine’s desktop appears in the RDP client. Create a Snapshot A snapshot captures the states of a virtual machine’s hard drives. A snapshot does not capture the virtual machine's memory and power state.
Chapter 4 LCM IT Staff Tasks Request to Extend the Life of a Virtual Machine If you want to continue using a virtual machine beyond its scheduled decommissioning date, you can request an extension. An LCM Approver must approve the extension request if the LCM Administrator has configured LCM to require an approval. Procedure 1 Log in to LCM. 2 Click the Catalog view. 3 In the catalog list, click a virtual machine name. 4 In the right pane, click Extension.
Lifecycle Manager User's Guide 7 Click Next. 8 Change the attribute values as needed. 9 Click Submit. Deploy a Virtual Machine Manually If a virtual machine cannot be created because some information is missing, the LCM IT Staff user can provide the missing configuration information to complete the virtual machine request. After the information has been provided, you can manually deploy virtual machines. Procedure 1 Log in to LCM. 2 Click Placement.
Chapter 4 LCM IT Staff Tasks Validate a Request After Manual Intervention Occasionally, a request might require manual intervention. For example, if the Sysprep process inside the virtual machine does not run to completion as the virtual machine is cloned, you might need to open the virtual machine in the vCenter Client and complete the process manually. You can then validate the virtual machine so that LCM can resume managing the request. Procedure 1 Log in to LCM. 2 Click Placement.
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Index A approve customization changes 28, 37 approving virtual machine extensions 27 approving virtual machine requests 27 C checking power state 15, 24, 32 commands Connect 16, 25, 33 Open console 16, 25, 33 Power on 15, 24, 32 Revert to snapshot 17, 26, 34 Snapshot 17, 25, 34 Suspend 16, 24, 33 connecting to virtual machines 16, 24, 33 CPU usage 14, 31 creating reports 28, 37 creating snapshots 17, 25, 34 customization template, modifying 14, 31 customization templates, modifying 18, 35 D decommissioni
Lifecycle Manager User's Guide V validating requests 37 virtual machines approving extensions 27 approving or rejecting 27 approving requests 27 checking power state 15, 24, 32 connecting 16, 24, 33 decommissioning 18, 26, 35 displaying 14, 22, 31 extending life 18, 26, 27, 35 opening in RDP client 16, 25, 33 opening in Web browser 16, 25, 33 placing 36 40 powering on 15, 24, 32 rejecting extensions 27 rejecting requests 27 requesting 11, 12, 21, 29 reviewing requests 27 snapshot 17, 25, 26, 34 suspendin
