Manage vApp Custom Properties for a Virtual Machine

You can manage and define custom properties that are stored in the OVF template when you export a virtual machine or vApp and are used by vCenter Server when you deploy the OVF template. OVF templates support static properties, which are often configured by the user, and dynamic properties, which are always set by vCenter Server.

Perform these tasks to customize your virtual machine or vApp with properties:

1. Define the OVF properties, for example a DNS address or gateway, in the virtual machine or vApp.
2. If you or planning to export to OVF:
   1. Set up the OVF environment transport to carry the settings into the virtual machine. See Edit OVF Settings for a Virtual Machine.
   2. Write some glue code to access and apply the information to the virtual machine.

See the VMware vApp Developer blog topic Self-Configuration and the OVF Environment for a discussion, sample code, and a video.

Procedure

1. Right-click a virtual machine in the inventory and select Edit Settings.
2. Click the vApp Options tab.
3. In the Authoring section, click Properties.
   You can select and edit or delete an existing property, or create a new custom property.
4. To create a property, click New.
5. Specify property fields.
6. Click OK.