5.8.5

Creating Attribute Packages
An attribute package is a group of attributes that are related to a specific resource. When you assign an
attribute package to a resource, vCenter Operations Manager collects metrics for the attributes in the
attribute package.
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Add an Attribute Package on page 42
When you add an attribute package, you set a collection interval, specify the attributes to collect for a
resource, configure the type of threshold to use for each attribute, and indicate which attributes are
KPIs.
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Set Hard Thresholds for an Attribute on page 43
By default, vCenter Operations Manager uses dynamic thresholding for attributes. You can override
this behavior by setting hard thresholds for an attribute in an attribute package.
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Metric Data Types on page 44
Most of the data that vCenter Operations Manager stores and analyzes is numeric, but it can also track
other types of data and alert you if the values are unexpected.
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Set the Data Type for an Attribute on page 44
By default, vCenter Operations Manager recognizes the type of data that it receives for each attribute.
You can override this behavior by explicitly setting the data type for an attribute in an attribute
package.
Add an Attribute Package
When you add an attribute package, you set a collection interval, specify the attributes to collect for a
resource, configure the type of threshold to use for each attribute, and indicate which attributes are KPIs.
To set hard thresholds for an attribute in a package, see “Set Hard Thresholds for an Attribute,”
on page 43. To set the metric data type for an attribute in a package, see “Set the Data Type for an
Attribute,” on page 44.
Procedure
1 Select Environment > Configuration > Attribute Packages.
2 Select the adapter kind for the attribute package from the Adapter kind drop-down menu.
3 Select the resource kind for the attribute package from the Resource kind drop-down menu.
The list shows attribute packages for your selections.
4 Click the Add New Attribute Package icon.
5 Type a name for the attribute package in the Package name text box.
6 Type a collection interval value, in minutes, in the Collection Interval (mins) text box.
For example, if you expect the resource to generate performance data every 30 minutes, set the
collection interval to 30 minutes.
The collection interval for a resource influences the collection status for that resource. The collection
interval for the adapter instance resource determines how often to collect data. For example, if the
collection interval for the adapter instance resource is set to five minutes, setting the collection interval
for a resource to 30 minutes prevents the resource from having the No Data Receiving collection status
after five collection cycles (25 minutes).
NOTE The collection interval that you set for a resource overrides the collection interval in the attribute
package that you assign to the resource.
VMware vCenter Operations Manager Administration Guide
42 VMware, Inc.