Foglight Resource Optimizer 5.7.0 - User Guide (for VMware Environments)

VM Resources CPU Memory Storage Abandoned VM Images Powered Off VMs Unused Template Images Snapshots Potential Zombie VMs VM Configuration Change History view

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Configuration tab Waste tab Excluded tab Prices tab Credentials tab Constraints tab

Scheduled Actions Automate

Reclaiming Savings bar

Reclaiming resources Excluding objects Viewing excluded objects

Foglight Resource Optimizer reports

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 Requirements for removing abandoned VM images. 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:

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Abandoned VM Images optimization table

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Change History view

Table 6. Abandoned VM Images optimization table
Description	This table includes the following information:
	Unused Image File Name. Name of the abandoned image (for example, image created when the VM was deleted from the environment, or when the disk files detached from the existing VM).
	Datastores. Name assigned to datastore.
	Size. Size of the abandoned image.
	Last Modified. Date and time when the image file was last modified.
	Recommendations. Recommends removing the abandoned image file.
Where to go next	N/A

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.

Requirements for removing abandoned VM images

The following is a list of vCenter® Permissions that Foglight Resource Optimizer requires to successfully remove the abandoned VM images on virtual machines:

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Datastore:

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Browse Datastore

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Low-level file operations

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Virtual Machine:

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Configuration > Change Resource

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Interaction > Power Off

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Interaction > Power On

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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:

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Powered Off VMs optimization table

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Change History view

Table 7. Powered Off VMs optimization table
Description	This table includes the following information:
	Virtual Machine. Name assigned to the VM.
	Datastores. Name assigned to datastore.
	Size. Size of the powered off VM.
	Powered Off For. Number of days the VM has been powered off.
Where to go next	N/A

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:

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Unused Template Images optimization table

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Change History view

Table 8. Unused Template Images optimization table
Description	This table includes the following information:
	Template Name. Name assigned to the template.
	Datastores. Name assigned to datastore.
	Size. Size of the unused template image.
	Unused For. Number of days since the template was last used.
Where to go next	N/A

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 Requirements for removing snapshots.

The Snapshots view includes the following elements:

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Snapshots optimization table

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Change History view

Table 9. Snapshots optimization table
Description	This table includes the following information:
	Virtual Machine. VM name and snapshot name.
	Description. Snapshot description. May indicate why the snapshot was taken.
	Reclaim Size. Size of the snapshot.
	Last Modified. Number of days passed since the snapshot file was last modified.
	Snapshots Count. Number of snapshots.
	Datastore. Name assigned to the datastore.
	Recommendations. Recommends removing the unused snapshot file.
Where to go next	N/A

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.

Requirements for removing snapshots

The following is a list of vCenter® Permissions that Foglight Resource Optimizer requires to successfully remove the snapshots on virtual machines:

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Datastore:

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Browse Datastore

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Virtual Machine:

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Configuration > Change Resource

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Interaction > Power Off

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Interaction > Power On

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Snapshot management > Remove Snapshot


	NOTE: This permission is for vCenter 5.1 and later. For vCenter versions earlier than 5.1, the permission required was Virtual Machine > State > Remove Snapshot.

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