Adding and Configuring VMM Library Servers
The Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) library is a catalog of resources you can use to create and configure virtual machines in VMM. The library contains:
- Files stored on library shares
- Operating system and hardware configurations
- Virtual machine templates stored in the VMM database
Library resources are added, created, used, and managed in Library view.
The VMM library initially contains a single, default library server and library share, and two blank .vhd files, which Setup creates on the VMM server. The VMM server always remains the default library server, and the default library server and library share cannot be deleted.
The default library server might be the only library server you ever need. However, you can add more library servers and shares based on your current business needs and objectives, and expand the library as your virtual environment grows.
You may also want to distribute your library files and resources by adding library servers and library shares; for example, if you have branch offices or other remote sites. For more information about adding library files and library shares, see the "How to Add a Library Server" topic in VMM Help (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=99220) and the "How to Add Library Shares" topic in VMM Help (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=103537).
Types of Library Resources
The library can store the following types of resources:
File-based resources
This includes virtual hard disks, virtual floppy disks, ISO images, and scripts. To be used in VMM, file-based resources must be added to the library by storing the files on a library share of a library server. For more information about adding file-based resources to library, see the "Adding File-Based Resources to the Library" topic in VMM Help (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=98984).
Configuration resources
This includes virtual machine templates, hardware profiles, and guest operating system profiles, which you can use to create virtual machines that have uniform configurations. These configuration resources are stored in the VMM database and are not represented by physical files. For more information, see the "Configuring Profiles and Templates" topic in VMM Help (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=103538).
Stored virtual machines
You can store virtual machines that are not in use in the library. Stored virtual machines are displayed in Library view; however, the files for a stored virtual machine are not indexed and displayed in Library view, because those files cannot be used to create or configure new virtual machines. For more information, see the "How to Store a Virtual Machine in the Library" topic in VMM Help (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=103317).
Refreshing the Library
After adding files to a library share, the files do not appear in Library view until they are indexed by VMM during the next library refresh. You can either refresh the library share manually, to immediately make the new resources available, or wait until the next periodic library refresh. By default, library refreshes are performed once every hour; however, you can change the refresh rate or disable automatic library refreshes by updating Library Settings in Administration view. For more information, see the "How to Refresh a Library Share" topic in VMM Help (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=98839) and "How to Configure Library Refreshes" topic in VMM Help (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=102979).
Library Groups
As you add more library servers, you can create library groups to help you organize library servers in whatever way works best.
A best practice is to align your library servers with the host groups that use their resources, especially when your library server is also connected to your SAN. By doing this, you know which hosts and library servers are connected to the SAN so you can take advantage of faster file transfers on the SAN.
The library group Properties dialog box makes alignment easy by displaying the host groups in the Library group drop-down list. For more information about adding a library group, see the "How to Modify the Properties of a Library Server" topic in VMM Help (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=101912).
Additional Resources
- Planning for the VMM Library (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=103539)