Query format and examples for searching virtual machine backups
From the master server, the nbdiscover command can search virtual machine backups based on a query rule. Compose the query manually and enclose it in double quotes.
For example: Search for backups of the virtual machines that have "vm1" as their display names:
nbdiscover "vmsearch:/;reqType=search?filter=VMDisplayName Equal 'vm1'"
Table: Query format with examples
Element | Description |
|---|---|
vmsearch:/ | Specifies that the query searches virtual machine backups. |
reqType | The request type. The following request types are supported:
|
viewType | Specifies the type of hierarchical view (vcloud or vsphere). Used with the browse option. Example - Show the hierarchy of vCloud: nbdiscover "vmsearch:/;reqType=browse;viewType=vcloud" Example - Show the hierarchy of vSphere: nbdiscover "vmsearch:/;reqType=browse;viewType=vsphere" |
fieldName | Specifies the name of the field for which supported operators are to be listed. Used with the listOps. Example - List supported operators for VMDisplayName nbdiscover "vmsearch:/;reqType=listOps;fieldName=VMDisplayName" |
filter | The query rule. nbdiscover searches virtual machine backups based on the rule. Example: nbdiscover -noxmloutput "vmsearch:/;reqType=search?filter=ScheduleType Equal '0'" |
See the following examples with sample output.
Example 1: Search for the virtual machines that have full backups.
nbdiscover -noxmloutput "vmsearch:/;reqType=search?filter=ScheduleType Equal '0'"
+ "demovm%20(8c879391-2917-4416-9373-bea7ec727717)" + "smallvm2%20(10a16222-8532-46ff-bd6a-9661240392f4)"
Example 2: Search backups of the virtual machines that have the display names that contain "vm".
nbdiscover -noxmloutput "vmsearch:/;reqType=search?filter=VMDisplayName Contains 'vm'"
+ "demovm%20(8c879791-2917-4428-9373-bea7ec727717)" + "small_vm%20(33e85579-7279-411f-b2f9-9fb570583911)" + "small_vm_percent_%25%20(33e85579-7279-411f-b2f9-9fb570583911)"
Example 3: Search for backups of the vCloud virtual machines that have "test" in their vApp names.
nbdiscover -noxmloutput "vmsearch:/;reqType=search?filter= vCDvApp Contains 'test'"
+ "demovm%20(8c879791-2917-4428-8213-bea7ec727717)" + "small_vm%20(61e83479-7246-411f-b1f9-9fb570546755)" + "small_vm_percent_%25%20(61e83479-7246-411f-b1f9-9fb570546755)"
Example 4: Search the virtual machine backups that occurred before 08/24/2012 11:05:56 AM. Specify the backup time in UTC.
nbdiscover -noxmloutput "vmsearch:/;reqType=search?filter=BackupTime Less '1345871512'"
+ "demovm%20(8c846791-2917-4428-9373-bea7ec727437)" + "small_vm%20(22e85813-7246-433f-b2f9-9fb570585387)" + "small_vm_percent_%25%20(22e85579-7246-433f-b2f9-9fb570585387)"
Example 5: Search backups for virtual machines where the vCloud organization is named "QA" and the vApp name contains "demo".
nbdiscover -noxmloutput "vmsearch:/;reqType=search?filter=vCDOrg Equal 'QA' AND vCDvApp Contains 'demo'"
+ "demovm%20(8c879791-2917-4428-9373-bea7ec727717)"
Example 6: Show the hierarchy of a vCloud environment. The output is in XML.
nbdiscover "vmsearch:/;reqType=browse;viewType=vcloud"
<Start Iteration="vmsearch:/;reqType=browse;viewType=vcloud">
<VCDSERVER>
<NBU>
<NAME>hypervm1.acme.com</NAME>
</NBU>
<VCDORG>
<NBU>
<NAME>Test Cloud</NAME>
</NBU>
<VCDORGVDC>
<NBU>
<NAME>Test Org</NAME>
</NBU>
<VCDVAPP>
<NBU>
<NAME>TestvApp</NAME>
</NBU>
</VCDVAPP>
</VCDORGVDC>
</VCDORG>
</VCDSERVER>
<StatusMsg NBUStatus="0" Severity="0"></StatusMsg>
</START>
This search found the following:
A vCloud Director server: hypervm1.acme.com
An organization: Test Cloud
A virtual datacenter: Test Org
A vApp: TestvApp
See Using the nbrestorevm command to restore virtual machines into vCloud Director.