Add method for collecting object properties from views

src/vpoller/connector.py

@@ -147,6 +147,62 @@ def get_resource_pools_view(self):
         """
         return self._get_objects_view(obj_type=[pyVmomi.vim.ResourcePool])
 
+    def collect_properties_from_view(self, view_ref, obj_type, path_set):
+        """
+        Collect properties for managed objects
+
+        Check the vSphere API documentation for example on retrieving object properties:
+    
+            - http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/index.jsp#com.vmware.wssdk.pg.doc_50/PG_Ch5_PropertyCollector.7.2.html
+
+        Args:
+            view_ref (pyVmomi.vim.view.ContainerView): Starting point of inventory navigation
+            obj_type                  (pyVmomi.vim.*): Managed object type
+            path_set                           (list): List of properties to retrieve
+
+        Returns:
+            A list of properties for the managed objects
+
+        """
+        logging.debug('Collecting properties for %s managed objects', obj_type.__name__)
+
+        collector = self.si.content.propertyCollector
+
+        # Create object specification to define the starting point of inventory navigation
+        obj_spec = pyVmomi.vmodl.query.PropertyCollector.ObjectSpec()
+        obj_spec.obj = view_ref
+        obj_spec.skip = True
+
+        # Create a traversal specification to identify the path for collection
+        traversal_spec = pyVmomi.vmodl.query.PropertyCollector.TraversalSpec()
+        traversal_spec.name = 'traverseEntities'
+        traversal_spec.path = 'view'
+        traversal_spec.skip = False
+        traversal_spec.type = pyVmomi.vim.view.ContainerView
+        obj_spec.selectSet = [traversal_spec]
+
+        # Identify the properties to the retrieved
+        property_spec = pyVmomi.vmodl.query.PropertyCollector.PropertySpec()
+        property_spec.type = obj_type
+
+        if not path_set:
+            logging.warning('No path_set provided, this might take a while...')
+            property_spec.all = True
+
+        property_spec.pathSet = path_set
+
+        # Add the object and property specification to the property filter specification
+        filter_spec = pyVmomi.vmodl.query.PropertyCollector.FilterSpec()
+        filter_spec.objectSet = [obj_spec]
+        filter_spec.propSet = [property_spec]
+
+        # Retrieve properties
+        props = collector.RetrieveContents([filter_spec])
+
+        data = [{p.name:p.val for p in obj.propSet} for obj in props]
+
+        return data
+
     def _get_objects_view(self, obj_type):
         """
         Get a vSphere View reference to all objects of type 'obj_type'