Summary
VMware Cloud Foundation enables you to provision agile infrastructure to support traditional enterprise and modern apps. The deployment process is automated using the VMware Cloud Builder virtual appliance, which requires customer specific inputs which are then used to describe how the platform is configured.
Today this data is collected using an Excel spreadsheet called the Deployment Parameter Workbook, once populated it is uploaded to the VMware Cloud Builder where the system then converts the inputs into JSON format, before performing validation of both the inputs and the physical infrastructure and then triggering the deployment. Alternatively, it is possible to manually create the JSON allowing the configuration of additional use cases that may not be covered by the Excel spreadsheet.
Validation of the data entry into the Deployment Parameter Workbook is limited due to not being able to use VBScript due to security concerns.
The VMware Cloud Foundation Configuration File Generator Fling is a containerized web application developed to replace the need for the Deployment Parameter Workbook. Using a web-based application provides the ability to include up front validation across all inputs reducing data input errors and thus annoying validation failures when uploaded to the VMware Cloud Builder appliance.
The main benefits of VMware Cloud Foundation Configuration File Generator Fling are:
- Full validation of inputs during data entry
- Portability of the JSON specification files for re-use or used as a starting point
- Flexibility to add more than four ESXi hosts to the management domain
- Flexibility to add multiple vSphere Distributed switches
- Flexibility to add multiple pNICs to the vSphere Distributed switch configuration
- Flexibility to configure management networks (Management, VSAN (Virtual SAN), vMotion) across different vSphere Distributed switches
Requirements
- Support for VMware Cloud Foundation 4.4 and 4.5. (vSAN Ready Node Only)
- Docker container runtime environment. The following have been tested but others should work. Instructions based on using VMware Fusion.
- VMware Fusion 12 or later
- VMware Workstation 16 or later
For best experience, use one of the following browsers:
- Google Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox
Limitations
- No support for creating JSON specification for VCF (VMware Cloud Foundation) on VxRail.
Instructions
Please read the Technical Preview License.
Ensure you have VMware Fusion or VMware Workstation installed on your local system.
- Getting Started with vctl
- Open a terminal console.
- Start the runtime daemon:
vctl system start
- Download the Docker Container
- Open a terminal console.
- Download the docker container from the repository:
For VMware Cloud Foundation 4.4
vctl pull projects.registry.vmware.com/vcf_configuration_file_generator/vcf-conf-gen:v4.4.x
For VMware Cloud Foundation 4.5
vctl pull projects.registry.vmware.com/vcf_configuration_file_generator/vcf-conf-gen:v4.5.x
- Start the Docker Container
- Open a terminal console.
- Start the docker container:
For VMware Cloud Foundation 4.4
vctl run -p 8080:8080 projects.registry.vmware.com/vcf_configuration_file_generator/vcf-conf-gen:v4.4.x
For VMware Cloud Foundation 4.5
vctl run -p 8080:8080 projects.registry.vmware.com/vcf_configuration_file_generator/vcf-conf-gen:v4.5.x
- Connect to the Web Interface
- Open a browser window.
- Enter the URL http://localhost:8080
Using the Configuration File Generator
On the home page of the Configuration File Generator, you are presented with two buttons:
- Create Configuration File, this allows you to create a new JSON specification and later export it.
- Import Configuration File, this allows you to import an existing JSON specification file, make changes and then export it.
After selecting one of the above two options, you are presented with the below user interface. The top menu defines the sections of the JSON specification, you can complete these in any order either fully or partially.
Once an input is entered, moving away from the text box triggers the validation on the entered value. If validation fails, the new data is not saved.
Required input data is signified using a * next to the label, items without this symbol can be left blank if not applicable to your environment and do not affect the VMware Cloud Builder bring-up process.
At the top right of the user interface, you will see the following controls:
Validation Status
By default, the Validation Status is disabled, this toggle is used to perform a second level of validation across all the data inputs. If any required data input value is missing validation will fail at this stage and a ✕ symbol is observed next to the menu item, clicking on the menu item will also display a ✕ symbol within that section highlighting the issue that needs to be addressed. If all data inputs pass the validation, then a ✓symbol is shown next to the menu item.
You can toggle the Validation Status on or off as needed.
Actions
The Actions menu allows you to remove, create, import, or export the JSON specification file.
Video
Contributors
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