Installation guide

Add Custom Attributes
You can create custom attributes to associate with virtual machines or managed hosts.
Procedure
1 Select Administration > Custom Attributes.
This option is not available when connected only to an ESX/ESXi host.
2 Click Add and enter the values for the custom attribute.
a In the Name text box, type the name of the attribute.
b In the Type drop-down menu, select the attribute type:Virtual Machine, Host, or Global.
c In the Value text box, type the value you want to give to the attribute for the currently selected object.
d Click OK.
After you have defined an attribute on a single virtual machine or host, it is available to all objects of
that type in the inventory. However, the value you specify is applied only to the currently selected
object.
3 (Optional) To change the attribute name, click in the Name field and type the name you want to assign to
the attribute.
4 Click OK.
Edit a Custom Attribute
You can edit custom attributes and add annotations for a virtual machine or host from the Summary tab for
the object. You can use annotations to provide additional descriptive text or comments for an object.
Procedure
1 Select the virtual machine or host in the inventory.
2 Click the Summary tab for the virtual machine or host.
3 In the Annotations box, click the Edit link.
The Edit Custom Attributes dialog box appears.
4 To edit an attribute that has already been defined, double-click the Value field for that attribute and enter
the new value.
5 Click OK to save your changes.
Select Objects
vCenter Server objects are datacenters, networks, datastores, resource pools, clusters, hosts, and virtual
machines.
Selecting an object does the following:
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Allows you to view the status of the object.
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Enables the menus so you can select actions to take on the object.
vSphere Basic System Administration
44 VMware, Inc.