Configure the Components › Configure CA Automation Suite for Clouds Base Configuration for ESX › Managing Virtual Machines in VMware ESX › Specify a Prefix for Virtual Machine Names

Specify a Prefix for Virtual Machine Names

You can specify a prefix for VMware virtual machines at the resource pool level. A prefix provides a consistent naming convention.

Follow these steps:

1. Log in to the Reservation Manager using the CA Server Automation administrator user credentials.
2. Click Administer Your Reservation Manager.

   The Administration page opens.

3. Click Manage your resource pools.

   The Resource Pools page opens, and lists existing pools.

4. Double-click a resource pool.

   The Resource Pool details page opens, with the Properties tab displayed.

5. Select the values for the following fields:

   VM Name Generation

   Lets you choose whether to use a prefix or a specified name. Reservation Manager appends the reservation ID to the name or prefix.

   Automatic using prefix

   Lets you enter a prefix for the VM name.

   Use specified name

   Lets you specify a name in the VM Name field.

   Default: Automatic using prefix

   VM Name Prefix

   Specifies a VM name or prefix for the virtual machine names.

   Default: none

   Limits: Ten alphanumeric characters when the Automatic using prefix field is selected. 15 alphanumeric characters when the Use specified name field is selected.

   Note: When creating the virtual machine names using either a prefix or a specified name, the name must contain alphanumeric characters or a hyphen. If you use any other characters, they are automatically replaced with a hyphen.

   VM Name Index Format

   Specifies the VM name index format

   Default: Automatic

6. Click OK.

   You have specified the prefix.