The VMware Infrastructure 3.5 Plugin and Extension Programming Guide - Revision 1 is now available at VIPlugins.com. This document is not sponsored or supported by VMware in any way. This paper focuses on educating developers on:
Client Plugin Architecture
This includes where plugins are installed, how the VI client discovers local plugins and ones advertised on the VC server, and finally how to create a client plugin.
Server Extension Architecture
Includes how to register server extensions and how to make client plugins centrally available.
Tomcat Architecture
Discusses how the VirtualCenter Tomcat installation impacts server extension daemons.
Database Schema
Review the new VirtualCenter database tables that are related to extensions.
Creating Windows Installers
Reveals some problems with creating Windows Installers for server extensions.
Namespaces
Details the namespaces and assemblies VMware provides to create plugins and extensions.
Terminology
Coins new terminology that developers can use when discussing the above concepts.
