You can create scheduled tasks for operations that you want to run at a specified time or at a specified recurring interval of time.

If the task that you want to schedule is not available in the vSphere Client, use the vSphere API. See the vSphere Web Services SDK Programming Guide.

Caution: Do not schedule multiple tasks simultaneously on the same object. The results are unpredictable.

Prerequisites

Required privilege: Schedule Task.Create tasks

Procedure

  1. In the vSphere Client, navigate to the object for which you want to create a scheduled task.
  2. Select the Configure tab.
  3. From the list with options on the left, select Scheduled Tasks.
  4. From the New Scheduled Task drop-down menu, select the task to schedule.
    The Schedule New Task wizard opens.
  5. Specify the scheduling options for the task.
    1. Enter a name for the task.
    2. (Optional) Enter a description of the task.
    3. Choose a frequency for the task.
      Option Description
      Option Description
      Once Runs the scheduled task at the time selected.
      After vCenter startup Runs the task a specified number of minutes after vCenter Server startup.
      Hourly
      1. Enter the repeat frequency.
      2. Enter the start date and time.
      3. Enter the end date and time.
      Daily
      1. Enter the repeat frequency.
      2. Enter the start date and time.
      3. Enter the end date and time.
      Weekly
      1. Enter the repeat frequency.
      2. Select the day of the week.
      3. Enter the start date and time.
      4. Enter the end date and time.

      For example, to run the task at 6 am every Tuesday and Thursday, enter 1 week, 6 am, and select Tuesday and Thursday.

      Monthly
      1. Enter the repeat frequency.
      2. Select the days by using one of the following methods.
        • Enter a specific day of the month and the number of months. For example, the tenth day every five months.
        • Select First, Second, Third, Fourth, or Last, and select the day of the week and the number of months.

          Last runs the task on the last week in the month that the day occurs. For example, if you select the last Monday of the month and the month ends on a Sunday, the task runs six days before the end of the month.

    4. (Optional) To set automated email notifications that are sent to users when the task is complete, enter their email addresses.
  6. If the wizard prompts you to enter additional configuration details for the task, enter the details to schedule the task.
    For example, to schedule taking a virtual machine snapshot, you set the scheduling options for the task and the properties for the snapshot.
  7. Click Schedule the task.