VM-Automation(VMWare)

4 MIN READ

VM Automation is the process of the creation and configuring of the virtual machine on VMWare vSphere center using an easy custom SharePoint portal.

It’s majorly developed to facilitate IT Admins to provide them an easy portal from where they can create & configure the VMs without going to the VCenter portal and in less time.

This is not just a VM automation tool its a complete process of (creation, configuration, IP set, domain join, apply security policies, etc).

By reading this article you will find more interesting this.. so let’s move on.

The setup screen can be seen here…

Once setup has completed, Go to Application tab inside Dynamics 365 Administration Center.

Now you can see the Omnichannel for Customer service.The setup screen can be seen here…

The setup screen can be seen here…

Once setup has completed, Go to Application tab inside Dynamics 365 Administration Center.

Now you can see the Omnichannel for Customer service.The setup screen can be seen here…

GOALS

The main goal of developing the VM Automation tool is to make life easier for the admins.
Here are the following goals:

  1. Create and configure Virtual machines with automated processes using a simple GUI portal.
  2. Server hardening to set several server policies at one click.
  3. Enhanced portal security and easy access for company users.
  4. Generate a complete report of VMs, it’s helpful to keep as documentation and future purpose.

TECHNOLOGY USED

SharePoint(In our case) – it can be any custom portal
Windows Powershell ISE
VMware Vcenter
WINRM Service

LETS START WITH THE REAL STEPS…..

STEP- 1 WRITE YOUR BACK-END CODE IN POWERSHELL<

In this step, we will only show few functions which can helps you to develop the whole script.

STEP-2 HOST THIS POWERSHELL SCRIPT USING WINDOWS HTTPS LISTENER SERVICE TO CALL IT FROM EXTERNALLY LIKE AN API.

Prepare the HTTPS Listener service- Buy the SSL certificate and install it at the certificate store.

To install or view the certificate for the local computer:

Click on Start and then Run (or using the keyboard combination press Windows-key+R)

  1. Type MMC and then press Enter.
  2. Choose File from the menu options, then click on Add or Remove Snap-ins
  3. Select Certificates and click Add.
  4. Go through the wizard selecting Computer account.

Install or view the certificates under:

Certificates (Local computer)–>  Personal–> Certificates

Once the certificate is installed, we will configure WINRM to listen on HTTPS:

Configure WinRM for HTTPS 

Configuring for HTTPS involves following steps.

  • Check whether the WinRM service is running

    WinRM is installed by default on all Windows machines. Check that the service is in a running state in services.

Create HTTPS listener

When you run the winrm quickconfig command, WinRM is configured for HTTP only (port 5985). Using the following command, you can find out if there are already registered listeners

WinRM e
winrm/config/listenerYou will see output like below.

Copy the thumbprint of the imported certificate to clipboard and run the following command. In WinRM, this command registers the HTTPS listener.

winrm create winrm/config/Listener?Address=*+Transport=HTTPS ‘@{Hostname=”VMwareautomation.contoso.com”; CertificateThumbprint=”‎bb 9d a3 ee 72 96 9c 10 7b 71 fb fb 44 30 e7 18 73 3f 86 13}’Validate HTTPS listenerYou can verify listener you added by running the same command you used above – WinRM e winrm/config/listener. You will see the new HTTP listener along with HTTPS service now.

Now, add below HttpListener code to your powershell back-end script.

Example- After adding whole script will look like this-

  • Add firewall exception – Allow port from the firewall

  • Check that you can connect to the machine via HTTPS

Step-3 Create a Custom portal- In our case we are using the SharePoint.

There are five steps(Pages) you have to develop in your portal.

1. Connect to VCenter

2. Build VM
Every function or field on the page connected through the individual’s APIs which get the data from the VMWare and perform the actions.

3. VM Customization

This page is generally used to customize the VM after creating on the Vmware.

Customization Like – Setting up VmName/ComputerName, Set local administrator password, Setting up IP Address, Add VM to “contoso.com” domain, etc.

This whole process using the Vmware profiles which are already created with a basic setup like- domain name, run Sysprep, Use Computer name same as Vmname, Timezone, Static IP mode.

4. Server Hardening

Server hardening: The server hardening is the another most important feature implemented in this portal from where you can set the multiple security policies of a server at one place without going into the manually.

To set the policies user must have to select properties of the hardening using this page and click on the start hardening button. 

5. Reports

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