Word of the Day: VM automation

Word of the Day Daily updates on the latest technology terms | July 11, 2019 VM automation VM automation is the ability for a virtual machine (VM) to perform basic functions and optimize performance on its own or with minimal manual input. An important goal of VM automation is to minimize human errors and reduce the amount of time it takes for information technology administrators to manage a large, logical infrastructure. VM automation tools can help with the completion of routine tasks, as well as the migration and placement of VMs. Placement is the process of determining where each virtual machine will operate and who will be its host. Migration involves balancing data and processing loads by moving VMs to optimize the use of host memory and processing power. VM automation has many benefits but it's not suited to every workload or environment. While it works well for the creation and management of large numbers of VMs but for smaller organizations, the work and cost of tools required to implement VM automation can be detrimental to the cost-efficiency of the VMs themselves in a small environment. Tools built specifically for the automating virtual machine management at the enterprise level include VMWare vSphere PowerCLI and the VMWare vRealize Suite. VM automation levels The automation level for a virtual machine can be changed in the settings of software such as vSphere and levels of automation can be customized within different VMs. Possible levels include: Manual - The system makes recommendations but does not implement them until the user manually makes the changes. Fully automated - The system immediately implements changes. Partially automated - The system makes some changes such as placement, or which host a virtual machine is nested within, but only suggests others, such as migration, or how various VMs are moved around in order to load balance a larger network. Disabled - The system does not suggest or change anything. Quote of the Day "Admins looking to automate VM tasks should consider whether or not their workloads are large enough to benefit from automation." - Stefani Munoz Trending Terms VMware vSphere PowerCLI VMware vRealize Suite virtual machine IT automation VMware DRS Learning Center VM automation strategies and benefits for sizable workloads VM automation can provide several benefits, such as speed and consistency, but not all workloads are suited for this process. IT administrators must be aware of their own workloads, common mistakes and tools offered before incorporating automation into their environments. What VM automation tools are available? Learn about the various types of VM automation tools you can choose from to enable rapid and predictable resource provisioning. Automation is rarely a discrete product, but is part of a larger tool set, so careful evaluation is necessary. VMware Workstation 15's built-in REST API eases VM automation VMware's Workstation 15 has several new features -- notably, a built-in REST API you can use for automation. Easily power machines off and on, and save time using this helpful tool. What are the most common virtualization automation mistakes? There are three primary mistakes you might make when implementing virtualization automation. Avoid them by examining your business policy, double-checking VM configuration and accommodating changing business needs. How can automation help with VM creation and maintenance? Automation can help ease VM creation and maintenance, allowing administrators to quickly provision and patch large numbers of virtual servers. Quiz Yourself Application streaming and virtualization can help you _______ greater network efficiency. a. attain b. obtain Answer Stay in Touch For feedback about any of our definitions or to suggest a new definition, please contact me at: mrouse@techtarget.com Visit the Word of the Day Archives and catch up on what you've missed! FOLLOW US About This E-Newsletter This e-newsletter is published by the TechTarget network. To unsubscribe from Whatis.com, click here. Please note, this will not affect any other subscriptions you have signed up for. TechTarget, Whatis, 275 Grove Street, Newton, MA 02466. Contact: webmaster@techtarget.com Copyright 2018 TechTarget. All rights reserved.