The vm-support tool is re-written entirely in python framework from vSphere 5.0. This allows for a plugin type framework and users can run individual modules without the need to change the tool, it gathers and triggers commands to get diagnostic data across different components of the ESXi server.
The vm-support tool has been modified with this in mind and now addresses these components as “Groups”. Almost every component comes under this group and allows the user to run the support tool on these groups either individually or by combining multiple groups.
vm-support tool in vSphere 5.0 introduces the concept of manifest files. A manifest file is the setup or configuration file that the vm-support tool refers to run any command or gather any diagnostic log and store it in the vm-support tar bundle. A manifest file has the details of the group it belongs to, the set of actions that have to be executed and additional options like timeout value in executing a command.
By default, a set of manifest files are made available to the user during the installation of ESXi 5.0. The manifest files are available under the /etc/vmware/vm-support directory. Tags are another feature introduced in the vm-support tool in vSphere 5.0. Tags refer to a number of groups or a list of manifest files with common components and trigger commands around similar groups.
By default, a set of manifest files are made available to the user during the installation of ESXi 5.0. The manifest files are available under the /etc/vmware/vm-support directory. Tags are another feature introduced in the vm-support tool in vSphere 5.0. Tags refer to a number of groups or a list of manifest files with common components and trigger commands around similar groups.
Like previous versions, the support tool also provides the user to run performance snapshots, gather information about a particular VM, and also list out the files that have been gathered by the support tool.
