VMware has announced the release of a tool to give IT managers the ability to measure and charge back the use of virtual machines and automate and control the entire lifecycle of VMs. VMware Lifecycle Manager shows who owns a virtual machine, when it was requested, where it is running and when it’s scheduled to be decommissioned, according to the company. The management tools also allows managers to create a standardized library of VMs, track requests and approvals, control virtual machines and eliminate repetitive manual configuration tasks, the company said. A chargeback feature allows IT to bill requesting departments for use of the virtual machines.