4.0

Workflow Tokens
A workflow token represents a workflow that is running or has run.
A workflow is an abstract description of a process that defines a generic sequence of steps and a generic set of
required input parameters. When you run a workflow with a set of real input parameters, you receive an
instance of this abstract workflow that behaves according to the specific input parameters you give it. This
specific instance of a completed or a running workflow is called a workflow token.
Workflow Token Attributes
Workflow token attributes are the specific parameters with which a workflow token runs. The workflow token
attributes are an aggregation of the workflow's global attributes and the specific input and output parameters
with which you run the workflow token.
Workflow Token States
Each time you run a workflow, a workflow token appears under that workflow as a new leaf node in the
workflows hierarchical list. Clicking a workflow token in the hierarchical list shows tabs in the right pane that
show information about the workflow token.
The information shown includes the schema diagram for that workflow, a list of events, the list of the workflow
token attributes, and a log of the specific workflow token run. If you click on a workflow token while it is
running, you can see the information in the tabs updating in real time.
Table 3-2. Workflow Token States
State Icon Description
Running The workflow token is running.
Waiting for User Interaction The workflow token is suspended while
it waits for input parameters from a user
interaction or from an external
application. During the waiting period,
the workflow threads become passive.
Waiting for Event or Timer The workflow token is suspended while
it waits for a signal from an external
trigger or a timer before resuming.
Long-running workflows enter this
state while they wait for the signal to
resume running. During the waiting
period, the workflow threads become
passive.
Canceled The workflow token is canceled by the
user, by an external application, or by
another workflow.
Failed The workflow token failed.
Completed The workflow token ran successfully.
However, a completed workflow token
might have encountered errors when it
ran, if error-handling is part of the
workflow definition.
vCenter Orchestrator Administration Guide
32 VMware, Inc.