VM archiving enables you to manage virtual resources automatically using archiving rules. VM archiving can include the following automated operations:
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Powering off virtual machines based on resource usage.
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Relocating virtual machines that have been powered off for a specified number of days.
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Archiving virtual machines that have been powered off for a specified number of days.
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Removing virtual machine backup data from primary storage after virtual machines have been deleted from the vCenter and the retention period for the VMs has expired.
You can use a three-stage process to free up resources and storage:
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Shut down virtual machines based on resource usage as identified by key vCenter resource indicators. VM resource management criteria can be used to power off VMs based on the virtual machine's CPU usage, disk usage, and network usage. Powering down inactive virtual machines frees up resources on ESX hosts.
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Relocate powered off virtual machines from expensive Tier 1 disks to Tier 2 disk storage or tape, using the VMware Storage vMotion capability. This is sometimes referred to as VM migration. When you relocate VMs, you can archive them at the same time, or as a separate step.
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Archive powered off virtual machines. As part of virtual machine archiving, virtual machine disks are deleted from the ESX server when the backup is completed. When a virtual machine is archived, the Annotations section of the virtual machine's Summary tab in the vCenter client shows Archived: Yes. VMDKs are deleted, freeing up the space that had been allocated to them on the datastore. Virtual machine configurations are retained on the production storage or ESX, which points to the backed up data.
Each of these options is configured on the same screen, and can be performed immediately or after a specified number of days. Once configured, archiving is performed as part of the normal backup cycle.
Based on retention settings, data for archived virtual machines can be pruned or retained by the MediaAgent.
Archived virtual machines are available for quick and easy retrieval by administrators and end users (VM recovery). End users can also recover a virtual machine from the Web Console. Archived virtual machines can be recovered as complete virtual machines, virtual machine disks (VMDKs), files, and folders. A virtual machine can be restored to the same ESX or a different ESX; VMDKs can be restored to the datastore of an ESX using the Attach Disk to Existing VM feature.