Sure! Here’s a step-by-step procedure document for basic VMware operations, which can serve as a reference for common tasks in a vSphere/VMware environment.

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📘 VMware Operations Procedure Document

🔧 Prerequisites:

• Access to VMware vSphere Client or vCenter Server
• Admin privileges or appropriate roles assigned
• Network access to the ESXi host or vCenter

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1. Logging into VMware vSphere Client

Steps:

1. Open a web browser.
2. Navigate to: https://<vcenter-server-IP-or-Hostname>/ui
3. Enter your username and password.
4. Click Login.

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2. Creating a New Virtual Machine (VM)

Steps:

1. In vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.
2. Right-click on the host or cluster → select New Virtual Machine.
3. Choose Create a new virtual machine → Click Next.
4. Enter a name for the VM.
5. Select a compute resource (host or cluster).
6. Choose a datastore.
7. Select a compatibility level (ESXi version).
8. Choose a guest OS (e.g., Windows/Linux).
9. Customize hardware settings (CPU, RAM, HDD, NIC).
10. Click Finish.

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3. Powering On/Off a VM

Steps:

1. Navigate to the desired VM in the inventory.
2. Right-click the VM → Choose Power > Power On or Power Off.

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4. Taking a Snapshot of a VM

Steps:

1. Right-click the VM → Select Snapshots > Take Snapshot.
2. Provide:

• Snapshot Name
• Description (optional)
• Decide whether to include memory and quiesce the file system.

1. Click OK.

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5. Reverting to a Snapshot

Steps:

1. Right-click the VM → Select Snapshots > Manage Snapshots.
2. Choose the snapshot to revert to.
3. Click Revert To → Confirm action.

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6. Migrating a VM (vMotion)

Ensure vMotion is configured.

Steps:

1. Right-click the VM → Select Migrate.
2. Choose:

• Change compute resource only OR
• Change storage only OR
• Change both compute and storage

1. Select destination host/datastore.
2. Review and click Finish.

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7. Cloning a VM

Steps:

1. Right-click the VM → Select Clone > Clone to Virtual Machine.
2. Name the clone.
3. Choose the target folder, host/cluster, and datastore.
4. Customize the hardware (optional).
5. Click Finish.

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8. Creating a VM Template

Steps:

1. Right-click the VM → Select Template > Convert to Template.
2. Template will now appear in the VMs and Templates view.

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9. Deploying VM from a Template

Steps:

1. Right-click the template → Select New VM from This Template.
2. Enter a name and select destination.
3. Choose compute resource and datastore.
4. Customize as needed.
5. Click Finish.

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10. Monitoring VM Performance

Steps:

1. Select the VM.
2. Go to the Monitor tab.
3. Choose Performance > Overview.
4. View metrics such as CPU, memory, disk, and network usage.

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11. VMware Tools Installation

Steps:

1. Select the VM.
2. Go to Actions > Guest OS > Install VMware Tools.
3. Follow prompts inside the VM to install.

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12. Accessing VM Console

Steps:

1. Select the VM.
2. Click Launch Web Console or Launch Remote Console.

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13. Shutting Down or Restarting Guest OS

Steps:

1. Right-click the VM → Select Guest OS > Shutdown / Restart.
2. VMware Tools must be installed for this to work gracefully.

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14. Deleting a VM

Steps:

1. Right-click the VM → Select Delete from Disk.
2. Confirm deletion.

⚠️ This removes the VM and its data permanently.

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✅ Best Practices

• Always take a snapshot before major changes.
• Monitor resource utilization regularly.
• Keep VMware Tools up to date.
• Use templates for consistent VM deployments.
• Maintain proper tagging and naming conventions.

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