Foglight Resource Optimizer 5.8 - User Guide (for VMware Environments)

Abandoned VM Images

VMs images can easily get abandoned in large virtual infrastructures. This situation typically occurs when a virtual machine that is no longer needed is removed from inventory instead of being deleted. In this case, large amounts of wasted storage space develop.

The Abandoned VM Images category identifies those abandoned VM images and allows you to reclaim them, if necessary. For a list of requirements necessary for Foglight Resource Optimizer to successfully remove the abandoned VM images on virtual machines, see Enable optional privileges for resource optimization. For additional information about abandoned VM images reported on a federated environment, see Working in a federated environment.

NOTE: The Abandoned VM Images view gets populated with data in one to two days after the installation.

The Abandoned VM Images view includes the following elements:

The Search box located on the top left corner of the table. It allows you to search the environment for a specific abandoned VM image, by entering its name in the search box. The image files matching the search criteria are displayed in the Abandoned VM Images optimization table.

Powered Off VMs

In virtual environments, VMs often get turned off and forgotten.

The Powered Off VMs category identifies virtual machines that have been powered off for an extended period. It is recommended to delete these VMs, since they have been powered off for a long time. Users must manually perform this operation. The operation cannot be reverted, and therefore, it should not be automated.

The Powered Off VMs view includes the following elements:

The Search for a Virtual Machine box is located on the top left corner of the table. It allows you to search the environment for a specific virtual machine, by entering its name in the search box. The VMs matching the search criteria are displayed in the Virtual Machines table.

Unused Template Images

A VM template acts as the “gold master image” and is used to quickly deploy similar instances in the environment. The Unused Template Images category identifies VM templates that have not been used in an extended period. It is recommended to delete these VM templates. Users must manually perform this operation. The operation cannot be reverted, and therefore, it should not be automated.

The Unused Template Images view includes the following elements:

The Search for a Virtual Machine box is located on the top left corner of the table. It allows you to search the environment for a specific template image, by entering its name in the search box. The templates matching the search criteria are displayed in the Unused Template Images Optimization Table.

Snapshots

Taking a snapshot in a virtual environment does not create a complete copy of the original VM disk file, rather it only copies the delta between disks. A snapshot file contains only a change log of the original virtual disk. The Snapshots category identifies the snapshots taken in your environment that have not been modified for an extended period, and allows you to reclaim them, if necessary. For a list of requirements necessary for Foglight Resource Optimizer to successfully remove the snapshots on virtual machines, see Enable optional privileges for resource optimization.

The Snapshots view includes the following elements:

The Search box is located on the top left corner of the table. It allows you to search the environment for a specific VM or snapshot file, by entering its name in the search box. The VMs matching the search criteria are displayed in the Virtual Machines table.