5.6

The vCenter Operations Manager vApp includes the same default adapters as the Standalone version and the
following additional default adapters.
vCenter adapter
Integrates vCenter Operations Manager and VMware vCenter Server. The
vCenter adapter connects to and collects metrics and events from vCenter
server. This adapter is also referred to as the VMware adapter.
VCM adapter
Integrates vCenter Operations Manager and VMware vCenter Configuration
Manager (VCM). The VCM adapter collects performance data on virtual
machines in your environment that vCenter Configuration Manager manages.
CIQ adapter
Capacity analysis component of vCenter Operations Manager. The CIQ
adapter performs capacity analysis on real-time performance data and
provides capacity planning information to vCenter Operations Manager.
You can configure additional adapters to use with vCenter Operations Manager. You must install each adapter
separately. To obtain additional adapters, contact VMware technical support.
vCenter Operations Manager uses embedded and external adapters.
Embedded Adapters
An embedded adapter is a Java component that runs as a plug-in in the Collector. Embedded adapters actively
connect to a data source and pull values from it.
Advantages of embedded adapters include better maintainability, control, and visibility into the management
of the adapter and the data that it collects. Embedded adapters also use common functions, such as job
scheduling, that are already part of the Collector.
Embedded adapters create resources through manual or auto-discovery. A particular embedded adapter might
support one or both resource creation methods.
Manual discovery
You send a request to the data source to return all available resources and select
the resources to add. This method is often referred to as discovering resources
or the discovery process.
Auto-discovery
The data collection process discovers new resources and creates the resources
for you. You do not need to manually add new resources.
You configure and manage embedded adapters in the user interface.
External Adapters
External adapters push data from outside sources. The key advantage of an external adapter is flexibility in
how the adapter is created and deployed.
External adapters use vCenter Operations Manager OpenAPI to send information. OpenAPI has a simple form,
which accepts data through an HTTP request, and an advanced form, which uses Java RMI.
External adapters use auto-discovery to create resources. With auto-discovery, the data collection process
discovers new resources and creates the resources for you. You do not need to manually add new resources.
You configure and manage external adapters outside of the user interface.
VMware vCenter Operations Manager Administration Guide
14 VMware, Inc.