Using the PlatformInfo section

The PlatformInfo section is optional in the Virtual Guest Job (VGJ) file:

• If you do not provide a PlatformInfo section in the VGJ file, then the job uses the PlatformInfo section from the VGP file.
• Use the PlatformInfo in the VGJ file only if you want to override values from the VGP file.

If you choose to include the PlatformInfo section in the VGJ file, you must include a complete version of the PlatformInfo section — not just the values you want to override.

This is to provide complete clarity about the configuration of the new virtual guest. The PlatformInfo section in the VGJ is validated against the PlatformInfo section in the Virtual Guest Package (VGP) by using the passed-in VGPackageID, for attributes that you cannot override.

If you want to use the PlatformInfo section in a VGJ file:

1. Retrieve the ID of the VGP you want to use as the basis of this VGJ. Get this ID as described in Getting-the-VGPackageID.

2. Retrieve the VGP, using the package's ID. In this example, assume the VGP ID is 21:

   Virtualization getVirtualGuestPackage 21
3. Copy the VGP's PlatformInfo section, paste the VGP's PlatformInfo section into the VGJ XML file, and modify the PlatformInfo section for the individual VM that you are creating with this VGJ.
   • Typically, you would want to modify things like the host name, the VM name that appears in the BMC Server Automation GUI, and other entries that distinguish this particular VM. You can do this manually or programmatically.
   • You can use the fields in the PlatformInfo section of the VGJ file to override values from the VGP file; the values in the VGJ file are the values that will be present in the new VM.
   • You can also perform these steps programmatically by using the definitions from the VGJ and the VGP schema.