LittleCMDB (An Orchestrator and WaveMaker project) – Part 3

Table of Content

• LittleCMDB (An Orchestrator and WaveMaker project) – Part 1

In Part1 we start with the SQL DB Plugin and create the required database for our need.

• LittleCMDB (An Orchestrator and WaveMaker project) – Part 2

In Part2 we start with the development of our Workflow. We will start with a few elements.

• LittleCMDB (An Orchestrator and WaveMaker project) – Part 3

In Part3 we  finish the  collection of the VM information.

• LittleCMDB (An Orchestrator and WaveMaker project) – Part 4

In Part4 we insert our data into the database and test our created workflow

• LittleCMDB (An Orchestrator and WaveMaker project) – Part 5

In Part5 we create our webview to get a look on our Data in the SQL Database

• LittleCMDB (An Orchestrator and WaveMaker project) – Part 6

In Part6 we will make our Workflow smarter to update the DB with actual VM information

• LittleCMDB (An Orchestrator and WaveMaker project) – Part 7

In Part7 problems with vAPP located virtual machines are fixed

Part3

Here we go with the Part3 of our LittleCMDB……

To get forward with out CMDB with need more Elements. We insert the following elements and workflows into the Schema.

• A scripting element

• a decision

• the Workflow element “Extract virtual machine information”

• a second scripting element

• a third scripting element

• a second decision

We can place the elements on the left side of our Schema.

After placement it have to look like this screen shot

 

Next we have to insert values in the different elements. Lets start with the first Scriptable task.

We set the name of the element t o”Countdown VMs” and insert a good description (we want to countdown the “AllVMs” Array…). Next we need the in and output’s for the element. Following variables are required:

Local Parameter	Variable Name	Module	Direction	Type
NumberVMs	NumberVMs	Countdown Vms	in	Number
allVMs	allVMs	Countdown Vms	in	Array/VC:VirtualMachine
SQLVID	SQLVID	Countdown Vms	in	String
NumberVMs	NumberVMs	Countdown Vms	out	Number
VmtoGet	VmtoGet	Countdown Vms	out	VC:VirtualMachine
SkipVM	SkipVM	Countdown Vms	out	Boolean
VMName	VMName	Countdown Vms	out	String
V_ID	V_ID	Countdown Vms	out	String

After we have created the values we start with our scripting. In our Scripting, we have to check different states of the connected virtual machines. Some states could lead to errors in our scripting, so we have to avoid them and skip the VM. In the Scripting Tab we have to insert this commands.

// set Variable SkipVM to false

SkipVM == false;

// We take the last VM in our Array

VmtoGet = allVMs.pop();

// some virtual machines are in the API but not connected. We must exclude them, otherwise we become errors

if (VmtoGet.summary.runtime.connectionState == VcVirtualMachineConnectionState.orphaned) {

SkipVM = true;

System.debug("OrphanedVM: " + VmtoGet);

}

if (VmtoGet.summary.config.template == true) {

SkipVM = true;

System.debug("Template: " + VmtoGet);

}

if (VmtoGet.summary.runtime.connectionState == VcVirtualMachineConnectionState.disconnected) {

SkipVM = true;

System.debug("VM Disconnected: " + VmtoGet);

}

if (VmtoGet.summary.runtime.connectionState == VcVirtualMachineConnectionState.inaccessible) {

SkipVM = true;

System.debug("VM Inaccessible: " + VmtoGet);

}

// Get the virtual machine name

VMName = VmtoGet.summary.config.name;

// create a unique UUID for the database (It is also possible to do so in the SQL DB....here I use the JavaScript )

V_ID = System.nextUUID();

// decrease the Variable NumberVMs

NumberVMs = NumberVMs -1;

Next we go to the decision. Here we have to insert a speaking name and a description. I use “SkipVM” as name. After that, we have to fill in the Decision condition.

 

For that, we click on “Not Set (NULL)” and choose the Skip VM variable

 

Then we have to set the parameter to “is false”

 

Then we are already finished with this module.

Now we have to deal with the “Extract virtual machine Information” Workflow. This workflow has one Input and a lot of Output variables.

Local Parameter	Variable Name	Module	Direction	Type
vm	VmtoGet	Extract virtual Machine	in	VC:VirtualMachine
folderName	folderName	Extract virtual Machine	out	String
folderID	folderID	Extract virtual Machine	out	String
runningHostName	runningHostName	Extract virtual Machine	out	String
runningHostID	runningHostID	Extract virtual Machine	out	String
resourcePoolName	resourcePoolName	Extract virtual Machine	out	String
rescourcePoolID	rescourcePoolID	Extract virtual Machine	out	String
clusterName	clusterName	Extract virtual Machine	out	String
clusterID	clusterID	Extract virtual Machine	out	String
computeResourceId	computeResourceId	Extract virtual Machine	out	String
datastoreName	datastoreName	Extract virtual Machine	out	Array/string
datastoreId	datastoreId	Extract virtual Machine	out	Array/string
diskSize	diskSize	Extract virtual Machine	out	Array/number
cpuCount	cpuCount	Extract virtual Machine	out	number
memoryMB	memoryMB	Extract virtual Machine	out	number
ipAddresses	ipAddresses	Extract virtual Machine	out	Array/string
networks	networks	Extract virtual Machine	out	Array/string
folder	folder	Extract virtual Machine	out	VC:VmFolder
host	host	Extract virtual Machine	out	VC:HostSystem
resourcePool	resourcePool	Extract virtual Machine	out	VC:ResourcePool
cluster	cluster	Extract virtual Machine	out	VC:ClusterComputeResource
computeResource	computeResource	Extract virtual Machine	out	VC:ComputeResource
datastores	datastores	Extract virtual Machine	out	Array/VC:Datastore

The output Variables must all be attributes….when your are finished your “Visual Bindings” have a whole bunch of connections…

 

That’s all for the module. Know we have to deal with the second scripting element. When you have a deeper look at the “Extract virtual machine Information” module, you will see that some information about virtual machines are missing. One of these information is the virtual machine UUID. This UUID is always unique for a VM. The name of the VM could be changed but the UUID with not be changed. So to be able to identify a VM we need this UUID. In this scripting element, we want extract this information.

First we give a name and a description for the module. I use the name “GetVMUUID”. Then we need one Input parameter and a output parameter.

Local Parameter	Variable Name	Module	Direction	Type
VmtoGet	VmtoGet	GetVMUUID	in	VC:VirtualMachine
VMUUID	VMUUID	GetVMUUID	out	String

In the scripting tab we insert the following:

VMUUID = VmtoGet.summary.config.uuid;

With this, we get the UUID of the virtual Machine.

Now it is time to configure the third scriptable task. In this module, we will check if the VM is already in our DB. For that, we do some custom SQL scripting. We will not use a “predefined” SQL Statement, which we created earlier because we only need two columns for our decision.

First, lets name the module and insert a description. I name the module “GetVMfromDB”

Let’s see what Input and Output parameter we need:

Local Parameter	Variable Name	Module	Direction	Type
isUnique	isUnique	GetVMfromDB	in	Boolean (true)
VMUUID	VMUUID	GetVMfromDB	in	String
V_ID	V_ID	GetVMfromDB	in	String
VMInfo_Table	VMInfo	GetVMfromDB	in	SQL:Table
VMInfoRead_Result	VMInfoReadResult	GetVMfromDB	in	SQL:ActiveRecord
VMName	VMName	GetVMfromDB	in	String
VminDB	VminDB	GetVMfromDB	out	Boolean

The VMInfo_Table must be chosen. You can pick the right Table during the configuration of the Variable

The VMInfoRead_result is reading data out of the database and to work with this data.

After we have created all variables, we can start with the Scripting.

The script we need has to read the VM information out of the db (if the VM exist in the database). If the VM exist it generates a log entry and sets the Variables “VMinDB” to true. Otherwise to false. We use the Variable “VMinDB” for the control of our Workflow.

// We check the DB for the VM. The check is based on VMName and UUID

var columns = {
UUID : VMUUID,
VMName : VMName,

};
VMInfoRead_result = VMInfo_Table.readRecords(columns);

// Some local variables here. We have to split the DB Information
var SplitArraytoString = VMInfoRead_result.toString();
var UUIDString = SplitArraytoString.search(VMUUID);
var VMNameString = SplitArraytoString.search(VMName);

if ((UUIDString >= 0) && (VMNameString >=0))
{
VMinDB = true;
System.log("VM: " + VMName + " already in DB.")
}
else
{
VMinDB = false;
System.log("VM: " + VMName + " not in DB.")
};

At last we have to deal with the next Decision. I use the Name “VM in DB”for that decision. Here we check if the VM is already in the DB.

 

 After we have chosen the Variable, we set the Boolean Value to “false”

 

After we have finished all the Elements, we are starting to connect these. We start with the “Countdown VMs”. We need a connection from “NumberofVMs” to there. And from “Countdown VMs” we will make a connection to “SkipVM”

 

Next we need a connection from “SkipVM” to “Extract virtual machine Information” and a “Error Connection to “NumberofVMs”.

 

All Other Elements will be connected to the following element.

 

From “VM in DB” we connect the error connection to “NumberofVMs”. When the VM is already in our Database, we go further with the next virtual machine.

 

At least for this part, we create a End under “NumberofVMs”. This End will be reached, If the number of VMs is “0”.

 That’s all for Part3. In Part4 we will start to insert the Data into the SQL Server, so stay tuned 😉