You can either update the reference database manually or by running an auto-update feature to have the most updated version of the reference library. This reference database supplies values for cost calculations.

When you update the reference database, VMware collects aggregated technical data of your vRealize Business for Cloud setup anonymously, which includes:
  • Financial data - Cost values of IT cost drivers that are manually inserted by the user through the user interface.
  • vCenter Server-centric infrastructure data - For each server in the vCenter Server inventory, VMware collects the following details:
    • Manufacturer
    • CPU type
    • CPU vendor
    • CPU description
    • CPU core count
    • CPU pkg count
    • CPU GHz
    • Number of CPUs
    • Memory
    • Server model name
    • Number of 1 gigabyte NICs
    • Number of 10 gigabytes NICs
    • Average daily energy joule consumption
    • Core per CPU
Note: Personal information is not collected from the environment. The collected data is encrypted by using the Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) encryption and 2048-bit RSA token. The private key is kept in a secured server, which is accessible only by the authorized users.
Note: If you plan not to share your data, you need not update your reference library and so you can ignore the updating reference database procedure.

Prerequisites

Verify that the port 8443, which connects to https://vrbc-services.vmware.com:8443 is open for vRealize Business for Cloud.

Procedure

  1. Log in to vRealize Business for Cloud as an administrator.
    • https://vRealize_Automation_host_name/vcac/org/tenant_URL (for the vRealize Automation-integrated vRealize Business for Cloud setup)
    • https://vRealize_Business_for_Cloud_host_name/itfm-cloud(for the vRealize Business for Cloud standalone setup)
  2. Click the Administration tab.
  3. Click Business Management.
    Ignore this step for the vRealize Business for Cloud standalone setup.
  4. Click Reference Database.
    The current version of reference library appears.
  5. Perform one of the following to update the reference database.
    • If an auto update is available, run the auto update process.
      1. Click Run Automatic Update link.
      2. Accept the legal agreement to agree to share your data with VMware to populate the reference database.
    • To manually update the reference database, when you have the Internet connection.
      1. Click manual update process link.
      2. Click Generate and Download DB Dump File link. An encrypted *.zip file with the required data is downloaded to your default download folder.
      3. Click Browse and select the DB dump file and click Upload to generate the reference data file.
      4. Click Browse and upload the downloaded reference data file.
      5. Click Done.
    • To manually update the reference database, when you do not have the Internet connection.
      1. Click manual update process link.
      2. Click Generate and Download DB Dump File link. An encrypted ZIP file with the required data is downloaded to your default download folder.
      3. Open a text editor and construct a URL based on serial and version. For example, https://vrbc-services.vmware.com:8443/vrb-hub/license/manualUpdate?serial=xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx&version=x.x.x .
      4. On a computer that is connected to the Internet, open a new browser window and navigate to https://www.getpostman.com/docs/ignoring_ssl.
      5. Perform the following steps to get the reference database from the vrb-hub
        1. Create the POST request, and enter the URL mentioned constructed in the required format.
        2. Click Body and enter dbDumpFile as a key.
        3. Select File from the drop-down menu.
        4. Browse and select the downloaded encrypted DB dump file that you generated.
        5. Click Send and Download.
        6. Save the downloaded file with the name reflib.enc.
        7. Navigate back to the vRealize Business for Cloud browser window.
        8. Upload the reflib.enc file and click Done.

Results

The reference database is updated.
Note: Updating the reference database is not a one time process. The reference database is updated periodically and VMware sends the update. Every time you see an update, you must perform the automatic or manual update process to update the reference database.