NOTE: The list can include file and directory backing devices that have not been associated with a particular virtual machine, or that were associated with virtual machines that have been removed or from which the associated virtual devices have been removed. You can make these devices available to VM Manager by adding them to the Integrity VM device database. One advantage is that this allows you to populate the Integrity VM device database with entries for OS installation DVD images that might be used when creating and provisioning several virtual machines. When you use VM Manager to add a virtual DVD to a virtual machine, the image file shows up in the list of storage backing devices to choose from, saving you from having to type the name of the image file or to browse for it.
You can also specify a timeout value for the file creation operation. The default timeout value is 5 minutes.
At the VM Host command line, add a file as a guest device (gdev) to the device management database by specifying the hpvmdevmgmt command with the USAGE attribute value as either USAGE=DISK or USAGE=DVD. As a result, the VM Manager screen includes the file in the list of backing devices you can choose from. The file is listed as a backing device for either a virtual disk or a virtual DVD, depending on the value of the USAGE attribute. For example, if you add file /images/myos.iso to the device management database, specifying attribute USAGE=DVD, then /images/myos.iso will appear in the VM Manager list of backing devices as a possible backing device for a virtual DVD. If you add a file to the database without specifying the USAGE attribute, the file is not included in the list of possible backing devices.
If you add a directory to the database, it is included in the list as a possible backing device for a virtual DVD. Do not specify the USAGE attribute for a directory; the attribute is not needed for a directory.
To ensure that a device database entry is preserved in the VM Host device management database for future selection, even when the associated virtual device is removed from the virtual machine, or even when all virtual machines using the entry as a backing device are deleted from the VM Host, you can enter the hpvmdevmgmt command with the PRESERVE attribute specified as PRESERVE=YES.
When you use the hpvmdevmgmt command to create a file as a backing device for a disk, specify the size
PRESERVE=YES.
When you use VM Manager to create a file as a backing device for a disk, the PRESERVE attribute is set as PRESERVE=YES.
NOTE: If you use VM Manager to manage a VM Host running Integrity VM Version 3.5 or earlier, VM Manager does not fully support virtual device special files located in /hpap (introduced in HP StorageWorks Secure Path software Version 3.0F SP2) as backing devices for virtual storage. When you use VM Manager to add a storage device on a virtual machine, VM Manager does not display device files in /hpap as possible backing devices to choose from.
To add a virtual storage device that uses a virtual device special file in /hpap to a new virtual machine on a VM Host running Integrity VM Version 3.5 or earlier, use the Integrity VM hpvmcreate command. For more information about these commands, see the HP Integrity Virtual Machines Installation, Configuration, and Administration manual.
6.Summary
Review the identity and resources specified for the new virtual machine and preview the command that will be used to create it. This summary step allows you to review all information before the new virtual machine is created.
82 Working with virtual machines
