How To Use The WMI

Interfaces With Windows

Virtualization
Pierre Jacomet
Senior Program Manager
Windows Virtualization
Microsoft Corporation

Goals
After this presentation you will
Have a clear idea of Microsofts management
approach to virtualization services
Have a high level understanding on the
virtualization services WMI interface
Have a better idea of how you can integrate
your product with virtualization services
For managing purposes
To integrate your hardware

Agenda
Introduction
Computer systems
Management service
Resources and resource pools
Virtual system settings
Runtime instance of a VM
Snapshots
Code examples

Introduction To WMI
WMI Windows Management Interface is
Microsofts implementation of DMTF WBEM
DMTF = Distributed Management Task Force
WBEM = Web Based Enterprise Management

Object oriented approach to systems

manageability
Uses DMTF CIM Common Information Model

Microsoft is working in the DMTF

Defining virtualization management profile

WMI interface is subject to change

DMTF changes
Ongoing Microsoft development work

WMI Value Proposition

WMI is the interface that applications use to
manage all aspects of Windows virtualization
services
WMI is consumer agnostic
Can be accessed remotely by WS-Management,
Programmable via C++, WSH, .NET

Hardware manufacturers benefit from

understanding WMI
Understand how their hardware can participate
within overall Windows virtualization
services manageability

Introduction To CIM
Common Information Model
Object-oriented information model
Provides a conceptual framework for describing
management data
For computing and business entities
In Internet, enterprise and service provider environments

Formalism
UML Universal Modeling Language
MOF Managed Object Format

CIMOM CIM object manager

Implements CIM
WMI includes a CIMOM component

CIM Schema
Schemas are building blocks of CIM
Describe and represent manageability

Core model
Capture notions applicable to all
management areas

Common models
Capture notions common to particular
management areas
Independent of any particular implementation

CIM
Common models
Apps
Database
Device
Event
Interop
Metrics

Network
Physical
Policy
Support
System
User
Virtualization

DMTF Management Profile

Specification that defines the CIM model
and associated behavior for a
management domain
Use small subset of full CIM schema
Within management domain defines
Classes, associations, etc.
Requirements regarding above classes
and associations

CIM Virtualization Profile

Specification that defines the CIM model
and behavior for virtualization
management domain
Depends on CIM core model
Core includes basic classes, associations,
indications, methods and properties

Implemented by Windows virtualization

WMI provider

CIM Virtualization Profile

General Design Approach
Model interoperable with other
virtualization platforms
Virtual resources modeled in the same
way as their physical counterparts
Virtual aspects abstracted into
associated classes

CIM Virtualization Profile

Note on name differences
Throughout this presentation please
note the following
Usage of word Host or Physical maps to
parent partition or the computer system
running in the parent partition

Main Virtualization Objects

Computer systems
Describe both physical and virtual computers

Management service
Controls all aspects of the lifecycle of a VM

Virtual system settings

Represent a VM or a snapshot

Resources and resource pools

Represent resources

Agenda
Introduction
Computer systems
Management service
Resources and resource pools
Virtual system settings
Runtime instance of a VM
Snapshots
Code examples

Computer Systems
Physical or virtual
VM is a computer system
Host is a computer system

CIM_ComputerSystem
(Physical)

CIM_ComputerSystem
(Virtual)

Computer Systems
Linking Physical to Virtual
Hosted Dependency association
links VM computer system to Host
computer system
Host
Computer System

Hosted Dependency

VM-1
Computer System
VM-2
Computer System
VM-3
Computer System

Computer Systems
Virtual Systems
All virtual aspects abstracted into a
virtualization specific object
Host
Computer System

Hosted Dependency

Virtual
Computer System

Element Setting Data

Virtual System
Setting Data

Virtual System Lifecycle

(Or possible states a VM can be in)
Defined
Initial state, resource usage described by
configuration, resources not allocated except for disks

Active
VM is running, all resources are allocated

Paused
VM is paused, all resources remain allocated

Suspended
VM resources are de-allocated, state is persisted

Virtual System
State transitions
Starting
state

VM defined

VM active

VM paused

VM suspended
End
state

Agenda
Introduction
Computer systems
Management service
Resources and resource pools
Virtual system settings
Runtime instance of a VM
Snapshots
Code examples

Management Service
Full name: Virtual System Management
Service (VSMS)
Central object in virtualization profile
Needed to access and manage virtualization
services exposed by a host system

Exposes operations to manage

VM lifecycle
Define virtual system
Modify virtual system
Request State Change
Others

Management Service
Relationship to host
VSMS is just another service
Scoped by Hosting computer system
Associated to host via Hosted Service

VSMS is special
Associated to host via Associated Virtual System
Management Service
Associated Virtual System Management Service

Virtual System
Management Service

Host
Computer System
Hosted Service

VSMS Discovering
Capabilities
Virtual System Management Capabilities class
describes VSMS implementation level
Optional methods
Indication support
Asynchronous operations support
Virtual System
Management Service

Element Capabilities

Virtual System
Management Capabilities

Agenda
Introduction
Computer systems
Management service
Resources and resource pools
Virtual system settings
Runtime instance of a VM
Snapshots
Code examples

Resources
Physical or virtual resources
have the same representation
Include items like
Memory
Network
Ports

Allocated from resource pools

Resource Pools
Managed by resource pool
configuration service
One allocated for a each device type
May be hierarchical
Central class for virtual device allocations
Virtual resources are allocated from
resource pools

Resource Pools
Resource pool configuration service
Host System

Hosted Service

Resource Pool
Configuration Capabilities

Resource Pool
Configuration Service

Element
Capabilities

Service Affects
Element

System Device
Hosted
Resource Pool

Host Resource

Resource Pool

Concrete
Component

Allocated From
Pool

Virtual Resource

Host Computer System

Instance diagram
Host has resources
Processor, memory

Host resources
go into pools

Host
Computer System

Hosted Resource Pool

Concrete Comp.

System
Device

Processor
Resource Pool

Processor

Memory
Resource Pool

Memory

NIC
Resource Pool

NIC

Agenda
WMI introduction
Computer systems
Management service
Resources and resource pools
Virtual system settings
Runtime instance of a VM
Snapshots
Code examples

Virtual System Settings

Virtual aspects of a Computer system
One instance for each different
configuration settings for a VM
Active state
Snapshots 0 or more

Associated with resource allocation

settings for VM

Resource Allocation
Setting Data
Represents settings of a single resource
One instance for each different
device settings
Active
Snapshots 0 or more

Virtual Computer System

Instance diagram
Element Setting Data

Virtual System Settings

(Active)
Virtual System Setting Data Component

Virtual
System has
virtual
devices
Virtual
system
settings and
Resource
allocation
settings track
allocations

Virtual
Computer System

Resource
Allocation
Setting

Resource
Allocation
Setting

Resource
Allocation
Setting

System
Device

Processor

Element Setting Data

Memory

NIC

Agenda
WMI introduction
Computer systems
Management service
Resources and resource pools
Virtual system settings
Runtime instance of a VM
Snapshots
Code examples

Running VM Instance
Diagram
Host
Computer System

Virtual
Computer System
Virtual System Settings
(Active)

Hosted Dependency

Resource
Allocation
Setting

Processor

Processor
Resource pool

Processor

Resource
Allocation
Setting

Memory

Memory
Resource pool

Memory

Resource
Allocation
Setting

NIC

NIC
Resource pool

NIC

Allocated from Pool

Agenda
Introduction
Computer systems
Management service
Resources and resource pools
Virtual system settings
Runtime instance of a VM
Snapshots
Code examples

Snapshots
Definition
Represents point in time configuration
of a VM including its resources
In CIM terms
A Virtual System Settings Data structure
All of the associated Resource Allocation
Setting Data elements

Snapshots Creation
Simplified instance diagram
Element Setting Data

Virtual
Computer System

Virtual System Settings

(Snapshot @ t-2)

Virtual System Settings

(Snapshot @ t-1)

Virtual System Settings

(Active)

Resource
Allocation
Setting

Resource
Allocation
Setting

Resource
Allocation
Setting

Processor

Resource
Allocation
Setting

Resource
Allocation
Setting

Resource
Allocation
Setting

Memory

Resource
Allocation
Setting

Resource
Allocation
Setting

Resource
Allocation
Setting

NIC

Applying A Snapshot
Client enumerates snapshots using
Element Setting Data aggregation
Selects snapshot that she/he wants
to apply
Invokes ApplySnapshot() method
of VSMS
Snapshot recorded values become
current values

Applying A Snapshot
Simplified instance diagram
Element Setting Data

Virtual
Computer System

Virtual System Settings

Snapshot@
(t-2)
(Snapshot
t-2)

Virtual System Settings

(Active)

Resource
Allocation
Setting

Resource
Allocation
Setting

Processor

Resource
Allocation
Setting

Resource
Allocation
Setting

Memory

Resource
Allocation
Setting

Resource
Allocation
Setting

Apply Snapshot

NIC

Agenda
Introduction
Computer systems
Management service
Resources and resource pools
Virtual system settings
Runtime instance of a VM
Snapshots
Code examples

Common Code Sequence

Locate Windows virtualization services
Connect to WMI CIMOM in
virtualization namespace
Connect to VSMS
Issue WQL WMI Query Language to
Locate instances of classes
Subscribe to events

Connecting To VSMS
Dim WMIService
Dim VMHost
VMHost = ".
Connect to the CIMOM in the destination machine
we use the \virtualization namespace.
Set WMIService = GetObject( "winmgmts:\\" & VMHost _
& "\root\Virtualization")
Connect to WMI class that represents VSMS
Set VMService = WMIService.Get("Msvm_VirtualSystemManagementService")

Enumerate VMs
Dim
Dim
Dim
Dim

WMIService
VMList
VM
VMHost

VMHost = "."
' Get instance of the WMI Service in the virtualization namespace.
Set WMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:\\" & VMHost & _
"\root\virtualization")
' Enumerate all Msvm_VirtualComputerSystem objects.
Set VMList = WMIService.InstancesOf("Msvm_VirtualComputerSystem")
For Each VM In VMList
WScript.Echo "VM Name: " & VM.ElementName
Next

Activate A VM
Const wbemFlagForwardOnly
= 32
Const wbemFlagReturnImmediately = 16
Dim VMList
Dim VM

' Use a WQL query to Find the VM passed in as argument in VMName

Set VMList = WMIService.ExecQuery ( _
"SELECT * FROM Msvm_VirtualComputerSystem

"WHERE

"

& _

ElementName='" & VMName & "'",

"WQL", _
wbemFlagForwardOnly + wbemFlagReturnImmediately _
)
' Activate the specified VM.
For Each VM In VMList
WScript.Echo "Activating VM " & VM.Name
VMService.ActivateVirtualSystem (VM)
Next

Deactivate A VM
Const wbemFlagForwardOnly
= 32
Const wbemFlagReturnImmediately = 16
Dim VMList
Dim VM

' Use a WQL query to Find the VM passed in as argument in VMName

Set VMList = WMIService.ExecQuery ( _
"SELECT * FROM Msvm_VirtualComputerSystem

"WHERE

"

& _

ElementName='" & VMName & "'",

"WQL", _
wbemFlagForwardOnly + wbemFlagReturnImmediately _
)
' Deactivate the specified VM.
For Each VM In VMList
WScript.Echo Deactivating VM " & VM.Name
VMService.DeActivateVirtualSystem (VM)
Next

Call To Action
If you are interested to have your software
or hardware product participate in
virtualized environment manageability
Stay in touch with our WMI interface
Engage in Beta program

Send feedback and questions

to MSVirtEx @ microsoft.com

Additional Resources
Related Sessions
BUS126 Windows Virtualization Strategy and Roadmap
VIR065 Microsoft Operating System Virtualization Strategy
and Virtual Hard Disk Directions
VIR047 Hypervisor, Virtualization Stack,
and Device Virtualization Architectures
VIR040 Device Virtualization Architecture
VIR043 How to Use WMI Interfaces with Windows Virtualization
VIR049 Inside Microsofts Network and Storage VSP/VSC
VIR124 Windows Virtualization Best Practices
and Future Hardware Directions
VIR046 Hypercall APIs Explained

Additional Resources
Publications and Contact Information
Publications
Presentations and future papers
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/platform/virtual/default.mspx
Preview papers and specs
WinHEC Proceedings DVD
Windows Hypervisor Top Level Functional Specification
Windows Virtualization Glossary

Web resources
Windows Virtualization Team Blog
http://blogs.technet.com/virtualization
AMD I/O Virtualization Technology (IOMMU) Specification
http://developer.amd.com/documentation.aspx
Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O Architecture Specification
ftp://download.intel.com/technology/computing/vptech/Intel(r)_VT_for_Direct_IO.pdf
LaGrande Technology Preliminary Architecture Specification
http://www.intel.com/technology/security/
Trusted Computing Group
http://www.trustedcomputinggroup.org/home

Email comments to msvirtex @ microsoft.com

 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries.
The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market
conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation.
MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.