24.1 About Automated Host Discovery

If a PlateSpin Migrate Connector is available to the project, PlateSpin Transformation Manager provides automated discovery for target VMware Cluster hosts. Discovery retrieves details about the host, including its networks, datastores, and resource pools. If the networks, datastores, and resource pools do not match existing resources, it creates resources for them. You can also rediscover details for a host if necessary.

24.1.1 Discovery Requirements for Target Hosts

Before you attempt discovery for a VMware Cluster host, you must configure your PlateSpin Discovery Environment:

  • PlateSpin Transformation Manager 1.1 SP1

    Configure PlateSpin Transformation Manager and set up a project for the target hosts you want to discover.

  • PlateSpin Migrate Connector 1.1 SP1

    A PlateSpin Migrate Connector must be available to the project. For deployment information, see Deployment Requirements in the PlateSpin Migrate Connector Quick Start.

    PlateSpin Transformation Manager Appliance includes a Migrate Connector instance that is pre-configured to work with the PTM Server. You can also deploy Migrate Connector instances separately on your own SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 servers. See the PlateSpin Migrate Connector Quick Start.

    NOTE:Ensure that the Migrate Connector is up and running before you attempt discovery or rediscovery of target hosts.

  • Target Hosts

    • The Connector supports automated discovery of VMware Cluster Hosts.

      For other target host types, you can use the Spreadsheet Import method to add host details.

    • Ensure that the target VMware Cluster hosts are up and running.

    • Ensure that the network connections are working between the PlateSpin Migrate Connector and the target VMware Cluster host.

  • Credentials

    Create a Credentials resource to use for host discovery that provides the administrator-level credentials needed to access the target VMware host. The Credentials resource is also used later for automated migration setup of the target VM on the host.

  • Network Connectivity and Access for Target Hosts

    For information about network connectivity and access requirements for target host discovery, see Workload Discovery.

24.1.2 Discovery Process for Hosts

The automated host discovery process performs the following actions:

  1. The Create Host dialog creates a new Host object unless it matches an existing host.

  2. Auto-discovery begins for the host, using the provided Credentials resources to log in to the host.

  3. If discovery details for the host include networks, datastores, or resource pools, PTM creates new resources for each one in the project unless they match an existing resource.

  4. On successful host discovery, the Hosts list or Edit Host dialog displays the host information.

24.1.3 Troubleshooting Host Discovery Failures

Discovery fails for any of the following conditions:

  • A Migrate Connector is not available.

  • The target host is not supported for automated discovery.

  • The Credentials resource is not provided.

  • The Credentials resource has an invalid value for the user name and password.

  • The host is not running at the time of discovery.

After you resolve Migrate Connector, network, or credentials issues, you can retry discovery for supported hosts. See Section 20.6, Retrying Workload Discovery.