What is the primary function of an alarm in vCenter Server?

The primary function of an alarm in vCenter Server is to notify users about events or conditions that occur with an object in the environment. Alarms are used to monitor the health and performance of various components managed by vCenter, such as virtual machines, hosts, and datastores. When a specific event or condition that meets the defined criteria of the alarm occurs—such as a VM being powered off or a host experiencing high CPU usage—the alarm is triggered to inform the administrator. This ensures that issues can be addressed promptly, helping maintain optimal performance and availability within the datacenter.

Active monitoring through alarms allows for timely responses to potential problems before they escalate into significant incidents, thereby enhancing the overall reliability of the virtual infrastructure.