VM groups

A VM group is a logical collection of VMs. A VM group can span hosts, clusters, and host pools for organizing VMs logically, such as grouping VMs by service type or dependency for simple management. The VM group feature provides VM directories, VM groups, and VM startup rules.

You can configure VM boot rules only if VMs exist in a VM directory.

• After you configure boot rules, the subdirectories and VM sequence displayed on the VM group page indicate the order to start or shut down VMs in bulk.

• The startup or shutdown interval refers to the interval between the startup or shutdown completion time of a subdirectory or VM and the startup or shutdown time of the next subdirectory or VM.

• A typical use case is to configure VMs to start in a specific order. For example, three VMs with database, application, and WebService software installed respectively require a specific startup order. You assign the VMs to a VM directory, configure boot rules as needed, and then execute the bulk boot operation.

Restrictions and guidelines

• The VM Group directory is the default top directory and cannot be deleted or used to bookmark VMs.

• After boot rules are configured, the priority of the boot rules is higher than the VM rules when VMs are started or shut down in bulk in a VM directory, which causes the associated actions in the VM rules to become ineffective. For example, VM 1, VM 2, and VM 3 are in a VM directory, the startup sequence is set to VM 1, VM 2, and VM 3, and the startup interval is set to 5 minutes. VM 2 and VM 3 are associated with a VM rule for simultaneous startup. If a bulk startup operation is executed, VM 2 and VM 3 will start in turn according to the boot rules.

• VMs are booted in the configured order and shut down in reverse order.

• Only operator groups of the same role can share VM group information. Assume that a user created a VM group as a system administrator. After logging in to the management platform with a role other than system administrator, the user cannot manage the VM group created by using the system administrator role.

Bookmark VMs

Add VMs with the same purpose or business type to a custom VM directory for quick access and management.

1. On the top navigation bar, click Resources.

2. From the left navigation pane, select VM Group .

3. Click a directory in the left directory tree.

4. Click Bookmark VMs.

5. Select one or multiple VMs.

6. Click OK.

Add a directory

Customize directories and create subdirectories to group VMs. You can assign VMs of the same type to a directory for unified management, such as assigning VMs into different directories based on department or business type.

1. On the top navigation bar, click Resources.

2. From the left navigation pane, select VM Group .

3. Click a directory in the left directory tree.

4. Click Add Directory.

5. Enter a directory name. The parent directory is the one you selected in step 2.

6. Click OK.

Configure a boot rule

Set the startup and shutdown order of VMs within a specific VM directory. If multiple VMs have the same sequence number, they will start or shut down simultaneously. This feature is available only if VMs exist in a directory. The system will generate an ascending startup and shutdown order based on the time at which the VMs were added to the directory.

1. On the top navigation bar, click Resources.

2. From the left navigation pane, select VM Group .

3. Click a directory in the left directory tree.

4. Click Set Boot Rule.

5. Configure the parameters.

6. Click OK.

Bulk start VMs

To start multiple VMs in a directory that are currently shut down, use the bulk startup feature. The system bulk starts VMs according to the set boot order for the VM directory. Each host can start up to eight VMs simultaneously, with additional VMs being queued for startup in order of the task time.

1. On the top navigation bar, click Resources.

2. From the left navigation pane, select VM Group .

3. Click a directory in the left directory tree.

4. Select VMs, and click Start.

5. Click OK.

Bulk shut down VMs

To shut down multiple VMs in a directory, use the bulk shutdown feature. The system bulk shuts down VMs according to the set boot order for the VM directory. Each host can shut down up to eight VMs simultaneously, with additional VMs being queued for shutdown in order of the task time.

1. On the top navigation bar, click Resources.

2. From the left navigation pane, select VM Group .

3. Click a directory in the left directory tree.

4. Select VMs, and click Shut Down.

5. Click OK.

Delete a directory

You can delete an entire directory, including all VMs in it, when the directory and its VMs are no longer needed.

1. On the top navigation bar, click Resources.

2. From the left navigation pane, select VM Group .

3. Click a directory in the left directory tree.

4. Select a directory, and click Delete Directory.

5. Click OK.

Remove VMs from a directory

You can remove one or more VMs from a directory if the VMs are no longer needed.

1. On the top navigation bar, click Resources.

2. From the left navigation pane, select VM Groups .

3. Click a directory in the left directory tree.

4. Select VMs.

5. Click Remove VM.

6. Click OK.

Start a VM

You can start a VM in shutdown state in a directory.

1. On the top navigation bar, click Resources.

2. From the left navigation pane, select VM Groups .

3. Click a directory in the left directory tree.

4. Click a VM in the VM list.

5. Click More in the Actions column, and then select Start.

6. Click OK.

Put a VM to sleep

You can place a VM in a directory in sleep state.

1. On the top navigation bar, click Resources.

2. From the left navigation pane, select VM Groups .

3. Click a directory in the left directory tree.

4. Click a VM in the VM list.

5. Click More in the Actions column, and then select Put to Sleep.

6. Click OK.

Restart a VM

You can restart a VM in a directory.

1. On the top navigation bar, click Resources.

2. From the left navigation pane, select VM Groups .

3. Click a directory in the left directory tree.

4. Click a VM in the VM list.

5. Click More in the Actions column, and then select Restart.

6. Click OK.

Shut down a VM

You can shut down a VM in a directory.

1. On the top navigation bar, click Resources.

2. From the left navigation pane, select VM Groups .

3. Click a directory in the left directory tree.

4. Click a VM in the VM list.

5. Click More in the Actions column, and then select Shut Down.

6. Click OK.

Power off a VM

You can forcibly power off a VM in a directory. This operation might cause loss of the data stored in the VM's memory. As a best practice, shut down a VM instead of power off it.

1. On the top navigation bar, click Resources.

2. From the left navigation pane, select VM Groups .

3. Click a directory in the left directory tree.

4. Click a VM in the VM list.

5. Click More in the Actions column, and then select Power Off.

6. Click OK.

Back up a VM now

You can immediately back up a VM in a directory.

1. On the top navigation bar, click Resources.

2. From the left navigation pane, select VM Groups .

3. Click a directory in the left directory tree.

4. Click a VM in the VM list.

5. Click More in the Actions column, and then select Back Up Now.

6. Configure the parameters as described in "Back up a VM."

7. Click Finish.

Clone a VM

You can clone a VM in a directory.

1. On the top navigation bar, click Resources.

2. From the left navigation pane, select VM Groups .

3. Click a directory in the left directory tree.

4. Click a VM in the VM list.

5. Click More in the Actions column, and then select Clone.

6. Configure the parameters as described in "Clone a VM."

7. Click Finish.

Access the console of a VM

You can access the console of a VM in a directory.

1. On the top navigation bar, click Resources.

2. From the left navigation pane, select VM Groups .

3. Click a directory in the left directory tree.

4. Click a VM in the VM list.

5. Click More in the Actions column, and then select Console.

Parameters

• Sequence: Assign sequence numbers to VMs. To add a new sequence number, click Add to New Sequence.

• Start Action: Select whether to start the VMs in the configured sequence. The default is Start. If you select None, no VM start action is configured.

• Start Delay: Set the interval between startup of two VMs. The default is 10 seconds.

• Shutdown Action: Configure how to shut down the VMs. If you select Shut Down, Power Off, or Put to Sleep, the system performs the selected action on the VMs in reverse of the configured sequence. If you select None, no VM shutdown action is configured.

• Shutdown Delay: Set the interval between shutdown actions on two VMs. The default is 10 seconds.