Stuff about vCloud Automation Center [6.0] (3/5)

CUSTOM PROPERTIES

• A really powerful framework to control workflow using built-in and self created custom properties.
• Custom properties are case sensitive!
• Use custom properties to customize machine through these stages
  • Request
  • Provisioning
  • Manage
  • Retire
• You should create an own namespace for properties to avoid conflicts with built-in properties.
• VMware provides Custom Property Reference Guides at:
  • 6.0
  • 6.1
• Built-in properties are executed automatically. For example VMware.VirtualCenter.Folder puts the vSphere VM into the defined folder during a clone action.
• Property can by encrypted.
• A user can be prompted to enter a value during request process
• Values are not check by system so there should be a workflow that validates the entered values.
• Properties and their values can be used to:
  • Customize OS (sysprep, …)
  • Provide additional build information
  • Define disk provisioning (thin, thick)
  • Auditing and reporting information (e.g. machine ID)
  • Integrate a machine with systems like HP SIM, …
  • A vCO workflow can use, create and set such properties
  • …
• Custom properties can be defined for these objects
  1. Business groups
  2. Blueprints
  3. Build profiles
  4. Endpoints
  5. Reservations
  6. Compute resources
  7. Storage

(This is also the override-order when the same properties are defined on different levels of vCAC)

BUILD PROFILE

APPROVAL POLICIES

• Pre Approval: must be approved before deployment starts.
• Post Approval: deployment starts, but the user gets the created objects after the approval.
• Approval policy can’t be changed. You can copy the policy and apply it.
• Notification can be sent by mail.

EXTENSIBILITY

Available options are:

• vCloud Automation Center Designer [deprecated]
• vCenter Orchestrator
• Advanced Services Desinger (XaaS)
• Development Toolkit (Cloud Development Kit is needed)