Set vCenter Server Annotations via vCloud Automation Center deployment

How can i update the virtual machine (VM) Annotations field in vCenter Server when requesting a VM via vCloud Automation Center (vCAC), soon to be renamed to vRealize Automation (vRA)? I have had this question a few times the last couple of weeks. This blog post will describe how you can solve this.

The below figures shows the Annotations section including both the attribute(s) and Notes areas.

To add annotations (attributes) you will have to use the following vCenter Server parameters:

• VMware.AttributeN.Name – The attribute name
• VMware.AttributeN.Value – The attribute value

Change N to a number, start with 0, and add the once you need.

Follow the below steps to add vCenter Server attributes to VMs created via vCAC

1. Create Property Definitions in the Property Dictionary section. In my case i wanted to add information about Billing, Company and Purpose to my VMs.
   
2. Add Property Attributes for the above created Property Definitions via the Edit link to the right.
   The below figure shows the Property Attribute for the VMware.Attribute0.Value Property Definition
   
   The below figure shows the Property Attribute for the VMware.Attribute1.Value Property Definition
   The below figure shows the Property Attribute for the VMware.Attribute2.Value Property Definition
   You can create the drop down box values depending on a previous selections but that is not the focus of this blog post.
3. Add all the required VMware.AttributeN.Name and VMware.AttributeN.Value to the Blueprint. In my case i added
   VMware.Attribute0.Name – with value “Billing Info” which will be displayed in the VM annotation section.
   VMware.Attribute1.Name – with value “Company Info” which will be displayed in the VM annotation section.
   VMware.Attribute2.Name – with value “Purpose Info” which will be displayed in the VM annotation section.
4. 

Now you can request a VM from the blueprint in the catalog and the annotations will be added to the VM

Select billing information:

Select Company:

Select Purpose

Click submit

The vCenter Server VM annotation filed is now updated according to the below figure for all VMs created form the blueprint

Remember that Attributes are vCenter Server wide so all VMs will be populated with the attributes you create. However, they will be empty for all your existing VMs.