Ansible playbook for creating an OpenShift cluster on VMware Cloud (VMC)

Ansible playbook for creating an OpenShift cluster on VMware Cloud (VMC)

Creating an OpenShift cluster on VMware Cloud (VMC) is a great way to take advantage of the power and flexibility of OpenShift while also leveraging the scalability and security of VMC. In this blog post, we'll walk through how to use Ansible to automate the process of creating an OpenShift cluster on VMC.

The first step is to create an Ansible playbook that will handle the creation of the OpenShift cluster. Here's an example of what that playbook might look like:

---
- name: Create OpenShift cluster on VMC
  hosts: localhost
  gather_facts: false
  vars:
    vmc_username: "{{ lookup('env', 'VMC_USERNAME') }}"
    vmc_password: "{{ lookup('env', 'VMC_PASSWORD') }}"
    vmc_sddc_name: "{{ lookup('env', 'VMC_SDDC_NAME') }}"
    vmc_org_name: "{{ lookup('env', 'VMC_ORG_NAME') }}"
    cluster_name: "my-openshift-cluster"
    cluster_region: "us-west-2"
    cluster_size: "small"
  tasks:
  - name: Install python3 and python3-pip
    package:
      name: "{{ item }}"
      state: present
    loop:
      - python3
      - python3-pip
  - name: Install pyvmomi
    pip:
      name: pyvmomi
      executable: python3
  - name: Install vmc-tools
    pip:
      name: vmc-tools
      executable: python3
  - name: Create OpenShift cluster
    vmc_cluster:
      vmc_username: "{{ vmc_username }}"
      vmc_password: "{{ vmc_password }}"
      vmc_org_name: "{{ vmc_org_name }}"
      vmc_sddc_name: "{{ vmc_sddc_name }}"
      name: "{{ cluster_name }}"
      region: "{{ cluster_region }}"
      size: "{{ cluster_size }}"
      state: present
  

This playbook makes use of several key Ansible modules and variables to automate the process of creating an OpenShift cluster on VMC. The vmc_username, vmc_password, vmc_sddc_name, and vmc_org_name variables are used to authenticate with VMC, while the cluster_name, cluster_region, and cluster_size variables are used to specify the details of the OpenShift cluster that we want to create.

The playbook also makes use of the package and pip modules to install the necessary dependencies (python3, python3-pip, pyvmomi, and vmc-tools) and the vmc_cluster module to create the OpenShift cluster with the specified name, region, and size.

It is important to note that this playbook assumes that the following environment variables are set with the appropriate values: VMC_USERNAME, VMC_PASSWORD, VMC_SDDC_NAME, and VMC_ORG_NAME.

To run this playbook, simply execute the following command:

ansible-playbook

PowerShell Script to Retrieve Last Patch Status for Windows Servers

PowerShell Script to Retrieve Last Patch Status for Windows Servers

# Get list of servers from text file
$servers = Get-Content C:\serverlist.txt

# Initialize empty array to store patch status information
$patchStatus = @()

# Loop through each server and get last patch date
foreach ($server in $servers) {
    $os = Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_OperatingSystem -ComputerName $server
    $lastPatch = $os.ConvertToDateTime($os.LastPatch)
    $patchStatus += New-Object PSObject -Property @{
        ServerName = $server
        LastPatchDate = $lastPatch
    }
}

# Output patch status information to CSV file
$patchStatus | Export-Csv C:\patchstatus.csv -NoTypeInformation
  

This script assumes that the text file containing the list of servers is located at "C:\serverlist.txt" and that the CSV file containing the patch status information will be saved at "C:\patchstatus.csv". You can change the path of the files as per your requirements. Also, you may need to run the script as an administrator and with appropriate permissions to be able to connect to the remote servers and retrieve the patch status information.

Automating Linux VM Patching with a Bash Script

Keeping your Linux virtual machines (VMs) up-to-date with the latest patches is an important task to maintain their security and stability. In this post, we'll walk through a simple bash script that automates this process for a list of VMs.

The Script

The script reads a list of VMs from a text file and patches only the security packages on each VM using the yum update --security command. If the patching fails on a VM, the script moves on to the next VM in the list. Once patching is completed on all VMs, the script gets the kernel version of each VM using the uname -r command and stores the results in an array. The patching results are then written to a text file called "patch_results.txt" in the format "VM Name : Kernel Version".

#!/bin/bash

# Read the list of VMs from a text file
vmlist=$(cat vm_list.txt)

# Create an empty array to store the patching results
results=()

# Iterate through the list of VMs and patch only the security packages
for vm in $vmlist; do
    # Patch only the security packages
    ssh $vm "sudo yum update --security -y"
    if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
        # If the patching fails, move on to the next VM
        continue
    fi
    # Get the kernel version of the VM
    kernel_version=$(ssh $vm "uname -r")
    # Store the result in the array
    results+=("$vm:$kernel_version")
done

# Write the patching results to a text file
echo "VM Name : Kernel Version" > patch_results.txt
for result in "${results[@]}"; do
    echo $result >> patch_results.txt
done

This script assumes that you have passwordless ssh setup between your machine and the remote machines.

Conclusion

By automating the patching process with a simple bash script, you can save time and ensure that your Linux VMs are always up-to-date with the latest security patches. This script can be easily customized to suit your needs and can be used as a starting point for more advanced automation tasks.

Script for Pulling Uptime Information from Remote VMs

Script for Pulling Uptime Information from Remote VMs

#!/bin/bash

# Prompt user for input file containing list of VMs
read -p "Enter the file containing the list of VMs: " vm_list

# Check if input file exists
if [ ! -f $vm_list ]; then
  echo "Error: Input file does not exist."
  exit 1
fi

# Create output file to store hostname and uptime
output_file="uptime_output.txt"
touch $output_file

# Loop through list of VMs
while IFS= read -r vm; do
  # Get uptime information for current VM
  uptime_info=$(ssh $vm "uptime" 2> /dev/null)
  if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
    # Extract hostname and uptime from uptime_info
    hostname=$(echo $uptime_info | awk '{print $1}')
    uptime=$(echo $uptime_info | awk '{print $3}' | sed 's/,//g')

    # Append hostname and uptime to output file
    echo "$hostname $uptime" >> $output_file
  else
    echo "Error: Unable to connect to $vm"
  fi
done < $vm_list

This script prompts the user for an input file containing a list of VMs, checks if the input file exists, creates an output file to store the hostname and uptime information, and loops through the list of VMs to remotely connect to each one and pull the uptime information. The hostname and uptime are then extracted from the uptime_info and appended to the output file.

It uses the "uptime" command to get the uptime information and "awk" command to extract the uptime information, which is in the third field and

Configuring Storage in Nutanix

Steps for Configuring Storage in Nutanix

1. Log in to the Nutanix Prism web console by entering the IP address of your Nutanix cluster into a web browser.
2. Navigate to the "Storage" section of the menu on the left-hand side of the screen.
   • Click on the "Create Container" button to create a new storage container
   • Fill out the form to create a new container, providing details such as the name, data protection settings, and storage policies.
3. Add new storage to the container by:
   • Clicking on the container you just created
   • Clicking on the "Add Storage" button
   • Selecting the appropriate storage options, such as capacity and performance.
4. Save your changes by clicking the "Save" button

Your storage container should now be configured and ready to use.

It's important to note that these are just the basic steps for configuring storage in Nutanix, you may have to consult the Nutanix documentation for more detailed instructions and troubleshooting.

Configuring Networking in Nutanix

Steps for Configuring Networking in Nutanix

1. Log in to the Nutanix Prism web console by entering the IP address of your Nutanix cluster into a web browser.
2. Navigate to the "Networking" section of the menu on the left-hand side of the screen.
   • Click on the "Create Network" button
   • Fill out the form to create a new network, providing details such as the name, subnet, and VLAN ID.
3. Configure your network settings by:
   • Clicking on the network you just created
   • Clicking on the "Edit" button
   • Providing the DHCP settings, IP address range, and gateway
4. Save your changes by clicking the "Save" button

Your network should now be configured and ready to use.

It's important to note that these are just the basic steps for configuring networking in Nutanix, you may have to consult the Nutanix documentation for more detailed instructions and troubleshooting.

Creating a Virtual Machine in Nutanix

Nutanix provides a powerful platform for managing virtual machines, and in this guide, we'll show you how to create a VM in Nutanix with 4GB memory, 100GB HDD, and 2 CPU.

Steps:

1. Log in to the Nutanix web console.
2. Click on the "VMs" tab in the left-hand menu.
3. Click on the "Create VM" button.
4. Enter a name for your VM and select the appropriate cluster and storage container.
5. Click on "Next" and select "Custom" as the configuration type.
6. Assign 4GB of memory, 2 CPU, and 100GB of HDD space to the VM.
7. Click on "Next" and select the appropriate network settings for your VM.
8. Click on "Finish" to create the VM.

Once the VM is created, you can begin installing an operating system and other software on it. Keep in mind that you will need to have the appropriate licenses and image files in place in order to create a VM.

To learn more about creating VMs and other features of Nutanix, visit the Nutanix documentation and the Nutanix Community forum.

Creating a Cluster in Nutanix

Nutanix is a powerful platform for managing enterprise IT infrastructure, and one of the key features of the software is the ability to create and manage clusters. In this guide, we'll show you how to create a cluster in Nutanix.

Steps:

1. Log in to the Nutanix web console.
2. Click on the "Cluster" tab in the left-hand menu.
3. Click on the "Add Cluster" button.
4. Enter a name for your cluster and select the appropriate data services (such as storage and compute) that you want to enable.
5. Select the desired cluster layout (such as 3-node or 4-node) and click on "Next."
6. Add the IP addresses of the nodes that you want to include in the cluster.
7. Click on "Next" and review the settings for your cluster.
8. Click on "Create" to create the cluster.

Once the cluster is created, you can begin adding virtual machines and other resources to it. Keep in mind that you will need to have the appropriate hardware and network infrastructure in place in order to create a cluster.

To learn more about creating clusters and other features of Nutanix, visit the Nutanix documentation

Setting up a Nutanix Home Lab with VMware Workstation

Nutanix is a powerful platform for managing enterprise IT infrastructure, and setting up a home lab is a great way to learn more about the software and test out its capabilities. In this guide, we'll show you how to install Nutanix on VMware Workstation for a home lab setup.

Before you begin, you'll need to have VMware Workstation and the Nutanix Community Edition ISO downloaded and ready to use.

Steps:

1. Open VMware Workstation and create a new virtual machine.
2. Select "Custom" for the virtual machine configuration and choose "I will install the operating system later."
3. Select "Linux" as the operating system and "Other Linux 3.x kernel" as the version.
4. Assign at least 4 vCPU, 16GB of RAM and 100GB of hard drive to the virtual machine.
5. Connect the Nutanix Community Edition ISO to the virtual machine's CD/DVD drive.
6. Start the virtual machine and begin the Nutanix installation process.
7. Follow the prompts to install Nutanix, making sure to select the appropriate options for your home lab setup.
8. Once the installation is complete, log in to the Nutanix web console and begin configuring your cluster.
9. You can also add additional nodes to the cluster for a more realistic home lab setup.

With a little bit of time and effort, you can have your own Nutanix home lab up and running in no time. This is a great way to learn more about the platform and test out different configurations and scenarios.

Please note that Nutanix community edition is limited to non-production use, and is intended for personal learning, POCs and testing.

For more information and resources, visit the VMware website and the Nutanix website.

Nutanix: Simplifying Enterprise IT Infrastructure

Nutanix is a leading provider of hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) solutions for the enterprise. With its innovative software, Nutanix combines storage, compute, and virtualization resources into a single platform, making it easier for organizations to manage and scale their IT infrastructure. This approach to infrastructure management is often referred to as a "software-defined datacenter" (SDDC).

One of the key benefits of Nutanix's HCI solutions is their ability to simplify IT operations. By bringing all of the necessary components together in a single platform, Nutanix eliminates the need for organizations to manage multiple different systems and vendors. This not only reduces complexity and costs, but also improves agility and scalability.

In addition to its HCI solutions, Nutanix also offers a range of other enterprise cloud services, including disaster recovery, security, and data protection. These services further extend the capabilities of Nutanix's HCI platform, providing organizations with a comprehensive solution for managing their IT infrastructure.

If you're interested in learning more about Nutanix and its solutions, visit the Nutanix website.