What is vCloud Usage Meter and the way does it work?
Usage Meter is a free software a part of the VMware Partner Connect Program (beforehand VMware Cloud Provider Program) that captures the utilization of VMware merchandise put in on-prem.
It is put in as a digital equipment within the supplier’s information heart by means of vSphere. It connects to the VMware merchandise utilized by the supplier and begins amassing utilization information each 1 hour.
The collected information is then obtained by a cloud service that aggregates the information and this information goes to the supplier’s Monthly Billing Order (MBO) within the VMware Commerce Portal on the finish of every month.
The aggregated utilization information can be tracked in Cloud Partner Navigator because it will get up to date each 24 hours, which helps suppliers have an summary of the VMware product utilization of their cloud providing.
Why do you want to monitor the Usage Meter occasion for errors?
As Usage Meter is an integral a part of the metering and reporting of the VMware merchandise a part of the VMware Partner Connect program, any error which will happen with it have to be fastidiously monitored and duly resolved.
The metering points that Usage Meter detects can result in incomplete metering information. If you as a supplier have a reporting month with utilization information that differs drastically from a earlier interval, you then may get contacted by your aggregator or the VMware compliance workforce.
What are the problems being reported?
Usage Meter sends notifications within the following circumstances:
- Change within the standing of the Usage Meter – When the equipment adjustments its standing from on-line to offline.
- When the Usage Meter occasion isn’t registered with a contract within the VMware Commerce Portal.
- If there aren’t any merchandise added for metering within the Usage Meter internet utility.
- If there is a matter with a metered product and the equipment can not acquire utilization information up to now 24 hours.
How to examine for Usage Meter Errors?
Usage Meter notifies suppliers for points with the metering within the following methods:
- Usage Meter internet utility -> Notifications
Go to Usage Meter internet utility, and below Notifications, you will notice all notifications returned by Usage Meter. If you need to monitor the notifications associated to a selected metered VMware product, go to the web page of that product, choose the product, and click on Notifications. The notifications associated to that product will seem. The Read circle on a notification signifies that utilization information assortment was unsuccessful for the previous 24 hours for a selected VMware product. The inexperienced circle signifies that utilization assortment has been made for a product for the previous 24 hours.
- Mail Notifications
Usage Meter sends notifications each 24 hours to the emails of people that have been added to the supplier’s org and have at the very least Provider Billing User person permissions. These person permissions mean you can not solely view utilization information but in addition obtain notifications for points with the Usage Meter. The emails are obtained in case there’s a change within the Usage Meter standing, there’s a change with a product or Usage Meter can not acquire utilization information.
- Cloud Partner Navigator -> Usage & Commerce -> Usage Meter Operation
If you aren’t positive in case your utilization meter is sending utilization information to vCloud Usage Insight, then you possibly can examine that in Cloud Partner Navigator. To achieve this, go to Cloud Partner Navigator, Usage & Commerce, Usage Operation. There, choose the Usage Meter which standing you need to examine. Next to it, there’s a three-arrow menu, broaden it to see the Usage Meter standing. Under Last Upload, you will notice when the cloud service final obtained utilization information from that Usage Meter.
- Syslog Server capturing Usage Meter logs
Alternatively, configure a Syslog server to seize Usage Meter logs. How to do that, be taught from right here.
Cadence of the Usage Meter mail notifications
Every 24 hours if a difficulty is detected, e.g., no added merchandise for metering, utilization information not being collected for a product by Usage Meter, and so forth. If at the very least one problem is detected that impacts the utilization information assortment, then an electronic mail notification is shipped to the emails of the customers added to the supplier org in Cloud Partner Navigator. If you might have at the very least a Provider Billing User position, then you’ll obtain notifications for points along with your Usage Meter.
How to get notified for errors along with your Usage Meter
To obtain notifications out of your Usage Meter to your electronic mail, you must have been added to the customers capable of entry your supplier group in Cloud Partner Navigator. The position that you must should obtain Usage Meter notifications is at the very least Provider Billing User position.
You can even arrange VMware Log Insight or some other Syslog server to obtain the Usage Meter logs and to observe any points which will happen with Usage Meter.
How to cease receiving notifications from Usage Meter
Currently, notifications can solely be stopped for a person if that person is faraway from the listing of customers capable of entry the supplier org in Cloud Partner Navigator .
After eradicating that person from the Cloud Partner Navigator group, they won’t obtain Usage Meter notifications from that time on however gained’t additionally be capable of entry that group in Cloud Partner Navigator.
It is really useful that you just use a delegated electronic mail tackle for Usage Meter notifications that doesn’t belong to a selected worker.
How to resolve Usage Meter Errors
Mail notifications obtained from Usage Meter embody of their physique a decision to the detected downside. Read the decision and execute the steps from the KB article offered within the message.
What to do if the problem persists?
File a help request with the GSS workforce. How to do that, learn the next KB article.
Have extra questions?
Contact us on Slack or electronic mail: usagemeter@vmware.com