Adding an Inventory Object

This section contains the following topics:

Adding an Inventory Object: VMware Infrastructure Client Inventory Objects

VMware Infrastructure Client InventoryObjects

When the VI Client is connected to an ESX Server host, the inventory

root

is the host itself.Contained objects include resource pools and virtual machines. Clusters, folders, datacenters,networks, and datastores do not appear when the VI Client is connected directly to a host.They appear only when the VI Client is connected to a VirtualCenter Server.The VMware Infrastructure Client objects are as follows:

Root folder

– In VirtualCenter Server only. (In ESX Server, the root is always the hostitself.) Inventory root folders correspond to the four Inventory views that you can select fromthe drop-down list on the right of the Inventory button in the navigation bar. Child objects tothe root folder are datacenters and subfolders, and from there all the content of theVirtualCenter inventory. You cannot add or remove the root folder.

Folders

– In VirtualCenter Server only. A top level structure that can contain other folders,datacenters, clusters, virtual machines, templates, and hosts. The Networks and Datastoresviews do not contain subfolders below the root folder.

Note:

The privileges associated with a folder propagate to the objects within that folder. Forinformation about privileges, seeWorking with Users, Groups, Roles, and Permissions.

Datacenters

– In VirtualCenter Server only. A datacenter can contain folders, clusters, andhosts in the

Hosts & Clusters

view. In the

Networks

or

Datastores

view, the datacenterscontain the virtual machines, templates, networks, and datastores associated with themanaged hosts.All actions performed on managed hosts and virtual machines are applied within theirdatacenter. Within a datacenter, you can monitor and manage virtual machines separatelyfrom their hosts and use VMotion (an optional add-on feature) to migrate powered-on virtualmachines. You can migrate powered-off or suspended virtual machines between datacenters.For more information about migration, seeMigrating a Virtual Machine.

Clusters

– In VirtualCenter Server only. A cluster is a collection of ESX Server hosts andassociated virtual machines with shared resources and a shared management interface.You can enable the following cluster features if your system is licensed for them:

•

VMware Infrastructure Client Inventory Objects

•

Adding a Host

•

Adding a Cluster

•

Editing a Cluster

•

Adding or Editing a Resource Pool

•

Creating a Virtual Machine

•

Adding an Existing Virtual Machine or Template to Inventory

•

Editing Custom Attributes and Annotations for a Virtual Machine or Host

• VMware HA

allows VirtualCenter to migrate and restart a virtual machine when a hostfails.

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Hosts

– Hosts are systems running ESX Server. The host is the default top structure when aVI Client is connected to a standalone ESX Server host. When the VirtualCenter Server isconnected to the VI Client, all ESX Server hosts registered with VirtualCenter are referred toas hosts. An ESX Server host that is not part of a cluster is referred to as a standalone host.

Resource pools

– Available on ESX Server hosts and through a VirtualCenter Server. Usedto allocate host-provided CPU and memory to the virtual machines resident on the host.

Virtual machines

– Located within a host, cluster, or resource pool. You can move virtualmachines between hosts or clusters. When you add a virtual machine to a cluster or resourcepool, you must specify a designated target host.

Networks

– In VirtualCenter Server only. A network is an alias that unites the namednetworks of multiple hosts. Networks are discovered when hosts are added to the VMwareInfrastructure environment. You can remove them from the VMware Infrastructureenvironment, but you cannot add new ones through the VI Client.

Datastores

– In VirtualCenter Server only. Datastores are discovered when ESX Serverhosts are added to the VMware Infrastructure environment. This includes the discovery of datastores that are local to the managed ESX Server host as well as datastores on a SAN orNAS. You can remove them from the VMware Infrastructure environment, but you cannot addnew ones through the VI Client.

Adding an Inventory Object:VMware Infrastructure Client Inventory Objects: Parent/Child Objects Relationship

Parent/Child Objects Relationship

The following table shows which child objects are allowed for each parent object.A folder cannot contain hosts and virtual machines (or templates) as child objects on a siblinglevel. In the Hosts & Clusters view, a folder displays hosts as the child objects. In the VirtualMachines & Templates view, it displays virtual machines and templates as the child objects.You must specify a designated target host when you add a virtual machine or template to acluster or resource pool.

• VMware DRS

monitors the VirtualCenter environment, makes initial placementrecommendations, makes power-saving recommendations, makes virtual machinemigration recommendations, and enables VirtualCenter to automatically place andmigrate virtual machines on hosts to attain the best use of cluster resources.

ParentObject

Child Object

Data-center

Folder

Cluster

Host

VirtualMachine

ResourcePool

Template

Network

Data-store

Data-centerX X X X XFolder X X X X X XCluster X X X XESXServerHostX X XResourcePoolX X X

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Adding an Inventory Object:VMware Infrastructure Client Inventory Objects: Additional Manuals

Additional Manuals

For more information about configuring or using these objects, see the following manuals inaddition to information elsewhere in this online Help system:

Resource Management Guide

for information on clusters.

Server Configuration Guide

for information on hosts.

Resource Management Guide

for information on resource pools.

Basic System Administration

for information on virtual machines.

ESX Server 3 Configuration Guide or ESX Server 3i Configuration Guide

for information onnetworks.

ESX Server 3 Configuration Guide or ESX Server 3i Configuration Guide

for information ondatastores.

Adding an Inventory Object: Adding a Host

Adding a Host

After you create a datacenter, you can add a host to the VirtualCenter Server.If any managed host in the VirtualCenter environment is behind a firewall, make sure thatthe managed host can communicate with the VirtualCenter Server and with all other hosts onport 902 or other configured port. See the

Installation Guide

and the

Server ConfigurationGuide

(choose

Help

>

Manuals

).

Conditions

To start the Add Host wizardTo enter the information used for connecting to the host

VirtualCenter uses the root account to log in to the system and then creates a specialuser account. VirtualCenter uses this account for all future authentication.VI Client must beconnected to:VirtualCenter ServerInventory panel object:

Inventory

button > Hosts & Clusters >datacenter objectTo reach this wizard:

File > New > Add Host

Minimum requiredprivileges:Host > Inventory > Add Host to ClusterORHost > Inventory > Add StandaloneHost1. Click

Inventory

in the navigation bar.2. Expand the inventory as needed, and click the appropriate datacenter or cluster.3. Choose

File

>

New > Add Host

.1. In the first page of the Add Host wizard, type the name or IP address of the managedhost in the

Host name

field.2. Enter the

Username

and

Password

for a user account that has administrative privilegeson the selected managed host.3. Click

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