About Virtual Machine Self-Service

Virtual machine self-service enables the Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) administrator to grant users permission to create and operate their own virtual machines within a controlled environment on a limited group of virtual machine hosts. The Virtual Machine Manager administrator configures self-service policies, which determine the scope of the users' actions on their own virtual machines. For more information, see About Self-Service Policies.

To create, operate, and manage their virtual machines, self-service users use a Web page, the Virtual Machine Manager Self-Service Portal. The portal provides a controlled environment in which users create, operate, and manage their virtual machines within the constraints of the self-service policies. For more information, see About the Virtual Machine Manager Self-Service Portal.

Self-service policies are added to a host group. When a self-service user creates a virtual machine, the virtual machine is automatically placed on the most suitable host in that host group based on host ratings. For more information, see About Virtual Machine Placement.

A self-service policy can be created for a user or a group. A self-service policy for a group can be configured for group ownership or individual ownership. Under group ownership, virtual machines are owned, operated, and managed by the group. Under individual ownership, the self-service policy applies a standard set of permissions and templates to the individuals in the group, but all individuals own, operate, and manage their own virtual machines. For more information, see About Virtual Machine Ownership.

You can set a virtual machine quota in a self-service policy to limit the number of virtual machines that a user or group can deploy. Quota points are then assigned to the templates that self-service users use to create their virtual machines. When the self-service user's quota is reached, the user cannot create any new virtual machines until an existing virtual machine is removed or stored in the library.

Quota points apply only to virtual machines on a host. If a self-service user is allowed to store virtual machines, the quota does not apply to virtual machines stored in the library. For more information, see About Virtual Machine Quotas.

See Also

Concepts

Virtual Machine Self-Service

Other Resources

How to Set Up Virtual Machine Self-Service