What sequence of actions should a vSphere administrator follow to monitor CPU usage of all virtual machines in a specific host cluster using alarms?

In VMware vSphere, monitoring CPU usage across all virtual machines (VMs) within a specific host cluster can be efficiently managed through the use of alarms at the cluster level. By adding an alarm directly to the cluster, the administrator is able to track CPU metrics for all VMs contained within that cluster simultaneously. This approach allows for centralized observation, making it easier to respond to any performance issues as they arise.

When an alarm is configured at the cluster level, it applies the monitoring settings to every VM within the cluster without the need for individual configurations, simplifying management and providing a comprehensive overview of CPU utilization. This aggregated monitoring ensures that the administrator can quickly identify trends and potential issues affecting all VMs hosted on the cluster, instead of having to check each VM one by one.

In contrast, configuring alarms at the individual VM level or for the ESXi host does not provide the same holistic view of CPU usage across multiple VMs. While it is possible to monitor CPU usage through these methods, it may lead to increased administrative overhead and a fragmented view of cluster performance. By focusing on the cluster, the administrator is able to maintain an efficient and effective monitoring strategy.