In the previous blog we got started with managing Windows using SaltStack Config, getting familiar with winrepo and installing software in line with our standard server builds. Next we are going to expand upon that and add the correct Windows roles, configuration and settings to our Windows Server builds.
Continue readingCategory: Automation
Automation such as Terraform, Ansible, etc
In the last series with SaltStack Config, we focused more on building out a nginx configuration with beacons and reactors, but that was all done on a ubuntu box. But there is more to life than linux right? Lets see how we can use Salt to manage Windows!
Continue readingThe final blog in this 4 part series is all about creating an automatic self-healing infrastructure, preventing accidental and malicious changes to your infrastructure using SaltStack Config. We’re going to protect nginx, mainly because its pretty common, and also keeps it simple for those of us new to SaltStack (me included!)
Continue readingIn the first and second parts of this series, we got to grips with SaltStack Config, understanding the terminology, how to get the minions talking to the master, and even installing NGINX on a ubuntu server without event logging on to it. But now we need to make it a bit more interesting, and ensure we are deploying OUR web app to the server and keeping it consistent. Here we go….
Continue readingIn the first blog, we focused on ensuring we had SaltStack Config deployed (either in the cloud, or self-hosted), ensuring we had minions within the console and we understood the basics and architecture of SaltStack. This one is all about getting started with state files and actually applying some config to those minions.
Continue readingRoughly 12 months ago VMware completed the purchase of Salt, a configuration management platform, based on open source tech. Since then, VMware have been integrating it into its vRA (vRealize Automation Platform), and you can now manage your infrastructure from the cloud. Lets see how we get on…
Continue readingInfrastructure-as-code, automation and particularly Terraform is the hot topic at the moment, and rightfully so. There has been some fantastic articles by people far more adept and intelligent than me on how to use Terraform in conjunction with VMware Cloud and the NSX-T networking. However, I thought I’d come at this from a different angle, not using a brand-new or greenfield SDDC, but one already in use and ‘worn in’. In other words, one with VMs and NSX-T rules, services and groups already in-situ.
Continue readingI’ve been fortunate to work closely with VMware and in particular, the UK-based VMware Cloud on AWS team, over the last 18 months or so. Stagecoach were one of the first businesses in the UK to adopt it as their cloud platform of choice alongside AWS and so we have forged a strong relationship with their team, in particular Nico Vibert. I tell you this as some simple promotion for his website, because a good percentage of this code was his. If you’re into Terraform and VMWonAWS then head over to his website.
Goals:
- Terraform connectivity to my VMware Cloud on AWS SDDC
- Clone existing vSphere template to singular VM
- Clone existing vSphere template to multiple VMs
- Dynamically name the VMs
- Dynamically name the machines in Windows
- Assign an sequential IP to each VM
- Join to an Active Directory domain