You can allocate some computing resource units for a chargeback entity. This allocation can be used to calculate the cost when using an allocation-based billing policy.
Allocation of computing resource units is different from reservation of computing resource units. The reservation of computing resources for a virtual machine is performed in vCenter Server. The allocation of computing resource units is performed in vCenter Chargeback Manager. An allocation of computing resource does not imply that the chargeback entity will get to use the set amount of computing resource units at all times. This allocation is used purely for calculating the cost when using an allocation-based billing policy.
You can set the allocation units, when you want to charge an entity for a fixed amount of computing resource units, immaterial of the actual resource usage. For example, you want to charge a virtual machine for a minimum of 2GHz of CPU and 4GB of RAM immaterial of the actual CPU and memory usage by the virtual machine. In this case, you can set the allocation units for CPU and memory on the virtual machine, define an allocation-based billing policy, and create a pricing model with appropriate base rates for the computing resources and set the allocation-based billing policy.
You must have read privilege on the hierarchy and update privilege on the chargeback hierarchical entity to perform this task.
Procedure
1 In the Manage Hierarchy tab, select the required chargeback hierarchy from the drop-down menu on the left pane of the page.
The collapsed view of the chargeback hierarchy is displayed.
2 Expand the hierarchy by clicking the plus sign (+) to the left of the hierarchy name.
The first-level entities in the hierarchy are displayed. You can view all the entities in the hierarchy by clicking the plus sign to the left of the entities that have sub-entities.
3 Right-click the chargeback entity for which you want to allocate computing resource units and select Set allocation units from the pop-up menu.
The Define allocation units for the selected entity screen is displayed. 4 Define the time period for which the allocation is applicable.
The default selection is Update from now onwards indicating the allocation is applicable from the time of setting the values till it is changed at a future date. Alternately, you can set a definite time period by selecting the Update for the effective period option and defining the start and end dates of the required time period.
5 (Optional) Click Get and then click the Show link next to Historical values to see the historical allocation values set for all the computing resources.
6 Set the allocation units for the required computing resources. 7 Click Set.
8 Click OK in the information dialog box.
9 Close the Define allocation units for the selected entity screen to return to the Manage Hierarchy tab. The defined allocation units for the specified time period is set on the chargeback entity. You can set multiple allocation units for different time periods.
What to do next
The allocation units defined for a chargeback entity does not propagate to its child entities. You must individually set the allocation units for each chargeback entity in the hierarchy as per your requirements.
Share Virtual Machine Cost
If you have a virtual machine that is shared by multiple departments and want to charge these departments proportionately, you must configure the share percentage in the hierarchy. The share percentage can be set only on virtual machines that are individually added to the chargeback hierarchy.
You must have the update privilege on the hierarchy, on the virtual machine that is being shared, and the parent chargeback hierarchical entities to perform this task.
Procedure
1 In the Manage Hierarchy tab, select the required chargeback hierarchy from the drop-down menu on the left pane of the page.
The collapsed view of the chargeback hierarchy is displayed.
2 Expand the hierarchy by clicking the plus sign (+) to the left of the hierarchy name.
The first-level entities in the hierarchy are displayed. You can view all the entities in the hierarchy by clicking the plus sign to the left of the entities that have sub-entities.
3 Right-click the virtual machine whose cost has to be shared and select Manage cost sharing from the pop- up menu.
NOTE This menu option is available only for the virtual machines that are individually added to the
hierarchy.
4 Click OK on the information dialog box.
5 Right-click the vCenter Chargeback Manager entity that shares this virtual machine and select Share Cost in this folder from the pop-up menu.
The Set cost sharing screen is displayed. 6 Set the share percentages and click Apply.
The share percentages must total up to 100.
The shared virtual machine is displayed in the hierarchy. You can change the share percentage or share the virtual machine again with more entities, by performing the same steps.