Hi vAdmins,
With the introduction of VCF 9 and VCF Operations, we’ve seen a growing need for deeper insight into these useful new capabilities To address this, we’re launching a new series of updates focused on VCF Infrastructure Operations.
In this blog post we will take a closer look at the “Reports”.
VCF Operations Reporting Functions
The VCF Operations reporting functions allow users to generate detailed reports that capture both current and predicted resource requirements. Functionally, a report is a scheduled snapshot of specified views and dashboards, designed to represent key objects and metrics.
For professional or archival purposes, reports can be configured to include:
- A cover page
- A table of contents
- A footer
Reports like this one, are available for download in PDF or CSV file formats to support offline analysis and future needs.
Report Templates
When it’s time to send out those periodic operational status updates, you don’t want to start from scratch. That’s why report templates are so valuable!
A report template is essentially a pre-built container that holds one or more views in a logical, specified order. This provides a consistent and professional look for your status information.
Even better, you can hit the ground running with predefined report templates that are ready to use. And if you have a unique reporting need, you have the flexibility to build your own custom report templates.
To get started, you can find and manage all your report templates under : Infrastructure Operations > Dashboards & Reports > Reports.
Building Your Own VCF Report Templates
While the predefined templates are a great start, sometimes you need a report tailored specifically to your unique operational requirements. The good news is that you have full control to create a custom report template based on exactly what you need to track.
Ready to build your own? Just look for the ADD button or have a look ate the demo below!
Creating Your Own Report Template
Based on the functionality demonstrated, building a custom report template is a simple, three-part process that ensures your report captures exactly what you need with a professional look.
- Define the Report: Start by Setting the Name and Description.
- Select the Data: Next, you Add Views and Dashboards.
- Control the Presentation: Finally, Configure the Layout and Format.
The template also provides essential layout options to give your report a polished and professional presentation including, cover page, table of contents and footer.
Running and Maintaining Your Reports
All your report templates—whether predefined or custom-created—are conveniently listed on the Report Templates tab.
To instantly generate a report, simply click the vertical ellipsis next to the template name and hit Run.
Beyond running, you have full control over your reports and templates. By selecting the vertical ellipsis, you can perform essential management actions like:
- Run, Edit, and Schedule the report.
- Delete or Clone the template.
- Export the generated report.
Key Management Tips
1 You can easily see how many reports have been generated from each template and when it was last used.
2 Be cautious when deleting templates. If you delete a template, all generated reports from both the original and any recent edits will be deleted as well.
3 When you clone a template, changes to the clone do not affect the original source template.
Accessing and Managing Your Generated Reports
Once you’ve run your report templates, you can easily access and manage the output. Head over to the Generated Reports tab to find all your completed reports.
- Download: Quickly grab the selected report to save a local copy for offline analysis, archiving, or sharing with stakeholders.
- Delete: Keep your workspace clean by deleting any generated reports that are no longer needed.
Summary
The Reporting Functions are designed to be both powerful and flexible. They generate detailed reports that act as a scheduled snapshot of your key dashboards, giving you key metrics on current performance and, most critically, predicted resource requirements. This insight is invaluable for proactive planning and maintaining an efficient cloud environment. As you’ve noted, it’s an incredibly useful and powerful capability—definitely a tool to start integrating into your operational workflow!
End of this post.
Disclaimer: Please note that the views expressed in this blog are solely my own and should be treated as personal opinions. This content does not hold any legal or authoritative standing.