Using vRealize Orchestrator to Create a DNS Entry When vRealize Automation Deploys a VM

 ^{In my previous blog I have described about How to use custom form for Single Pattern (Blueprint) for Widows and Linux and add additional resource during deployment.}  

^{For Linux VM we need to create DNS entry manually in DNS server. In this blog I am going to describe how to use a vRealize Orchestrator workflow to add a DNS entry when vRealize Automation deploys a VM.} 

 

^{We need to preform below activity to accomplish the DNS entry for VM.} 

 

^{1-Prepare Your PowerShell Host}

^{2. Connect Your PowerShell Endpoint in vRealize Orchestrator}

^{3. Import and Modify a YAML Blueprint to Create an VM and we use network profile for ip address.}  

^{4 Create workflow}

^{5. Wait for the Data Collection}

^{6. Create a Subscription}

^{7. Deploy Your VM (RHEL) System}

 

^{Prepare Your PowerShell Host :-}

^{You can use PowerShell to run a command that adds a DNS entry to the DNS host.}  

^{First you need to login on your DNS server and install Winrm. Once Winrm install then need to configure.On the DNS server desktop, open a command prompt and Enter winrm quickconfig.}

 

 

^{Enter winrm set winrm/config/service/auth @{Basic=”true”}.}

 

^{You must enter {} and not parentheses with the Basic="true" parameter}

 

 

^{Unencrypted communications indicate that vRealize Orchestrator can use the HTTP protocol instead of HTTPS to communicate with the PowerShell host. Encrypted communications require an exchange of valid digital certificates}

 

^{Enter winrm set winrm/config/service @{AllowUnencrypted=”true”}}

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Close the command prompt on the DC desktop.

 

Click the Windows Start menu icon on the DC server

 

Click the Windows PowerShell ISE icon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enter set-execution policy bypass and click Yes

 

 

 

Note :- A bypass execution policy in PowerShell allows vRealize Orchestrator to send commands to this Windows server without scripts signed by digital certificates. This policy is acceptable for lab or test environments. Production systems must always use valid digital certificates that trusted certificate authorities sign.

 

Close the Windows PowerShell ISE pane.

 

Now Close Remote Desktop Connection Manager.

 

Connect Your PowerShell Endpoint in vRealize Orchestrator :-

 

You connect vRealize Orchestrator to the PowerShell host so that workflows can run PowerShell commands.

 You need go on login page then on Orchestrator.

 

 

 

Click the Orchestrator Client tab.

 Go to Library > Workflows then Enter add in the Filter text box and Enter powershell in the Filter text box to give a second filter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click RUN in the Add a PowerShell host workflow catalog .

 

Fill out below information 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After you enter the Name, Host / IP, and Port information, click the User Credentials tab.

 

Enter the User Credentials information.

 

 

 

 

 

You do not have to use a domain controller as your powershell host but I have configure in my lab .

Click RUN.

Verify that the Add a PowerShell Host workflow runs successfully and ends with a status of Completed.

 

If your workflow run fails, click RUN AGAIN and verify your inputs.

 

Once workflow run successfully then click close.

 

Create YAML Blueprint That Creates an VM :-

 

I have used same bule print which I have created in my previous blog.

 

Here is YAML code. 

 

name: Randhir_VM

version: 1

formatVersion: 1

inputs:

  MachineName:

    type: string

    title: Name for the VM

    description: Enter the VM name

  os-image:

    type: string

    oneOf:

      - title: MTO-PROD-LIN7

        const: MTO-PROD-LIN7

      - title: MTO-PROD-LIN8

        const: MTO-PROD-LIN8

      - title: MTO-PROD-Win16

        const: MTO-PROD-Win16

  custom_spec:

    type: string

    enum:

      - vra8win

      - vra8Lin

    default: vra8win

    title: Customization Name

    description: Customization Name

  SelectZone:

    type: string

    enum:

      - Production

      - Management

  SelectFlavor:

    type: string

    enum:

      - MTO-PROD-LARGE

      - MTO-PROD-MEDIUM

      - MTO-PROD-SMALL

    title: Choose the size of VM

  net_name:

    type: string

    enum:

      - MTO-PROD-Net01

      - MTO-DEV-Net01

    default: MTO-PROD-Net01

    title: Network Name

    description: Network Name

resources:

  Cloud_vSphere_Machine_1:

    type: Cloud.vSphere.Machine

    properties:

      constraints:

        - tag: '${input.SelectZone}'

      image: '${input.os-image}'

      flavor: '${input.SelectFlavor}'

      hostName: '${input.MachineName}’

      customizationSpec: '${input.custom_spec}'

      networks:

        - network: '${resource["DNS-Network"].id}'

          assignment: static

  DNS-Network:

    type: Cloud.vSphere.Network

    properties:

      networkType: existing

      constraints:

        - tag: MTO-PROD1-Net0

 

Create workflow :-

 My workflow in vRO may not be extraordinary but a simple solution to create DNS entry for Linux VM in DNS host .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The schema has three elements: DNS inputProperties, Build Command, and Invoke a PowerShell script.

The inputs and outputs from the DNS InputProperties element appear like below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Build Command element creates a Poweshell command that includes hostname and

ipAddress.

 

pshellCommand = cmdletName +' -Name "' + hostName + '" -ZoneName "' + zoneName + '" -CreatePtr -IPv4Address"'+ipAddress+'"'

 

The inputs and outputs from the Build Command element appear.

 

Save and close your workfllow.

Cross check your variable and it should looks like below.

 

 

Wait for the Data Collection: -

Go to the Cloud Assembly

Go to Infrastructure then go to Connections > Integrations.

Click Open on the embedded-VRO card.

Wait for the data collection.

A status message that indicates that data collection is complete appears.

 

 

 

 

Now time to create subscription for my pattern. I have created subscription to create DNS entry for Linux VM .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deploying my Linux 7.x VM.  

Go to Design > Blueprints

I have created blueprint as DNS Entry for Linux.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click DEPLOY when you have entered required inputs.

Wait for your deployment to complete.

After your deployment is complete, click the Orchestrator Client tab to go to vRealize

Orchestrator.

Go to Activity > Workflow Runs.

Verify your workflow status.

Verify that the vRA-Add-DNS workflow status is Complete.

 

 

If the Status appears as Failed, a problem with your workflow exists. Verify that you set the PowerShell host correctly.

 

Click the Logs tab

 

 

 

Verify the log.

 

The log must include the host name and the IP address sent to PowerShell

 

We have given host name is “DNS40” And IP Address release by network profile ( vRA Internal IPM)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cross  verify deployed VM IP address and host name.

 

 

 

 

Now time to check if DNS entry has been created or not.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now we have successfully deployed vm and able to create DNS entry Using vRealize Orchestrator.

 

Stay with me to read the next upcoming my blog 😀

 

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