VMware Aria Operations for Networks provides VMware vCenter tags for search and planning.

You can perform a search of VMs based on the VMware vCenter tags and custom attributes. For example, you can use the following query for search VMs by using tags:

vm where tag = ‘{keyname}:{value}’

Every tag belongs to a category. In this example, the keyname is the category to which the tag belongs and value is the name of the tag.

You can also provide an alternate name to a VM by using VMware vCenter tags or custom attributes by using the name key. This alternate name is shown as the other names property. It is also possible to search and make path queries using the alternate name.

For example, the following queries are supported: 
 vm “other-name-1”
         vm “other-name-1" to vm “other-name-2”
In this example, other-name-1 and other-name-2 are custom attributes with the name key or tags belonging to the name category.

You can also analyze the flows in the network by using the VMware vCenter tags as shown in the figure.

The Micro-segments widget displays flows based on the job tag.

Using VMware vCenter Tags

To use the VMware vCenter tags, select the Tag option from the Analyze Flows drop-down menu. The tag option selected in the Analyze Flows drop-down menu.

You can also select up to three tags at this level. After you select the tag, click Analyze.

Category and Consumers tags selected in the Analyze Flows drop-down menu.

In Group by Criteria, Tag is selected.

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