7.1

Key Concepts of Workflows
Workows consist of a schema, aributes, and parameters. The workow schema is the main component of
a workow as it denes all the workow elements and the logical connections between them. The workow
aributes and parameters are the variables that workows use to transfer data. Orchestrator saves a
workow token every time a workow runs, recording the details of that specic run of the workow.
Workflow User Permissions
Orchestrator denes levels of permissions that you can apply to groups to allow or deny them access to
workows.
View
The user can view the elements in the workow, but cannot view the schema
or scripting.
Inspect
The user can view the elements in the workow, including the schema and
scripting.
Execute
The user can run the workow.
Edit
The user can edit the workow.
Admin
The user can set permissions on the workow and has all other permissions.
The Admin permission includes the View, Inspect, Edit, and Execute permissions. All the permissions
require the View permission.
If you do not set any permissions on a workow, the workow inherits the permissions from the folder that
contains it. If you do set permissions on a workow, those permissions override the permissions of the
folder that contains it, even if the permissions of the folder are more restrictive.
Workflow Parameters
Workows receive input parameters and generate output parameters when they run.
Input Parameters
Most workows require a certain set of input parameters to run. An input parameter is an argument that the
workow processes when it starts. The user, an application, another workow, or an action passes input
parameters to a workow for the workow to process when it starts.
For example, if a workow resets a virtual machine, the workow requires as an input parameter the name
of the virtual machine.
Output Parameters
A workow's output parameters represent the result from the workow run. Output parameters can change
when a workow or a workow element runs. While workows run, they can receive the output parameters
of other workows as input parameters.
For example, if a workow creates a snapshot of a virtual machine, the output parameter for the workow is
the resulting snapshot.
Using the VMware vRealize Orchestrator Client
14 VMware, Inc.