Understanding the VM Managers panel

Before you start adding VM Managers, see the details of the VM Managers panel to understand the available options and columns.

To open the VM Managers panel, click Management > VM Managers. Starting from application update 9.2.4, the panel lists not only VM managers that are managed in the central mode, but also those from the distributed mode. However, options such as editing, deleting, or testing connection are applicable only for VM managers that are managed in the central mode. For information how to perform these tasks for VM managers that are managed in the distributed mode, see: Advanced VM management (distributed).

The number of VM managers that are shown on the panel depends on your computer group assignment. You can see only VM managers from which data is collected by the VM Manager tool that belongs to the computer group to which you are assigned.


VM Managers panel
1 New
Click this button to add a VM manager. Use this option to add VM managers to which the BigFix server can connect. If the VM manager is in a separated network to which the BigFix server cannot connect, create the VM manager configuration file. For more information, see: Advanced VM management (distributed).
Important: The button is disabled when the computer where the main instance of the VM Manager tool is installed does not belong to the computer group to which you are assigned.
2 Delete
Click this button to delete the selected VM manager. The option is applicable only to VM managers that are managed in the central mode. If the selected VM manager is managed in the distributed mode, the button is disabled. To delete such a VM manager, remove its configuration file from the computer that is listed in the Computer ID of VM Manager Tool column.
Important: When you delete a configuration file of a VM manager that is managed in the distributed mode, the VM manager is removed from the BigFix Inventory user interface after the maximum visibility period is exceeded. The period is set by the maxVMManagerVisibility parameter and is set to 90 days by default.
3 Test Connection
Click this button to test the connection to the selected VM manager. The option is applicable only to VM managers that are managed in the central mode. If the selected VM manager is managed in the distributed mode, the button is disabled. The status of the connection test is shown in the Connection Test Status column.
4 9.2.12 Resume
Click this button to resume a connection to a VM manager that is in the Invalid credentials - suspended status. When the number of failed login attempts is exceeded, connection to the VM manager is suspended to prevent the account from locking. After you correct the underlying issue, you can resume the connection.
5 More information
A link to a documentation topic that describes how to manage VM managers.
6 Operation Status
The status of the VM manager that reflects its condition. The status changes when connection or configuration problems occur. For more information, see: VM manager statuses.
7 Connection Test Status
The status of the connection test. The initial value is Not Tested and it changes to Testing, Successful, or Failed after you click Test Connection. The latter two statuses are always followed by a time stamp. For more information, see: Connection test statuses.

The option is applicable only to VM managers that are managed in the central mode. If the selected VM manager is managed in the distributed mode, the connection status is Not Applicable.

8 Type
Type of the VM manager.
9 URL
Web address of the VM manager. Each virtualization type uses a different address format. The template is always provided when you add VM managers. For more information, see: Supported virtualization types.
10 Data Import Time
Date and time when the capacity data was imported from the BigFix server to BigFix Inventory.

Column is hidden by default.

11 Data Collection Time
Date and time when the capacity data was collected from the VM manager by VM Manager tool. The time that is shown in this column might differ from the time in the Data Import Time column because the collected data might still need to be uploaded to the BigFix server and then imported to BigFix Inventory.

The ‘Data Collection Time’ column has been extended with an icon showing issues with VM Manager tool results transfer.

Possible indicators:
Case Example Values Meaning
Data Collection Time and Data Import Time are equal with minute precision. 2021-09-24 03:06:12.427 v.s. 2021-09-24 03:06:00.000 No icon. Desired state.
Data Collection Time is before Data Import Time. 2021-02-17 04:49:05.810 2021-09-06 00:01:00.000 Warning: Data has been received too late, and its value will be used in calculations starting from Data Import Time.
Data Collection Time if after Data Import Time​. 2021-02-17 04:49:05.810 2021-01-06 00:12:00.000​ Error: Issue with processing the VM Manager Tool result. Check Data Import logs.
12 9.2.4 Computer ID of VM Manager tool
Identifier of the computer on which the VM Manager tool that collects data from the particular VM manager is installed. Click the link to display the details of the computer, for example its IP address. You can use the information to learn which computer to access to change the configuration file of the VM Manager tool in the distributed mode.
13 9.2.4 Deployment Type
Indicates whether the VM manager is deployed in the central or distributed mode. If the deployment type is central, you can edit the VM manager on the BigFix Inventory user interface.

If the deployment type is distributed, you can view information about the VM manager on the BigFix Inventory user interface, but you cannot edit nor delete it. To change the settings of such a VM manager, edit its configuration file. The file is on the computer that is listed in the Computer ID of VM Manager tool column. For more information, see: VM manager configuration parameters.

Deprecated: User Name
In earlier versions, this columns shows the user name that is used to connect to the VM manager.