About Default Virtual Machine Paths
Applies To: Virtual Machine Manager 2008, Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2, Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2 SP1
When you add a stand-alone Windows Server-based virtual machine host to Virtual Machine Manager (VMM), you can add one or more default virtual machine paths, which are paths to folders on the host where VMM can store the files for virtual machines that are deployed on the host.
Important
Adding a default path on a host in the Add Host Wizard does not automatically create the folder on the host. You must manually create the folder at the specified path before you can use the path in VMM to store virtual machine files on the host.
For a clustered host, either Windows Server-based or VMware-based, the default virtual machine path is a shared volume on the cluster that VMM automatically creates when you add the cluster as a host. When you add a clustered host, you cannot specify additional default paths in the Add Host Wizard. Also, after a host cluster is added, you cannot specify additional default virtual machine paths on the Placement tab of the host properties.
After you have added a stand-alone Windows Server-based host, you can add or remove default paths on the host. For more information, see How to Set Placement Options for a Host.
Important
It is a best practice to not add default paths that are on the same drive as the operating system files. If your operating system fails and needs to be reinstalled, you might lose virtual machine files.
When you deploy or migrate a virtual machine by using the New Virtual Machine Wizard, Deploy Virtual Machine Wizard, or Migrate Virtual Machine Wizard, you can either select an existing default path for the virtual machine files or specify a different path.
When you deploy a virtual machine by dragging it to a host or a host group, VMM employs automatic placement, in which VMM tries to place the virtual machine on the most suitable host for a host group, and the most suitable volume on the selected host based on the volume's available space.
When self-service users deploy virtual machines that they create by using the VMM Self-Service Portal, VMM uses automatic placement. For more information about self-service, see About Virtual Machine Self-Service.
Important
A default virtual machine path must be configured on the volume that VMM selects during automatic placement, or the virtual machine placement will fail. For more information about default virtual machine paths on hosts, see How to Set Placement Options for a Host.