4.2

Figure 1-1. VMware vCenter Orchestrator Architecture
Orchestrator
database
workflow library
vCenter
Server
XML SSH JDBC SMTP
3rd-party
plug-in
directory
services
workflow engine
web
service
browser
access
vCenter
Orchestrator
Client application
vCenter
Server
Default Orchestrator Plug-Ins
Orchestrator includes a collection of plug-ins. Each plug-in exposes an external product API to the Orchestrator
platform. Plug-ins provide inventory classes, extend the scripting engine with new object types, and publish
notification events from the external system. Each plug-in can also provide a library of workflows that
represents the typical use cases of the integrated product in an automated fashion.
You can see the list of available plug-ins from the Plug-ins tab in the Orchestrator configuration interface. Plug-
ins that require configuration add separate tabs to the interface.
Table 1-1. Plug-Ins Installed with Orchestrator by Default
Plug-In Purpose Configuration Input Types Scripting Objects Inventory
vCenter Server
4.1
Provides access to the
vCenter Server 4.1 API, so
that you can incorporate all
of the vCenter Server objects
and functions into the
management processes that
you use Orchestrator to
automate.
See “Configure
the vCenter
Server 4.1 Plug-
In,” on page 15.
See
http://www.vmw
are.com/suppor
t/orchestrator/do
c/vco_vsphere41
_api/index.html.
See
http://www.vmware.co
m/support/orchestrato
r/doc/vco_vsphere41_ap
i/index.html.
Exposes all
vCenter
Server
objects.
vCO Library Provides workflows that act
as basic building blocks for
customization and
automation of client
processes. The workflow
library includes templates
for lifecycle management,
provisioning, disaster
recovery, hot backup, and
many other standard
processes. Sources of library
processes are accessible and
can be copied and edited.
None See Developing
with VMware
vCenter
Orchestrator,
Using the
Orchestrator API.
See Developing with
VMware vCenter
Orchestrator, Using the
Orchestrator API.
Exposes
nothing in
the
inventory.
Using VMware vCenter Orchestrator Plug-Ins
10 VMware, Inc.