6.2 Managing a Virtual Machine in Runtime

There are many ways you can control the VM after it has been deployed from the warehouse. All actions from provisioning to shutting down the VM can be managed directly from the ZENworks Orchestrator Console and through the jobs written and executed by the Orchestrator Server.

Review the following sections for ways to manage VMs in runtime:

6.2.1 Provisioning Actions from the Right-Click Menu

You can perform provisioning actions by right-clicking a VM in the tree of the ZENworks Orchestrator Console. You start VMs by provisioning them under the VMs list according to the appropriate provisioning adapter.

For information on provisioning adapters, see Section 4.0, Provisioning Virtual Machines.

For information on provisioning a VM and on the usable provisioning adapters, see Section 6.2.4, Managed Virtual Machine Actions.

The provisioning actions available from the right-click menu are as follows:

Table 6-1 Right-Click VM Commands






Prevents the VM from gaining access to the processor of the host machine, although it is still resident in the memory of the host machine.


Allows a paused VM to access the processor of the host machine again.


Pauses the VM and takes a snapshot of its disk and memory status. In the suspended state, a VM can be moved or migrated to another host machine.


Stops a VM from running, just like shutting down a physical machine. The operating system stops and acts as if it is shut down.


Shuts down and restarts a running VM.


Moves a VM that is shut down from one host machine to another. This action is a “live migration” as opposed to moving the disk image with a “cold” VM.

Resync State

Assures that the state of the VM displayed in the ZENworks Orchestrator Console is accurate.

Save Config

Commits runtime modifications of VM properties (such as adding more virtual memory or a new application during runtime) to the VM Warehouse.

Apply Config

Updates the VM’s transient configuration. The VM must be running. This action is not supported in ZENworks Orchestrator 1.3.

Create Template

Makes a VM instance into a template from which other versions can be cloned. This menu item is replaced by the Clone menu item when you right-click a template VM.


Launches a cloned instance of the template VM.

Delete/Destroy Resource

Removes a VM from the Resources list in the ZENworks Orchestrator Console.

Move Disk Images

Migrates a disk image from one storage location to another. Select the storage location from the drop-down menu. You can also move a VM from one VM host machine to another. This is a “cold” migration. VMware Server VMs must be migrated in this manner.


Creates a named snapshot of a VM image. This image is stored on the disk of the repository machine. Xen VMs cannot have a checkpoint applied to them.


Starts a Checkpoint VM (that is, resumes the operations of a VM made into a stored checkpoint from the moment of storage).

Remove Template Dependency

Changes a cloned instance of a VM into a VM instance.

Install Agent

Launches a job that automatically installs the Orchestrator Agent on a VM the next time you provision the VM.


Allows you to customize the VM. This includes changing elements like the DNS server. The changes are made to a VM that is shut down.

Shutdown Agent

Shuts down the Orchestrator Agent and makes the VM unavailable as a resource.

Cancel Action

Stops an action that has been requested.

Check Host Assignment

Opens a window so you can compare the VM hosts capable of hosting the VM.

Launch Remote Desktop

Launches a VNC terminal in which you can view and control the VM.

6.2.2 Releasing a Virtual Machine from Usage

When the demand and load on your data center decreases, the Orchestrator Server analyzes the remaining resources and releases the most appropriate resource. If a VM meets the requirements of the remaining job demands better than a physical machine, then the physical machine is released before the VM is released. This dynamic analysis allows you to make sure that the needs of your data center are met.

6.2.3 Managing Virtual Machine Templates

A VM template is a special kind of VM that is not deployed separately. When the Orchestrator Server needs a VM of the template’s type to be used as a resource, it automatically clones a version of the VM and uses that clone as the VM. You can change cloned VMs into instances of VMs instead of clones.

Review the following tasks to manage VM templates:

Making a Virtual Machine Instance into a Template

  1. In the ZENworks Orchestrator Console, right-click the VM.

  2. Select Create Template.

    In Linux:

    Create VM Template Dialog Box (Linux)

    In Windows:

    Create VM Template Dialog Box (Windows)
  3. Name the template.

  4. Specify a repository.

  5. Specify a visible VM host.

  6. Select a recommended host for the VMs to be launched on, if any are present.

  7. Click OK.

When the clone of the template VM is provisioned, it appears as a sub-branch of the template’s location in the resources tree, as in the following Linux and Windows examples:

Figure 6-1 VM Template with Daughter Clone

Explorer Section of the ZENworks Orchestrator Console

Figure 6-2 VM Template with Daughter Clone

Explorer Section of the ZENworks Orchestrator Console

This clone functions as an instance of a VM and runs as though it were its own version with its own MAC address and other unique identifiers. The UUID is the only new information that is automatically generated for the clone. All the rest of the new information comes from autoprep, including the MAC address if an asterisk (*) is placed in the Mac Address field in the Autoprep Network Adapter section of the Info/Groups tab for the template (the default is a blank field, meaning no MAC address is created), and if the Use Autoprep check box is enabled on the Create VM from Template dialog box.

Ending the Clone

When the Orchestrator Server no longer needs the clone, it deprovisions it and automatically deletes it from the data center.

Changing a Virtual Machine Template Clone to an Instance

  1. If you decide to keep a clone VM, go to the ZENworks Orchestrator Console, right-click it, and select Remove Template Dependency.

    This brings up the Remove Template Dependency dialog box, shown in the following figure:

    Figure 6-3 Remove Template Dependency Dialog Box

    Remove Template Dependency Dialog Box
  2. Click OK.

6.2.4 Managed Virtual Machine Actions

You can perform many actions on the VM through the ZENworks Orchestrator Console and ZENworks VM Management Console or you can write jobs to have actions performed on the VMs in your data center. The following table lists the managed VM actions that you can perform or use in a written job.

Table 6-2 Managed VM Actions




Starts a VM. This action clones and start a cloned VM template.


Creates a new, unique instance of a VM template.

Cold Migrate

Moves the storage location of the configuration and first disk files to another physical storage host. This might allow the VM to start faster.


Stops an active VM instance (including a started template VM).


Restarts (reprovisions) an active VM.


Takes a snapshot of an active VM and pauses it in order to move it to another VM host.


Prevents the VM from obtaining CPU cycles, but it stays resident.


Allows a paused VM to access the CPU again.

Create Template

Creates a VM template from a VM instance.

Hot Migrate

Moves the storage location of an active VM, its disks and configuration, to another VM host machine.


Create a named snapshot of a moment that can later be accessed to restart from the same point


Resumes a VM at a previously stored checkpoint.

Install Orchestrator Agent

Opens a VM image and installs the Orchestrator Agent.

Make Standalone

Removes the association of a template and makes the active VM into its own instance.

Check Status

Checks the current state of the VM to verify if the VM is provisioned or shut down.


Modifies the Orchestrator Agent properties and disk image that are currently part of a clone.

Save Config

Transfers changes made to a VM to its permanent image storage.

6.2.5 Virtual Machine Technology-Specific Actions

For a detailed breakdown of the actions you can perform to and with a VM, see the appropriate VM technology and configuration section in Section C.0, Virtual Machine Technologies and Actions.