REST API workflows for attaching and detaching VMDKs

To perform attach and detach operations for VMDKs using REST APIs for VMware vSphere, you must follow the prescribed sequence of REST API calls.

For each REST API, add https://<server>:<port> at the front of the REST API to form a complete endpoint.

Workflow for attaching VMDKs

Step	REST API	Comments
1	Go to http://`<vCenter-IP>/mob`	Find the VM moref from the VMware Managed Objects URL. Note the moref for the VM to which you want to attach a VMDK.
2	/4.1/vm/{moref}/backups	Get VM Backups gets a list of backups for the specified VM. Pass the moref from Step 1. Note the backupId of the backup you want to attach.
3	/4.1/vm/{moref}/backups/{backupId}/vmdklocations	Get VMDK Locations gets a list of VMDKs for the specified VM. Pass the backupId from Step 2 and the moref from Step 1. Note the vmdkLocationsList information.
4	/4.1/vm/{moref}/attachvmdks	Attach VMDKs attaches the specified VMDK to the original VM. Pass the backupId from Step 2 and the moref from Step 1. Pass the vmdkLocationsList from Step 3 to the vmdkLocations attribute. Note: To attach a VMDK to a different VM, pass the moref of the target VM in the alternateVmMoref attribute.

Step	REST API	Comments
1	Go to http://`<vCenter-IP>/mob`	Find the VM moref from the VMware Managed Objects URL. Note the moref for the VM on which you want to detach a VMDK.
2	/4.1/vm/{moref}/backups	Get VM Backups gets a list of backups for the specified VM. Pass the moref from Step 1. Note the backupId of the backup you want to detach.
3	/4.1/vm/{moref}/backups/{backupId}/vmdklocations	Get VMDK Locations gets a list of VMDKs for the specified VM. Pass the backupId from Step 2 and the moref from Step 1. Note the vmdkLocationsList information.
4	/4.1/vm/{moref}/detachvmdks	Detach Vmdks detaches the specified VMDK. Pass the moref from Step 1. Pass the VMDK vmdkLocationsList details from Step 3 to the vmdksToDetach attribute.