Adding notes to VM?

[Paul_N]

I see VC2 has a column for notes, something we'd like to use. However I can't figure out how to add comments in this field.

What obvious step am I missing?

Thanks!

Paul

[kucharski]

You actually add the notes under the Summary Tab for the particular virtual machine. Once click the Summary Tab for the virtual machine, you will see a box down below called Notes.

Michael

[Paul_N]

Of course, couldn't be easier. So easy that it's not even in the manual.

Thanks for your help. :smileyhappy:

[vmjoe]

But there are at least two bugs with the notes:

a) The notes are not saved if you switch to another VM after adding text. I first need to switch to another tab of the same VM (performance tab for example)

b) Line breaks are displayed as squares. In the .vmx file in the annotations section they are stored as |0A (which is a ASCII 10 for UNIX-style line break). Even edited by hand to |0D|0A it is displayed as two squares.

\--

Johannes

PS: VI Client 2.0.0 Build 27704

[mstahl75]

On a[/b] you can also click down in the Recent Tasks[/b] pane.

For b[/b] use shift+enter and it will put in real line breaks.

[vreihen]

For b[/b] use shift+enter and it will put in real

line breaks.

If any of the moderators are reading this thread, :smileyhappy: here's an item that may be worthy of some bonus points for mstahl75.

The only pitfall, at least on my virtualized VC2, is that only the first line gets displayed on the "Virtual Machines" tab. It displays a tiny piece of the top of the second line's text, which is slightly annoying but not a show-stopper...

[mstahl75]

Interestingly enough, now when I try it and go out to another machine the line breaks are converted to the squares. So that doesn't look like it is the best answer either :smileysad:

[mstahl75]

Looking at the database, it stores that information in two fields, ANNOTATION and DESCRIPTION. Both of those are varchar[/b] in MSSQL. I think that might be what it causing the squares.

[thedafa]

On a[/b] it's enough just to press TAB button after editing note field.

[wunderon]

LoL, careful with quantity.

I inadvertantly pasted a couple dozen lines of text into the notes box and hit the "Recent Tasks" box. The .vmx file got updated on the Host, but then the Virtual Center service exited with SQL INSERT error. It would not restart.

I had to manually connect to the HOST with the VIC and edit the notes field down to size before the VC service would start.

Apparently VC writes the vmx file, then tried to update the DB. Also clearly no bounds checking on the sql fields.... SQL injection anyone?

(using vi on the vmx directly didn't do it either).

[mstahl75]

Interesting. That field has a max of 255 characters so you would think the application would check for that.

[sgrinker]

For b[/b] use shift+enter and it will put in real

line breaks.

Small issue I know, but has anyone had any luck getting the line breaks to work?

[Adding_notes_to]

The Notes section in the VM's Summary can be updated with information and it can be done via VMVI console and for a Powered on VM too.

After keying the Notes, move to any other Tab of the vm (like Performance, Task & Events, ...) then the Virtual Machines gets Reconfigured hence saved. BUT should not move to another VM, this action is not allowed to save the notes.

[Adding_notes_to]

End of the issue.

[sgrinker]

Well I wouldn't say that the notes section works logically and as one would expect... but, yes there are usable workarounds.

[Leethal]

Also, so I found out, the VM has to be off to add notes. Bummer that.

[mstahl75]

The machine can be on or off. It shouldn't matter. I just tested it.

[Jae_Ellers]

Another tale of woe

http://www.vmware.com/community/thread.jspa?threadID=51691

[mstahl75]

Another interesting thing to add. If you have notes on a template and convert that template into a VM then the notes get lost.

[Leethal]

It doesn't work for me.....if the VM is running, as soon as I move to another VM and then come back its gone.

If the VM is off at the time of the Note being added, it remains. These VM's are on a 2.5.3 ESX server. That may be the problem.

[mstahl75]

I just testd on a 2.5.3 server and when I try to add a note it gives an error: Invalid Virtual Machine Configuration[/i]. That happens when I tab off, like you could to get notes to stick on 3.0. It looks like 2.5.3 doesn't support notes, though I'm not sure why since it doesn't appear to actually update the vmx file, just the database.

[Carlos Martinez]

I used to have similar problem but if I move to a different tab (like alarms or permissions) within the VM where notes are being added, they (the notes) will be saved. Do not move to another VM when trying to save notes because they (the notes) will be lost.

[John Gibson]

I looked at the Notes field, but stuck to custom fields, they work much more easily, and are easier to report on from SQL.

I record the following infor for all of my servers:

Application/Service

Category (i.e. Dev, Production or Contingency).

Comments

Approver Team

Maintenance Window

This way we can track services and easily identify who may be impacted if a VM or host fails, and makes life easier in creating change records that may impact the host.

An undocumented feature is that the Custome fields are always organised alphabetically not in the order you create them.