Manage vApp Custom Properties for a Virtual Machine

You can define and manage 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 the vCenter Server.

Perform the following steps to customize your virtual machine or vApp with properties.

Define the OVF properties, for example a DNS address or gateway, in the virtual machine or vApp.
If you plan to export the virtual machine or the vApp to an OVF template, :
1. Set up the OVF environment transport to carry the settings into the virtual machine. See Edit OVF Details 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

Navigate to a virtual machine from the vCenter Server inventory.
On the Configure tab, expand Settings and select vApp options.

Select your task.

Option	Description
vSphere Client	You manage custom properties from the Properties panel. Click the Add button to create a new property. Select an existing property from the list and click the Edit button to edit the property. Select an existing property from the list and click Set Value button to set new value to the property. Select an existing property and click the Delete button to delete the property.
vSphere Web Client	You manage custom properties from the Edit Settings dialog box. Click the Edit button in the vApp Options pane. If vApp options are not enabled, select the Enable vApp options check box. In the Authoring section, expand Properties and select your task. Click the New button to create a new property. Select an existing property from the list and click the Edit button to edit the property. Select an existing property and click the Delete button to delete the property. Click OK to save your changes and close the Edit Settings dialog box.

Option

Description

vSphere Client

You manage custom properties from the Properties panel.

Click the Add button to create a new property.
Select an existing property from the list and click the Edit button to edit the property.
Select an existing property from the list and click Set Value button to set new value to the property.
Select an existing property and click the Delete button to delete the property.

vSphere Web Client

You manage custom properties from the Edit Settings dialog box.

Click the Edit button in the vApp Options pane.
If vApp options are not enabled, select the Enable vApp options check box.
In the Authoring section, expand Properties and select your task.
- Click the New button to create a new property.
- Select an existing property from the list and click the Edit button to edit the property.
- Select an existing property and click the Delete button to delete the property.
Click OK to save your changes and close the Edit Settings dialog box.