6.0

Managing Multi-Tiered Applications
with vSphere vApp in the vSphere
Client 17
You can use VMware vSphere as a platform for running applications, in addition to using it as a platform
for running virtual machines. The applications can be packaged to run directly on top of VMware vSphere.
The format of how the applications are packaged and managed is called vSphere vApp.
A vApp is a container, like a resource pool and can contain one or more virtual machines. A vApp also
shares some functionality with virtual machines. A vApp can power on and power off, and can also be
cloned.
In the vSphere Client, a vApp is represented in both the Host and Clusters view and the VM and Template
view. Each view has a specific summary page with the current status of the service and relevant summary
information, as well as operations on the service.
The distribution format for vApp is OVF.
NOTE The vApp metadata resides in the vCenter Server's database, so a vApp can be distributed across
multiple ESXi hosts. This information can be lost if the vCenter Server database is cleared or if a standalone
ESXi host that contains a vApp is removed from vCenter Server. You should back up vApps to an OVF
package to avoid losing any metadata.
vApp metadata for virtual machines within vApps do not follow the snapshots semantics for virtual
machine configuration. So, vApp properties that are deleted, modified, or defined after a snapshot is taken
remain intact (deleted, modified, or defined) after the virtual machine reverts to that snapshot or any prior
snapshots.
You can use VMware Studio to automate the creation of ready-to-deploy vApps with pre-populated
application software and operating systems. VMware Studio adds a network agent to the guest so that
vApps bootstrap with minimal effort. Configuration parameters specified for vApps appear as OVF
properties in the vCenter Server deployment wizard. For information about VMware Studio and for
download, see the VMware Studio developer page on the VMware web site.
This chapter includes the following topics:
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“Create a vApp,” on page 196
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“Power On a vApp in the vSphere Client,” on page 197
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“Clone a vApp,” on page 198
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“Power Off a vApp in the vSphere Client,” on page 198
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“Suspend a vApp in the vSphere Client,” on page 198
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“Resume a vApp in the vSphere Client,” on page 199
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“Populate the vApp,” on page 199
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“Edit vApp Settings in the vSphere Client,” on page 200
VMware, Inc.
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