What function does vApp serve in VMware?

The vApp in VMware is specifically designed to manage multiple virtual machines (VMs) as a single entity. This functionality allows administrators to group related VMs together so they can be managed collectively, which is particularly useful when dealing with applications that comprise multiple components distributed across different VMs. For example, a web application could be distributed among separate VMs for the web server, application server, and database server, and by using a vApp, these VMs can be started, stopped, or configured together, streamlining the management process.

This capability enhances resource management, helps in the orchestration of multi-tier applications, and provides a simplified way to manage dependencies between VMs. The networking and resource allocation rules can also be applied at the vApp level, which makes it easier to enforce configurations across all contained VMs. This streamlined management improves operational efficiency and simplifies deployment scenarios in virtualized environments.