How to Remove Resources from the Library

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When you no longer need a file-based resource in the Virtual Machine Manager library, it is recommended that you remove the resource through Virtual Machine Manager. If you remove the file from the share outside Virtual Machine Manager, any virtual machine, guest operating system profile, or virtual machine template that uses the file will need to be repaired to remove the reference to the deleted file. If you remove the resource from the library in Virtual Machine Manager, you receive a list of resources that are linked to the resource; removing the files immediately updates the status of the referenced resources.

The following table summarizes the types of dependency that exist for templates, profiles, and virtual machines. These dependencies involve only physical files. When a guest operating system profile, hardware profile, or template is used to create a virtual machine or a template, the settings are imported without maintaining any link to the source configuration.

Resource Type Dependent Resources

Templates

ISO images, scripts, virtual hard disks, virtual floppy disks.

Guest operating system profiles

Scripts.

Hardware profiles

ISO images, virtual floppy disks.

Virtual machines

ISO images, virtual hard disks, virtual floppy disks.

The virtual hard disks and virtual floppy disks attached to a virtual machine are indexed in Virtual Machine Manager but are not displayed in the library because the files are not available for use with other resources.

Note

To get a list of resources that are dependent on another resource, you can use the Get-DependentLibraryObjects cmdlet in the Windows PowerShell - Virtual Machine Manager command shell. For information about using the VMM PowerShell command shell, see Using the Virtual Machine Manager Command Shell.

When you remove a resource, the file is deleted from the share. If you want to remove resources from the library without deleting the files, you can remove the library share that stores them. Or, to temporarily remove a resource from use in new virtual machines, profiles, and templates, you can disable the resource.

To remove resources from the library

  1. In Library view, expand All Library Servers in the navigation pane, and then navigate to the library share that stores the resources.

  2. In the results pane, select one or more resources that you want to remove. Then, in the Actions pane, click Remove.

    If any of the resources is linked to other resources in Virtual Machine Manager, you will see a confirmation prompt that lists the linked resources. If you proceed, the files are deleted from the share and the status of the linked resources is updated.

  3. At the confirmation prompt, click Yes.

See Also

Concepts

Removing File-Based Resources from the Library

Other Resources

How to Disable and Enable Library Resources
How to Remove a Library Share