Introduction to the VMware Automations PowerPack

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This section describes how to use the run book automation policies, run book actions, and custom run book action type found in the "VMware Automations" PowerPack.

This PowerPack is intended to be used in conjunction with the "VMware: vSphere Base Pack" PowerPack.

What is the VMware Automations PowerPack?

The "VMware Automations" PowerPack includes a run book automation policy that:

  • Enriches SL1 events for VMware devices (for example, from the "VMware vSphere Base" PowerPack) by automatically collecting diagnostic logs from the VMware vSphere Web Services API.

    For information about this API, see the VMware vSphere Web Services API documentation.

  • Associates events from the "VMware: vSphere Base Pack" PowerPack to run book actions.

The "VMware Automations" run book actions are executed on the SL1 All-In-One Appliance or Data Collector.

In addition to using the standard content, you can use the content in the "VMware Automations" PowerPack to:

  • Create your own automation policies that include the pre-defined action.
  • Use the supplied "Get VMware Diagnostic Logs" custom action type to configure your own run book action by supplying a set of parameters for diagnostic log collection.

The automation policy in this PowerPack can also be used as a "User-Inititated" automation.

Installing the VMware Automations PowerPack

Before completing the steps in this section, you must import and install the latest version of the "VMware Automations" PowerPack.

You must also install version 201 of the "Datacenter Automation Utilities" PowerPack, which provides the output formats for the run book actions included in this PowerPack.

By default, installing a new version of a PowerPack overwrites all content from a previous version of that PowerPack that has already been installed on the target system. You can use the Enable Selective PowerPack Field Protection setting in the Behavior Settings page (System > Settings > Behavior) to prevent new PowerPacks from overwriting local changes for some commonly customized fields. For more information, see the section on Global Settings.

Ensure that you are running version 12.1.2 or later of SL1 before installing this PowerPack. For details on upgrading SL1, see the relevant SL1 Platform Release Notes.

To download and install the PowerPack:

  1. Search for and download the PowerPack from the PowerPacks page (Product Downloads > PowerPacks & SyncPacks) at the ScienceLogic Support Site.
  2. In SL1, go to the PowerPacks page (System > Manage > PowerPacks).
  3. Click the Actions button and choose Import PowerPack. The Import PowerPack dialog box appears.
  4. Click [Browse] and navigate to the PowerPack file from step 1.
  5. Select the PowerPack file and click Import. The PowerPack Installer modal displays a list of the PowerPack contents.
  6. Click Install. The PowerPack is added to the PowerPacks page.

If you exit the PowerPack Installer modal without installing the imported PowerPack, the imported PowerPack will not appear in the PowerPacks page. However, the imported PowerPack will appear in the Imported PowerPacks modal. This page appears when you click the Actions menu and select Install PowerPack.

If you have the "VMware: vSphere Base Pack" PowerPack installed and are monitoring your VMware devices, no other configuration is necessary. The automation policies in the "VMware: vSphere Base Pack" PowerPack will run in response to aligned events.