Essential Guide
Enable VMware automation with these top tools and techniques
Some IT professionals fear automation will eventually replace them, but proficiency with these tools can help bolster their credentials.
Introduction
VMware automation tools can help administrators accomplish tasks in a shorter amount of time and can turn routine chores, such as taking a snapshot of a VM, into something that requires less intervention from IT. Reducing the manual fiddling with the infrastructure also reduces the chances of human error.
In general, automation is something that can benefit a business as administrators build their proficiency with the available tools. While virtualization has made certain aspects of the data center easier to handle, rising infrastructure complexity and growing business demands mean IT professionals need to develop more efficient methods to respond to everyday needs.
Orchestration is a complementary process that manages the interactions between automated tasks. It is becoming increasingly necessary as automation grows and workflows become more complex.
This guide covers the software, techniques and best practices VMware professionals are using in their environments to streamline common processes, speed up workflows and manage intricate policies
1Tactics and tools-
The many facets to VMware automation
Companies are always relying on IT professionals to do more with less, while also pushing for a presence in new areas, such as cloud computing. There are plenty of automation products an administrator can use to get the job done, but having a solid implementation strategy should be front and center on any initiative.
Automation and IT sprawl are an equation for trouble
Automation makes the data center work, but it also causes IT sprawl. When every department has their own automation regime, mistakes are bound to happen. Continue Reading
Puppet Enterprise removes manual configuration
Use Puppet Enterprise to automate software and server management. Puppet enables infrastructure as code, which removes the need for manual infrastructure configuration. Continue Reading
Automation tools can boost your job security
Don't fret over automating yourself out of a job. The added value of learning how to use an automation tool may be the best kind of job security. Continue Reading
Don't rush to automate everything
IT automation should scale with the size of your business. Don't rush to automate without a clear sense of how your scripting work will save time and resources in the future. Continue Reading
Adopting server automation in the data center
There are a lot of factors that may deter an IT team from adopting server automation tools. Here's how to determine whether server automation will benefit your data center. Continue Reading
Figuring out all the automation tools
Server automation tools save time and reduce errors, but administrators should assess on a case-by-case basis whether point systems or suites are the way to go. Continue Reading
Using vSphere Management Assistant for your benefit
With VMware vMA, a virtualization administrator gets a free tool that is simple to use with the flexibility of a virtual appliance. Continue Reading
2VMware PowerCLI-
Free and flexible
One VMware automation tool that administrators can add to their arsenal is VMware's vSphere PowerCLI, which can automate vSphere and vCloud management. Administrators can tap into PowerShell cmdlets to execute commands across their environment's virtual inventory.
How PowerCLI commands can control vCloud and vSphere
VMware's vCloud Suite and other features may limit what admins can do with infrastructure options, but PowerCLI commands can give admins their power back. Continue Reading
An introduction to vSphere's free automation tool
Administrators can develop scripts and execute commands to maintain control of their infrastructure with vSphere PowerCLI. Continue Reading
Find out which CLI option is right for you
VMware offers three CLI choices -- vSphere CLI, PowerCLI and ESXi Shell -- to run commands in a vSphere environment, but which one is the best fit for you? Continue Reading
Reduce stress, save time with PowerCLI
It doesn't matter if it's a simple move or a huge migration project, using PowerCLI automation can make the task at hand easier, saving you time and stress. Continue Reading
PowerCLI simplifies infrastructure management
Simplify the management of VMware infrastructure tasks with PowerCLI. Continue Reading
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3vRealize Automation-
One way to automate
VRealize Automation (vRA) -- formerly called vCloud Automation Center -- is a part of VMware's vRealize Suite of hybrid cloud management products. VRA enables the rapid deployment of services across a number of hypervisors and public clouds. Its high extensibility, which helps companies create comprehensive workflows, services and reporting, is a prime feature. VRA gives IT admins the ability to define available services and make them available for users, freeing the admin from manual allocation.
How do you integrate VMware automation into your data center?
VRA integrates with many different tools and services to provide a high degree of extendibility, which makes it a flexible tool in data centers with third-party systems. Continue Reading
What improvements does vRA add?
VRA 7 builds on older versions with new automation tools and streamlined installation. Continue Reading
Use blueprints to build a vRA environment
Follow this in-depth guide to establish a basic vRA environment with VM blueprints. Continue Reading
How can you protect the vRA appliance?
Back up the vRA appliance with a variety of tactics, including snapshots and replication. Continue Reading
Use service catalogs to automate service requests
Bogged down with IT requests? Use vRA to set up self-service portals and to process requests without the stress. Continue Reading
Take advantage of vRA's backup and restoration tools
Proper backup and restoration are critical to success with vRA. Be strategic and perform a full backup or restoration, or be specific and target crucial components. Continue Reading
4vRealize Orchestrator-
Streamline your workflows
VRealize Orchestrator (vRO) is part of vRealize Automation in VMware's vRealize suite of products. Orchestrator comes packaged with Automation and enables the fine-tuned management of automated tasks and services. Whereas Automation is designed for cloud automation tools based on policies to deliver IT services, Orchestrator is designed as a platform for automated workflows that can handle nearly any IT process.
Coordinate vRA and vRO
VRealize Automation and Orchestrator are similar products, but they handle different needs. Learn the differences between them. Continue Reading
How to configure vRO
Curious about the basics of vRO? Use this guide to deploy an out-of-the-box configuration. Continue Reading
Automation and orchestration enable improved efficiency
The virtualized data center is getting more complex every day. Use vRO to coordinate complicated workflows and tasks. Continue Reading
How to use vRO
Follow along with this tutorial to learn the essential components of vRO and construct some basic workflows. Continue Reading
Use vRO to script workflows
Become a vRO expert and learn how to design complex, useful workflows with this tip. Continue Reading
5Other VMware automation tools-
Automate security, analysis and networking
VMware automation tools exist in a variety of VMware products beyond the vRealize suite. Admins can take advantage of the automation capabilities in AppDefense to catch problems quickly, Workspace One Intelligence to respond to security and performance data, and NSX to automate networking.
Catch problems as they arise with AppDefense
AppDefense uses security automation to identify changes to a VM's behavior. Continue Reading
Save time and automate IT decisions
Workspace One Intelligence automatically collects and analyzes data from deployed devices, which enables automatic responses to security and performance problems. Continue Reading
Automation is among many use cases for NSX
Interested in data center consolidation? NSX offers network automation that integrates with vRealize Automation. Continue Reading
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