*Warning before we begin, in this post I am making the assumption that you are not using vCD as an endpoint. If you are then I recommend skipping this tutorial all together.
Today we’re going to focus on the included vCAC Plugin in vCO, and more specifically how we can start to take the default “Workflow template” and make it usable as the wrapper that will be called to execute any number of automation tasks based on properties from vCAC.
If you would rather just download a workflow template and move on to the next session feel free to do so here.
In the vCO client navigate to the “Workflow template”. The path should be Library->vCloud Automation Center->Extensibility->Workflow template. Now right click and select Duplicate workflow.
Name your workflow and select what folder you would like it to be placed into.
Edit the new workflow.
Select the vCloudVApp and hit the red X to remove it from Input tab.
Go to the Schema tab and edit the script
Select the vCloudVApp and hit the red X to remove from the In tab.
Now highlight and delete the script references to vCD. This should be lines 3-8 in the script.
Alter the “Got vCloud VM ” line to read “Got vCenter VM ” (this isn’t required but something I like to do to keep consistency).
This is how I like the final script to look, I added the vmName as variable for potential future use cases. Then click Close.
Now Save and Close, the validation will detect unused entities. This is normal so you can click Continue anyway.
I always Increase the version to manage version control.
Your template workflow is now ready to be duplicated and used to execute any logic based on the vCAC properties that are collected!
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Hi thanks for good guide, just to let you know that it is impossible to import workflow, the error is “Not a valid package file, dunes-meta-inf is missing! “
That’s because what I exported was a single workflow not a package. If you go into your run or design where each workflow is listed then right click on a folder and import workflow. That should work for you.
I assume this template would be the beginning of a new workflow i’m creating. So for example If I have a workflow that will take the VRM owner and add it to the local admin. How would I map the properties needed to run my workflow from the template? I see it pulls the vCACvmproperties already, do I call that somehow?
Dustin, if you look at this example you will see the same type of use case.
https://extendingclouds.com/2014/04/28/how-bout-we-let-users-set-their-default-admin-or-root-password/
You can skip the decision or any of the linux commands but for the windows you will use the same program you will just build a new arguments variable to pass the user.
Hope that helps!
That does help and I’ve got mine setup similary to how you’ve suggested, but I could use any input. Unforunately my work doesn’t allow any sort of file upload, but if you’ve got time and are willing to look at my work and possibly give feedback?
I’ve got another thread opened on the vmware vcac communites that I was able to upload my workflow to.
https://communities.vmware.com/message/2411123#2411123
Here’s how I would have done it.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/zqgfjifwmjx5tza/test%20workflow%20for%20Dustin.workflow
Wow thanks for the quick reply. Unfortunately the reason I was using the workflow I linked, is it removes the UPN from the username. I’ll take a look at this and see if I can go from there and make it work on mine.
In that case I would add the following lines to the script
var str = vCACVmProperties.get(“__Legacy.Workflow.User”);
var user = str.replace (“@domain”,””);
then replace the + vCACVmProperties.get(“__Legacy.Workflow.User”) + with + user + on the arguments line
It doesnt’ seem to like the var user = str.replace (“@domain”,””);
If I want to pull more properties would I just mirror your var str = vCACVmProperties.get(“__Legacy.Workflow.User”); with different properties and just name a new variable?
So If I wanted to put some logic in this based off my environment, add the correct domain to the username?
for example
var environment= vCACVmProperties.get(“environment”); ?
So I’m playing with the workflow template and I’m just trying to do a simple workflow to verify it works. All I’ve added to the template is this:
var user = vCACVmProperties.get(“__Legacy.Workflow.User”);
System.log(“Got Owner ” + user);
I just want to verify this works and displays the owner. However when I kickoff this script, I get an error Invalid attribute type: Properties. I feel like I’m so close right now. I don’t know if it matters, I don’t think it should but I’m running a vco master/child setup and this is kicking off the workflow from the master, to the child. So far it’s failing before it can even kickoff the script off the child vCO.
Are you trying to kick off that workflow from vCO? Because it’s designed to be kicked off based on a state change it will not work unless you initiate it during a state change from vCAC.
This will illustrate how to make a state change assignment.
https://extendingclouds.com/2014/03/02/vcac-vco-a-marriage-made-in-the-clouds-part-3/
There’s no reply under your message, weird. But yes I’m kicking off this workflow from a MachineProvisioned state change. It errors out with error Invalid attribute type: Properties.
I just wanted to thank you again, your blog and input has been very valuable and more worthwhile than this consultant my company hired to teach this stuff. Thanks again.
No problem, hopefully I’ll see you at my VMworld sessions later this month 😉
The properties error usually is due to you calling a property that doesn’t exist. Couple of quick tests to execute can you run just the standard vcac template workflow without any of the additional logic you added? If so then it’s something in the logic added.
I’ll definitely try and get in your session!
So I tried to run a basic template, after removing the vCloud stuff, I added the vmName = vCACVm.virtualMachine; like you said for future uses and It errors out with “Invalid attribute type: Properties”. This is all being done through MachineProvisioned stub.
Ok I need to look at some of my workflows to verify but I think your issue is with the case. Try vCACVm.VirtualMachine
Notice the capital V in virtual. vCAC + vCO = very VERY case sensitive on all the custom and defined properties.
Try that and let me know
Ok so after looking at the the workflow template the syntax is actually correct with vCACVm.virtualMachineName. That’s what it says at least at the top of the template that comes in by default. I tried running literally the basic template, minus the vCloud stuff that I removed and it still fails with Invalid attribute type: Properties.
All i’ve added was this to the bottom of the of the scriptable task…
var user = vCACVmProperties.get(‘__Legacy.Workflow.User’);
System.log(“Got Owner ” + user);
vmName=vCACVm.virtualMachineName;
System.log(“Got VM Name ” + vmName);
Any chance you could upload a copy of your blank template? One that you use that’s ready to start scripting with? Just so I could compare.
You are right, sorry for the confusion. I took my standard workflow and added the logic to pull the VRM user out. Take a look at this workflow and it should give you the illustration you need.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/8i4dgsv6xz801bq/Request%20Wrapper.workflow
Yes for environment that is how you would get any assigned value. You will need environment set on the blueprint in vCAC for that property to be passed.
https://extendingclouds.com/2014/04/28/how-bout-we-let-users-set-their-default-admin-or-root-password/
This is the example of using custom properties to pass into your vco workflows
Do you possibly have any idea why I’d get an error “error Invalid attribute type: Properties” when running this?
Gary,
You’ve been a big help so far and i’ve been able to leverage the template how you’ve said. One thing I’m getting stuck on right now is how to update the vCACVm name in vCAC. I can run my BuildingMachine workflow stub correctly and generate the name how I want, but I’m getting stuck at updating the vCACVm name. It just outputs a default machine prefix name at this point.
It sounds to me like you are attempting some very specific custom host naming and then trying to inject that back into vCAC. The only way to do that would be to use the update vCAC entity workflow. That said there is a much more elegant way to go about that. If you use the following link
http://dailyhypervisor.com/vcloud-automation-center-vcac-5-2-custom-hostnaming-extension/
You should then be able to grab the hostname that is created during that workflow as an alternative.
Thanks very much for this post. I am having some trouble understanding where you get the vCACVm.virtualMachinename setting from I have tried to recreate the workflow but I get a java.lang.NullPointerException error.
It looks like the VirtualMachineName = vCACVm.virtualMachineName;is wrong so I am wondering if the vCACVm.virtualMachineName is built in or I have to define it somewhere?
Are you trying to run the workflow manually from vCO or have you assigned it to a blueprint and requested through vCAC? It will not work unless kicked off by vCAC at that point the value that you reference will be defined.
Hi thanks for the reply, yes it’s assigned to a blue print and it runs when I provision a cm through vcac
So out of curiousity, what version of vCAC are you running? I have tested this on 6.0 and 6.1 both. Can you run the workflow with the vmName line commented out or does it still error?
Hi Gary, doesn’t work with the line commented out, still get the same error.
So that means the out of the box workflow template isn’t getting the vCAC properties passed to it from the IaaS machine. Is this a fresh install of 6.1 or an upgrade? I want to see if I can replicate. My immediate thought is your vCO-vCAC registration may be in question and you may want to run the unregister workflow and then walk back through the registration process.
Its a fresh install, IaaS servers are behind a Load Balancer, I registered the IaaS host via the Load Balanced name, just as an FYI.
You happen to have time for a quick webex this morning? I would like to see the behavior.
I have about 40 minutes, send me an email at gcoburn@vmware.com if you have time to walk through the configuration this morn. If not you may want to contact GSS, I’m sure they could help as well.
We are using vCAC 6.1 and vCO 5.5.2.0 Build 1992027. I’ll try the the workflow now with the commented out part and get back to you.
Hi Gray.
vCO more videos:
http://communities.vmware.com/community/vmtn/server/vcenter/orchestrator
I’m using vCAC611 and using this workflow for a blueprint MachineProvisioned status. But the parameter vCenterVM of the workflow is NULL, while vCACVM is not. It didn’t happen for vCAC601. Is it a known issue? Thanks.
Liang,
Yes that is the same experience I have seen in the 6.1.1 release. I have not yet confirmed if our 6.2 release maintains this or not. Stay tuned and I will let you know!
Think the 6.2 release has the same issue.
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