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    Learning VMware vRealize Automation
    Learning VMware vRealize Automation
    Learning VMware vRealize Automation
    Ebook447 pages1 hour

    Learning VMware vRealize Automation

    By Rajendran Sriram

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    About this ebook

    Learn the fundamentals of vRealize Automation to accelerate the delivery of your IT services

    About This Book
    • Learn to install the vRealize Automation product in a distributed architecture using a load balancer
    • Plan backup and recovery strategies for every vRealize automation component
    • Use vRealize Automation to manage applications and improve operational efficiency using this simple and intuitive guide
    Who This Book Is For

    This book is for anyone who wants to start their journey with vRealize Automation. It is your one-stop instruction guide to installing and configuring a distributed setup using NSX load balancer. Regardless of whether or not you have used vRealize Automation before, following the steps provided in each chapter will get you started with the product.

    What You Will Learn
    • Understand the basic building blocks of vRealize Automation before embarking on the journey of installation
    • Familiarize yourself with the requirements and steps that need to be performed during the first phase of the distributed installation
    • Carry out a functional validation of the first phase of installation before completing the installation
    • Build a blueprint for vSphere endpoint, an essential step for a successful deployment of a service catalog
    • Create, configure, and deploy tenants, endpoints, blueprints, and the service catalog
    • Get to grips with the failover process for all components in vRealize Automation
    • Learn to configure the NSX loadbalancer for vRealize Orchestrator for high availability
    • Leverage ASD to develop XaaS (Anything as a Service) in vRealize Automation to deliver valuable competence
    In Detail

    With the growing interest in Software Defined Data Centers (SDDC), vRealize Automation offers data center users an organized service catalog and governance for administrators. This way, end users gain autonomy while the IT department stays in control, making sure security and compliance requirements are met. Learning what each component does and how they dovetail with each other will bolster your understanding of vRealize Automation.

    The book starts off with an introduction to the distributed architecture that has been tested and installed in large scale deployments. Implementing and configuring distributed architecture with custom certificates is unarguably a demanding task, and it will be covered next. After this, we will progress with the installation. A vRealize Automation blueprint can be prepared in multiple ways; we will focus solely on vSphere endpoint blueprint. After this, we will discuss the high availability configuration via NSX loadbalancer for vRealize Orchestrator. Finally, we end with Advanced Service Designer, which provides service architects with the ability to create advanced services and publish them as catalog items.

    Style and approach

    This book takes a step-by-step approach, is explained in a conversational and easy-to-follow style, and includes ample screenshots . Each topic is explained sequentially through planning, preparing, installing, configuring, and validating of all vRealize Automation's components.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPackt Publishing
    Release dateFeb 3, 2016
    ISBN9781785884788
    Learning VMware vRealize Automation

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      Book preview

      Learning VMware vRealize Automation - Rajendran Sriram

      (missing alt)

      Table of Contents

      Learning VMware vRealize Automation

      Credits

      About the Author

      About the Reviewers

      www.PacktPub.com

      Support files, eBooks, discount offers, and more

      Why subscribe?

      Free access for Packt account holders

      Instant updates on new Packt books

      Preface

      What this book covers

      What you need for this book

      Who this book is for

      Conventions

      Reader feedback

      Customer support

      Downloading the example code

      Downloading the color images of this book

      Errata

      Piracy

      Questions

      1. vRealize Automation and the Deconstruction of Components

      What is vRealize Automation?

      Key capabilities

      A single solution of abstracted service models

      Model once – deploy anywhere

      Personalization through policies (governance)

      Common use cases of vRealize Automation

      vRealize Automation – a conceptual diagram

      Identity management appliance or SSO or PSC

      Identity management appliance

      vSphere 5.5 SSO

      vSphere 6.0 PSC

      vRealize Automation or CAFÉ appliance

      vPostgres

      RabbitMQ

      vCAC server

      tcServer (Tomcat)

      Telemetry

      IaaS – architecture and component deep dive

      Model Manager

      Model Manager Data

      Model Manager Web a.k.a. repository

      MSSQL database

      Manager Service

      Distributed Execution Manager

      DEM Orchestrator (DEO)

      DEM Worker

      Infrastructure agent

      Management agent

      Startup order

      Shutdown order

      Summary

      2. Distributed Installation Using Custom Certificates

      Getting started

      Simple deployment architecture

      Distributed deployment architecture

      Planning and preparation

      Infrastructure details

      Distributed architecture

      Bill of materials

      Overview of the installation flow

      Certificates

      The certificate generation process

      Creating vRA certificate templates

      Adding a new template to certificate templates

      Creating certificates

      Identity management for authentication and authorization by vRA components

      The identity (ID) appliance

      vSphere 5.5 U1/U2 SSO

      vSphere 6.0 PSC

      Identity appliance configuration

      Prerequisites

      Configuration

      NSX load balancer configuration

      Prerequisite

      Configuring the external vPostgres DB in HA for the vRealize Automation CAFÉ appliance

      Prerequisites

      Setup Details

      vPostgres NSX load balancer configurations

      Application Profile configuration

      Service Monitoring configuration

      Pool configuration

      Virtual Server configuration

      vPostgres configuration

      Testing Replication

      Postgres Monitor scripts

      Configuration

      Testing Monitor scripts

      Updating the NSX load balancer configuration for vPostgres

      Service monitoring configuration

      Pool configuration

      Configuring the CAFÉ appliance in HA

      Prerequisites

      Setup Details

      CAFÉ NSX load balancer configurations

      Application Profile configuration

      Service Monitoring configuration

      Pool configuration

      Virtual servers configuration

      CAFÉ configuration

      Updating the NSX load balancer configuration for CAFÉ

      Service Monitoring configuration

      Pools configuration

      IaaS installation

      IaaS components HA modes and failover options

      IaaS prerequisites and virtual machine preparation

      Overview of the IaaS installation flow (only the first nodes)

      Installing PFX certificate to IIS Web Server

      Installation of the First Web node

      Prerequisites

      Setup Details

      NSX load balancer configurations for IaaS web

      Application Profile configuration

      Service Monitoring configuration

      Pool configuration

      Virtual Server configuration

      Checkpoint

      IaaS WEB installation

      Checkpoint

      Installation of the first Manager Service and DEM Orchestrator node

      Prerequisites

      Setup Details

      NSX load balancer configurations for IaaS MGR

      Application Profile configuration

      Service Monitoring configuration

      Pool configuration

      Virtual Server configuration

      IaaS MGR and Orchestrator Installation (first/active node)

      Checkpoint

      Installation of the First DEM Worker and Proxy Agent

      Prerequisites

      Setup Details

      Worker installation

      Proxy Agent installation

      Updating the NSX load balancer configuration for WEB and MGR

      Service monitoring configuration for WEB

      Service monitoring configuration for MGR

      Summary

      3. Functional Validation – Phase 1 and Installing Secondary Nodes

      Validation test

      Installing the second active web node

      Prerequisites

      NSX load balancer configurations for IaaS web

      Pool configuration

      Pools statistics after adding the second node

      IaaS WEB installation (second node)

      Installing the standby Manager Service and the DEM Orchestrator node

      Prerequisites

      NSX load balancer configurations for IaaS MGR

      Pool configuration

      Pools statistics after adding the second node

      IaaS MGR and Orchestrator installation – (second/standby node)

      Installing the second DEM Worker and proxy agent

      Prerequisites

      Worker installation

      Installing the proxy agent

      Health monitor URL

      Summary

      4. Configuring a Guest OS for vRealize Automation vSphere Blueprints

      Guest agents

      Preparing the vSphere guest OS template

      Scope

      GOS – Windows

      Guest agent uninstall steps

      GOS – Linux

      Converting the VM to a template

      Summary

      5. Functional Validation – Phase 2 and Zero to VM Provisioning

      An overview of creating a service catalog

      Providing the required permissions in the vSphere Endpoint

      Creating and configuring credentials

      Configuring the vSphere Endpoint

      Login validation

      Configuring fabric groups

      Configuring the machine prefix

      Creating business groups

      Configuring reservation policies

      Configuring VM template and VM customization specifications in vCenter

      Creating a vSphere blueprint

      Creating a service

      Configuring a catalog item

      Creating an entitlement

      Requesting a service catalog

      Monitoring deployment status

      Monitoring deployment by a user

      Monitoring deployment by fabric administrator

      Things to remember

      Summary

      6. Testing Failover Scenarios for vRealize Automation Components

      vRealize Automation components and HA modes

      Active-Active configuration

      Active-Passive configuration

      Failover of the identity management appliance

      Failover of vPostgres

      Choice 1 – identify active node via NSX load balancer

      Choice 2 – identify master node via health monitor URL

      Failover of CAFÉ appliance

      The CAFÉ health monitor URL

      Which CAFÉ node is active?

      Failover test – state 1 (one active node failed)

      Failover test – state 2 (failure of all the active nodes)

      Failover of Model Manager Web

      Failover of Manager Service

      Finding the active node

      Failover test

      Symptoms

      Effect and failover step

      Failover of DEM Orchestrator

      Which DEM Orchestrator is online and active?

      Failover of DEM Worker and proxy agent

      DEM Worker

      Proxy agents

      Summary

      7. vRealize Orchestrator in High Availability via the NSX Load Balancer

      Types of Orchestrator configuration

      Active-Active

      Active-Standby

      Planning and preparing

      Infrastructure details

      Bill of materials

      Generating Orchestrator certificates

      Configuring the vRealize Orchestrator cluster

      Configuring the setup

      Prerequisites

      Creating NSX load balancer configurations for CAFÉ

      How to do it

      Preparing the database

      Configuring the first Orchestrator server

      The Orchestrator configuration page

      Configuring the database

      Configuring certificates

      Orchestrator server configuration continues

      Installing the Orchestrator client

      Installing plugins

      Configuring the cluster

      Export configuration

      Configuring the second Orchestrator server

      Configuring the NSX load balancer

      Orchestrator NSX load balancer configurations

      Configuring an application profile

      Configuring service monitors

      Configuring pools

      Configuring virtual servers

      vRealize Orchestrator high availability mechanism

      Configuring vRO at CAFÉ or IaaS makes a difference!

      Summary

      8. The Power of Advanced Service Designer (ASD)

      Advanced Service Designer overview

      Enabling the ASD tab in vRA

      Granting the service architect role

      Assigning to a specific user

      Creating a custom group and assigning the role

      Configuring the advanced service endpoints (vRealize Orchestrator)

      Service blueprint

      Prerequisites

      Service blueprint provisioning and post-provisioning operation

      Creating a custom resource

      Create a service blueprint

      Creating a resource action

      No actions required after provisioning a service blueprint

      Summary

      Index

      Learning VMware vRealize Automation

      Learning VMware vRealize Automation

      Copyright © 2016 Packt Publishing

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embedded in critical articles or reviews.

      Every effort has been made in the preparation of this book to ensure the accuracy of the information presented. However, the information contained in this book is sold without warranty, either express or implied. Neither the author, nor Packt Publishing, and its dealers and distributors will be held liable for any damages caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by this book.

      Packt Publishing has endeavored to provide trademark information about all of the companies and products mentioned in this book by the appropriate use of capitals. However, Packt Publishing cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.

      First published: January 2016

      Production reference: 1280116

      Published by Packt Publishing Ltd.

      Livery Place

      35 Livery Street

      Birmingham B3 2PB, UK.

      ISBN 978-1-78588-583-9

      www.packtpub.com

      Credits

      Author

      Sriram Rajendran

      Reviewers

      Sriram Balasubramanian

      Kumaran Kamala Kannan

      Sreekumar Nair

      Aravind Sivaraman

      Acquisition Editor

      Rahul Nair

      Content Development Editor

      Samantha Gonsalves

      Technical Editor

      Tanmayee Patil

      Copy Editor

      Kausambhi Majumdar

      Project Coordinator

      Sanchita Mandal

      Proofreader

      Safis Editing

      Indexer

      Tejal Daruwale Soni

      Graphics

      Jason Monteiro

      Production Coordinator

      Aparna Bhagat

      Cover Work

      Aparna Bhagat

      About the Author

      Sriram Rajendran is a member of the CTO Ambassador program at VMware. He has been a veteran of the IT industry, for more than 12 years, and a focused technologist with expertise in cloud computing, networking, storage, and server virtualization technologies.

      Sriram wears multiple hats at VMware. As a solution architect, he provides technical leadership and expertise to design, deploy, and scale the VMware SDDC stack for its Fortune 500 customers. His primary focus for VMware SSDC are automation, operations, and third-party integration.

      As a senior escalations manager, he is the go-to person for handling critical executive escalations that have out blown traditional GSS escalation processes. His focus here is not just managing escalations through various internal VMware organizations but also external partner organizations and their processes and extranet multivendor support processes like TSANET.

      As a CTO Ambassador, he is responsible for connecting the research and development team with customers, partners, and field as the global VMware evangelist. His focus is on defining and communicating VMware's vision and strategy, and acting as an advisor for VMware's vRealize Automation solutions, product roadmap, and portfolio.

      Previously, as a staff escalation engineer, he worked on customer escalations and prioritizing the requests for the team. He was also the lead on recruitment and talent management for the support and escalations team. He also worked closely with various engineering teams within VMware to help provide early feedback on the design and architecture of products based on escalations and his other field interactions.

      Prior to joining VMware, he worked at Slash Support and HP in their support organizations in technical leadership roles.

      Sriram has devoted much of his professional career to the design, implementation, and maintenance of large physical and virtual networks, storage and servers, and cloud architectures based on VMware, Microsoft, and other leading enterprise technologies.

      I would like to dedicate this book to my incredible parents, my wife, my siblings, and my friend—S.V. Rajendran, R. Mahalakshmi, Shwetha, Manju, Vani, Priya, Arunraj. Without your encouragement and support over so many years, this book would not have been possible.

      About the Author

      About the Reviewers

      Sriram Balasubramanian has over 17 years of experience in the IT field. He is currently working as a senior engineering manager for the VMware management business unit. In the last 6 years in VMware, he designed and developed various features for quite a few products such as vRealize Configuration Manager, vRealize Operations Management pack for vCloud Director, vRealize Orchestrator, and IT Financial Management. In his current capacity, he handles Fortune 500 critical customer escalations for management products.

      Kumaran Kamala Kannan has over 5 years of experience in the IT field and holds a masters degree in network security. He is currently working as a senior member of the technical staff in VMware. He has worked on the development of multiple products including vRealize Configuration Manager, vRealize Orchestrator, and vRealize Automation. His research interests include computer and information security, cloud computing and data mining.

      Sreekumar Nair has more than 10 years of experience in the IT industry with 6 years in VMware. He is currently working as a VMware technical account manager in Singapore, where he handles multiple critical customer accounts. Prior to this role, he was working as an escalation engineer with Global Support Services, where he handled escalations related to vRealize automation. Also, he has expertise in design and implementation of VMware infrastructure including automation solutions. He holds certifications from VMware, Microsoft, and, Citrix.

      Aravind Sivaraman has over 9 years of experience in the IT field. He is currently working as a solution architect, providing the consultation, design, and delivery of complex IT

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