Data collected for VMware vCenter Server

  • Release version: Yokohama
  • Updated December 2, 2025
  • 9 minutes to read

    • Discovery identifies and classifies information and data about VMware vCenter servers.

    vCenter table schema

    The vCenter table schema is illustrated in the following diagram:

    Figure 1. vCenter table schema
    vCenter table schema
    Several tables are cloud-agnostic tables, meaning that they can be populated for any cloud resource, not just vCenter resources. Look in the sub tables that extend the cloud-agnostic tables to find discovered CIs.
    Cloud-agnostic table Look in this vCenter-specific table
    Virtual Machine Instance [cmdb_ci_vm_instance] VMware Virtual Machine Instance [cmdb_ci_vmware_instance]
    Operating System Template [cmdb_ci_os_template] VMware Virtual Machine Template [cmdb_ci_vmware_template]
    Logical Datacenter [cmdb_ci_logical_datacenter] VMware vCenter Datacenter [cmdb_ci_vcenter_datacenter]
    Cloud Networks [cmdb_ci_network] VMware vCenter Network [cmdb_ci_vcenter_network]
    Datastore [cmdb_ci_datastore] VMware vCenter Datastore [cmdb_ci_vcenter_datastore]
    Host Cluster [cmdb_ci_host_cluster] VMware vCenter Cluster [cmdb_ci_vcenter_cluster]

    vCenter data

    Discovery uses multiple vCenter probes to collect this data from vCenter. The data is saved in tables extend from the Configuration item [cmdb_ci] table.

    Table 1. VMware vCenter Instance [cmdb_ci_vcenter]
    Field label Column name
    Name name
    IP Address ip_address
    API version api_version
    Full name fullname
    Instance UUID instance_uuid
    URL url
    Fully qualified domain name fqdn
    The combination of the vCenter instance in the cmdb_ci_vcenter table and the object ID in the cmdb_ci_vm_object table identifies a specific vCenter.

    The tables extend from the Virtual Machine Objects [cmdb_ci_vm_object] table, which holds object IDs for all cloud-based resources, except virtualization servers.

    Table 2. DRS VM Config [cmdb_ci_drs_vm_config]
    Field label Column name
    Cluster cluster
    DRS behavior drs_behavior
    DRS enabled drs_enabled
    Virtual machine virtual_machine
    This table stores DRS behavior for the VMs that override the cluster behavior. For more information on DRS, see VMware's documentation on Distributed Resource Scheduler.
    Table 3. VMware vCenter VM Group [cmdb_ci_vcenter_vm_group]
    Field label Column name
    Cluster cluster

    The VMware vCenter VM group [cmdb_ci_vcenter_vm_group] table has Contains::Contained by relationship with cmdb_ci_vmware_instance. This group has a set of VMs.

    Table 4. VMware vCenter Host Group [cmdb_ci_vcenter_host_group]
    Field label Column name
    Cluster cluster

    The VMware vCenter Host Group [cmdb_ci_vcenter_host_group] table has Contains::Contained by relationship with cmdb_ci_vmware_instance. This group has a set of hosts.

    Table 5. VMware vCenter Cluster DRS Rule [cmdb_ci_vcenter_cluster_drs_rule]
    Field label Column name
    Rule UUID rule_uuid
    Active active
    Cluster cluster
    Table 6. VMware Virtual Machine Instance [cmdb_ci_vmware_instance]
    Field label Column name
    Name name
    Template template
    CPUs cpus
    Disks disks
    Disks size (GB) disks_size
    Memory (MB) memory
    Network adapters nics
    Image path image_path
    State state
    vCenter Instance UUID vcenter_uuid
    vCenter Reference vcenter_ref
    BIOS UUID bios_uuid
    VM Instance UUID vm_instance_uuid
    IP address ip_address
    Table 7. VMware Distributed Virtual Port Groups [cmdb_ci_vcenter_dv_port_group]
    Field Label Column name
    Name name
    vCenter Instance UUID vcenter_uuid
    Distributed Virtual Switch Reference dvs_ref
    Table 8. VMware Virtual Machine Template [cmdb_ci_vmware_template]
    Field label Column name
    Name The template name from VMWare.
    CPUs cpus
    Disks size (GB) disks_size
    Guest ID guest_id
    Memory (MB) memory
    Image path image_path
    vCenter Instance UUID vcenter_uuid
    vCenter Reference vcenter_ref
    Network adapters nics
    Base name base_name
    VM namer vm_namer
    BIOS UUID bios_uuid
    VM Instance UUID vm_instance_uuid
    Table 9. VMware vCenter Object [cmdb_ci_vcenter_object]
    Field label Column name
    Managed object reference ID morid
    vCenter Instance UUID vcenter_uuid
    vCenter Reference vcenter_ref
    Table 10. VMware vCenter Datacenter [cmdb_ci_vcenter_datacenter]*
    Field label Column name
    Region region
    Managed object reference ID morid
    vCenter Instance UUID vcenter_uuid
    vCenter Reference vcenter_ref
    Top level folder for VMs folder_moreid
    Top level folder for hosts host_morid
    *The VMware vCenter Datacenter [cmdb_ci_vcenter_datacenter] table is extended from the [cmdb_ci_logical_datacenter] table.
    Table 11. VMware vCenter Network [cmdb_ci_vcenter_network]*
    Field label Column name
    Managed object reference ID morid
    vCenter Instance UUID vcenter_uuid
    vCenter Reference vcenter_ref
    Network accessible by either hosts or virtual machines accessible
    *The VMware vCenter Network [cmdb_ci_vcenter_network] table is extended from the [cmdb_ci_network] table.
    Table 12. VMware Distributed Virtual Switch [cmdb_ci_vcenter_dvs]
    Field label Column name
    VMCount vm_count
    Host count host_count
    Table 13. VMware vCenter Folder [cmdb_ci_vcenter_folder]
    Field label Column name
    Managed object reference ID morid
    vCenter Instance UUID vcenter_uuid
    vCenter Reference vcenter_ref
    Full path fullpath
    Table 14. ESX Resource Pool [cmdb_ci_esx_resource_pool]
    Field label Column name
    Managed object reference ID morid
    vCenter Instance UUID vcenter
    vCenter Reference vcenter_ref
    Owner owner
    Owner Managed Object Reference ID owner_morid
    CPU expandable cpu_expandable
    CPU limit (MHz) cpu_limit_mhz
    CPU reserved (MHz) cpu_reserved_mhz
    CPU shares cpu_shares
    Full path fullpath
    Memory expandable mem_expandable
    Memory limit (MB) mem_limit_mb
    Memory reserved (MB) mem_reserved_mb
    Memory shares mem_shares
    Table 15. VMware vCenter Datastore [cmdb_ci_vcenter_datastore]
    Field label Column name
    Managed object reference ID morid
    vCenter Instance UUID vcenter_uuid
    Accessible accessible
    vCenter Reference vcenter_ref
    Type type
    Capacity (GB) capacity
    Free space (GB) freespace
    URL url
    Clustered clustered
    The VMware vCenter Datastore [cmdb_ci_vcenter_datastore] table is extended from the [cmdb_ci_datastore] table.
    Table 16. VMware vCenter Cluster [cmdb_ci_vcenter_cluster]*
    Field label Column name
    Managed object reference ID morid
    vCenter Instance UUID vcenter_uuid
    Effective hosts effectivehosts
    vCenter Reference vcenter_ref
    Effective CPU effectivecpu
    Effective memory effectivememory
    Number of effective hosts effectivehosts
    Number of hosts numhosts
    Total CPU totalcpu
    Total memory totalmemory
    Number of CPU cores numcpucores
    Number of CPU threads numcputhreads
    DRS Behavior drs_behavior
    DRS Enabled drs_enabled
    DRS VMotion Rate drs_vmotion_rate
    *The VMware vCenter Cluster [cmdb_ci_vcenter_cluster] table is extended from the [cmdb_ci_host_cluster] table.
    Table 17. Cluster VM Host Rule Info [cmdb_ci_cluster_vm_host_rule]
    Field label Column name
    VM Group vm_group
    Host Group host_group
    Mandatory mandatory
    Affinity affinity
    Table 18. Cluster VM Affinity Rule Info [cmdb_ci_cluster_vm_affinity_rule]
    Field label Column name
    Affinity affinity

    The Cluster VM Affinity Rule Info [cmdb_ci_cluster_vm_affinity_rule] table has Contains::Contained by relationship with cmdb_ci_vmware_instance. This group has a set of VMs for which this affinity will be applied.

    Table 19. VMWare Distributed Virtual Switch [cmdb_ci_vcenter_dvs]
    Field label Column name
    Name name
    VMCount vm_count
    Host count host_count
    Discovery also maps the relationships to VMs and to distributed virtual port groups.
    Table 20. VMware Distributed Virtual Port Group [cmdb_ci_vcenter_dv_port_group]
    Field label Column name
    Name name
    vCenter Instance UUID vcenter_uuid
    Distributed Virtual Switch Reference dvs_ref
    Discovery also maps the relationship to the distributed virtual switch.
    You can add these related lists to view additional discovered data:
    • Storage Volumes
      The virtual disks for this virtual machine. This data is saved in the Storage Volume [cmdb_ci_storage_volume] table with the value type=v Disk.
      Table 21. Storage Volume [cmdb_ci_storage_volume]
      Field label Column name
      Name name
      Size size
    • Network Adapters
      The virtual network adapters for the virtual disks. This data is saved in the Network Adapter [cmdb_ci_network_adapter] table.
      Table 22. Network Adapter [cmdb_ci_network_adapter]
      Field label Column name
      Name name
      IP Address ip_address
      MAC address mac_address
      Netmask netmask

    vCenter discovery with Software Asset Management

    If Software Asset Management is active, Discovery populates these vCenter tables using the VMWare - vCenter ESX Hosts License probe.

    Table 23. VMWare License Key [samp_vmware_license_key]
    Field label Column name
    vCenter Reference vcenter_ref
    Cost Unit cost_unit
    Edition edition
    Features features
    License Key license_key
    Product Name product_name
    Product Version product_version
    Rights Owned rights_owned
    Rights Used rights_used
    Table 24. VMWare License Key Usage [samp_vmware_license_key_usage]
    Field label Column name
    Rights Used rights_used
    Expiration Date expiration_date
    Used Features used_features
    License Key license_key
    Software Install software_install
    Used By used_by

    vCenter relationships

    Discovery automatically creates relationships for vCenter components using data from a key class. Subsequent discoveries use the same key class to automatically validate and remove relationships that are no longer valid.

    vCenter CIs can be members of folders or clusters, which affect how Discovery creates their relationships.

    • If a CI is in a folder, Discovery creates a relationship between that CI and the folder. If that CI is not in a folder, Discovery creates the relationship between the CI and the datacenter. These vCenter CIs can be in a folder:
      • VM Instance
      • VM Template
      • vCenter Network
      • Datastore
      • vCenter Folder
      • vCenter Cluster
    • If an ESX server is in a cluster, Discovery creates a relationship between the ESX server and the cluster. If an ESX server is not a member of a cluster, then Discovery creates a relationship to the datacenter.
    • If a resource pool is in a cluster, Discovery creates a relationship between the resource pool and the cluster. If the resource pool is not a member of a cluster, then Discovery creates a relationship to the ESX server.
    This diagram illustrates vCenter relationships:
    Figure 2. vCenter relationships
    vCenter relationships
    Parent class Relationship type Child class
    Computer [cmdb_ci_computer] Virtualized by::Virtualizes ESX Server [cmdb_ci_esx_server]
    Note:
    The relationship created from ESX Server and VM Instance to the Guest are created by business rule "Virtual Computer Check." The guest machine needs to be discovered after the VCenter is discovered to trigger the business rule and create such relationships.
    Computer [cmdb_ci_computer] Instantiates::Instantiated by VM Instance [cmdb_ci_vmware_instance]
    Note:
    The relationship created from ESX Server and VM Instance to the Guest are created by business rule "Virtual Computer Check." The guest machine needs to be discovered after the VCenter is discovered to trigger the business rule and create such relationships.
    VMware Virtual Machine Instance [cmdb_ci_vmware_instance] Registered on::Has registered ESX Server [cmdb_ci_esx_server]
    VMware Virtual Machine Instance [cmdb_ci_vmware_instance] Connected by::Connects VMware vCenter Network [cmdb_ci_vcenter_network]
    Virtual Machine Template [cmdb_ci_vmware_template] Connected by::Connects VMware vCenter Network [cmdb_ci_vcenter_network]
    VMware vCenter Network [cmdb_ci_vcenter_network] Provided by::Provides ESX Server [cmdb_ci_esx_server]
    VMware vCenter Datastore [cmdb_ci_vcenter_datastore] Provides storage for::Stored on VMware Virtual Machine Instance [cmdb_ci_vmware_instance]
    VMware vCenter Datastore [cmdb_ci_vcenter_datastore] Used by::Uses ESX Server [cmdb_ci_esx_server]
    VMware vCenter Datastore [cmdb_ci_vcenter_datastore] Provides storage for::Stored on Virtual Machine Template [cmdb_ci_vmware_template]
    VMware vCenter Cluster [cmdb_ci_vcenter_cluster] Members::Member of ESX Server [cmdb_ci_esx_server]
    ESX Resource Pool [cmdb_ci_esx_resource_pool] Defines resources for::Get resources from VMware vCenter Cluster [cmdb_ci_vcenter_cluster]
    ESX Resource Pool [cmdb_ci_esx_resource_pool] Defines resources for::Get resources from ESX Server [cmdb_ci_esx_server]
    VMware vCenter Folder [cmdb_ci_vcenter_folder] Contains::Contained by VMware vCenter Datastore [cmdb_ci_vcenter_datastore]
    VMware vCenter Folder [cmdb_ci_vcenter_folder] Contains::Contained by VMware vCenter Folder [cmdb_ci_vcenter_folder]
    VMware vCenter Folder [cmdb_ci_vcenter_folder] Contains::Contained by Virtual Machine Template [cmdb_ci_vmware_template]
    VMware vCenter Folder [cmdb_ci_vcenter_folder] Contains::Contained by VMware Virtual Machine Instance [cmdb_ci_vmware_instance]
    VMware vCenter Datacenter [cmdb_ci_vcenter_datacenter] Contains::Contained by VMware vCenter Network [cmdb_ci_vcenter_network]
    VMware vCenter Datacenter [cmdb_ci_vcenter_datacenter] Contains::Contained by VMware Virtual Machine Instance [cmdb_ci_vmware_instance]
    VMware vCenter Datacenter [cmdb_ci_vcenter_datacenter] Contains::Contained by ESX Server [cmdb_ci_esx_server]
    VMware vCenter Datacenter [cmdb_ci_vcenter_datacenter] Contains::Contained by VMware vCenter Datastore [cmdb_ci_vcenter_datastore]
    VMware vCenter Datacenter [cmdb_ci_vcenter_datacenter] Contains::Contained by VMware vCenter Folder [cmdb_ci_vcenter_folder]
    VMware vCenter Datacenter [cmdb_ci_vcenter_datacenter] Contains::Contained by VMware vCenter Cluster [cmdb_ci_vcenter_cluster]
    VMware vCenter Datacenter [cmdb_ci_vcenter_datacenter] Contains::Contained by Virtual Machine Template [cmdb_ci_vmware_template]

    Cloud Management relationships

    These additional relationships are created when Cloud Management (CMP) is active.

    vCenter relationships for Cloud Management
    Parent class Relationship type Child class
    ESX Server [cmdb_ci_esx_server] Hosted on::Hosts vCenter Datacenter [cmdb_ci_vcenter_datacenter]
    vCenter Folder [cmdb_ci_vcenter folder] Hosted on::Hosts vCenter Datacenter [cmdb_ci_vcenter_datacenter]
    vCenter Datacenter [cmdb_ci_vcenter_datacenter] Hosted on::Hosts Cloud Service Account [cmdb_ci_cloud_service_account]
    vCenter Cluster [cmdb_ci_vcenter_cluster] Hosted on::Hosts vCenter Datacenter [cmdb_ci_vcenter_datacenter]
    Resource Pools [cmdb_ci_esx_resource_pool] Hosted on::Hosts vCenter Datacenter [cmdb_ci_vcenter_datacenter]
    VM Instance [cmdb_ci_vmware_instance] Hosted on::Hosts vCenter Datacenter [cmdb_ci_vcenter_datacenter]
    VM Template [cmdb_ci_vmware_template] Hosted on::Hosts vCenter Datacenter [cmdb_ci_vcenter_datacenter]
    vCenter Network [cmdb_ci_vcenter_network] Hosted on::Hosts vCenter Datacenter [cmdb_ci_vcenter_datacenter]
    Distributed Virtual Switch [cmdb_ci_vcenter_dvs] Hosted on::Hosts vCenter Datacenter [cmdb_ci_vcenter_datacenter]
    Distributed Virtual Port Group [cmdb_ci_vcenter_dv_port_group] Hosted on::Hosts vCenter Datacenter [cmdb_ci_vcenter_datacenter]
    Datastore [cmdb_ci_vcenter_datastore] Hosted on::Hosts vCenter Datacenter [cmdb_ci_vcenter_datacenter]
    Virtual Disk [cmdb_ci_storage_volume] Hosted on::Hosts vCenter Datacenter [cmdb_ci_vcenter_datacenter]
    Virtual NIC [cmdb_ci_vmware_nic] Hosted on::Hosts vCenter Datacenter [cmdb_ci_vcenter_datacenter]
    VM Template [cmdb_ci_vmware_template] Use End Point To::Use End Point From Block Endpoint [cmdb_ci_endpoint_block]
    VM Instance cmdb_ci_vmware_instance Use End Point To::Use End Point From Block Endpoint [cmdb_ci_endpoint_block]
    Virtual Disk [cmdb_ci_storage_volume] Implement End Point To::Implement End Point From Block Endpoint [cmdb_ci_endpoint_block]
    Virtual NIC [cmdb_ci_vmware_nic] Implement End Point To::Implement End Point From NIC Endpoint [cmdb_ci_endpoint_nic]
    VM Template [cmdb_ci_vmware_template] Use End Point To::Use End Point From NIC Endpoint [cmdb_ci_endpoint_nic]
    VM Instance [cmdb_ci_vmware_instance] Use End Point To::Use End Point From NIC Endpoint [cmdb_ci_endpoint_nic]

    VMware tags

    You can attach tags to vSphere objects, such as virtual machines, through the vSphere interface. The tags can then be grouped into categories. Objects with tags are sortable and searchable based on the parameters you give the tags and categories. The VMWare — vCenter VM Tags probe discovers these tags. You can view the discovered tags by opening the virtual machine record in cmdb_ci_vmware_instance. Then go to the Key Values tab.
    Table 25. Key Values [cmdb_key_value]
    Field label and name Description
    Configuration item [configuration_item] Referenced VM with tag attached in vCenter.
    Key [key] Category name of the tag applied to the resource in vCenter.
    Tag [tag] Source in vCenter from which tags are fetched. In this case, the value is always Tags.
    Value [value] Tag name that is applied to the resource in vCenter.