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.
You can configure VM boot rules only if VMs exist in a VM group.
After you configure boot rules, the sub groups and VM sequence displayed on the VM group page indicate the order to start VMs in bulk. When shutting down VMs, the system shuts them down in reverse order of their startup order.
The startup or shutdown interval is the interval between the startup or shutdown completion time of a sub group or VM and the startup or shutdown time of the next sub group 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 group, configure boot rules as needed, and then execute the bulk boot operation.
You can set permissions on a VM group. For more information, see "
The VM Group group is the default top group 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 group, 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.
You can customize VM groups and create sub groups to group VMs. You can assign VMs of the same type to a group for unified management, such as assigning VMs into different groups based on department or business type.
On the top navigation bar, click
From the left navigation pane, select
Click
Enter a group name. The parent group is the one you selected in step 2.
Click
Set the startup and shutdown order of VMs within a specific VM group. 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 group. The system will generate an ascending startup and shutdown order based on the time at which the VMs were added to the group.
On the top navigation bar, click
From the left navigation pane, select
Click a group in the left directory tree.
Click
Configure the parameters.
Click
Perform this task to create a VM in a VM group. The VM is available only when you install an OS for it.
On the top navigation bar, click
From the left navigation pane, select
Select a group in the left directory tree.
Click
Select a host, and then click
In the dialog box that opens, configure the parameters as needed. For more information, see "
Click
On the top navigation bar, click
From the left navigation pane, select
Select a group in the left directory tree.
Click
Enter a group name.
Click
You can delete a group, including all VMs in it.
On the top navigation bar, click
From the left navigation pane, select
Select a group in the left directory tree.
Click
In the dialog box that opens, click
Perform this task to start multiple VMs in a group in bulk. The system bulk starts VMs according to the set boot order for the VM group. You can start up to eight VMs simultaneously for a host. The other VMs will be queued for startup in the order of task start time.
On the top navigation bar, click
From the left navigation pane, select
Select a group in the left directory tree.
Click
Click
Perform this task to shut down multiple VMs in a group in bulk. When shutting down VMs in a VM group, the system shuts them down in reverse order of their startup order. You can shut down up to eight VMs simultaneously for a host. The other VMs will be queued for shutdown in the order of task start time.
On the top navigation bar, click
From the left navigation pane, select
Select a group in the left directory tree.
Click
Click
Add VMs with the same purpose or business type to a custom VM group for quick access and management.
On the top navigation bar, click
From the left navigation pane, select
Select a group in the left directory tree.
Click
Select one or multiple VMs.
Click
You can remove one or more VMs from a group if the VMs are no longer needed.
On the top navigation bar, click
From the left navigation pane, select
Select a group in the left directory tree.
Select target VMs.
Click
Click
On the top navigation bar, click
From the left navigation pane, select
Select a group in the left directory tree.
Select target VMs.
Click
Select a VM group, and then click
Perform this task to operate multiple VMs in a VM group in bulk, for example, start, restore, restart, shut down, power off, or delete the VMs, create a restore point or snapshot for the VMs, edit the VMs, upgrade the CAStools for the VMs, or disconnect the optical drivers for the VMs.
On the top navigation bar, click
From the left navigation pane, select
Select a group in the left directory tree.
Select target VMs.
Click
Perform this task to edit settings for a VM in a VM group, and add or delete hardware for a VM.
On the top navigation bar, click
From the left navigation pane, select
Select a group in the left directory tree.
Click
Click
Edit the parameters as needed. For more information about the parameters, see "
Click
Perform this task to operate a VM in a VM group, for example, start, restore, restart, shut down, power off, or delete the VM, create a restore point or snapshot for the VM, edit the VM, upgrade the CAStools for the VM, or disconnect the optical driver for the VM.
On the top navigation bar, click
From the left navigation pane, select
Select a group in the left directory tree.
Click