Many VMware customers are starting to adopt a multi-cloud strategy to drive their digital business growth. However, with all the benefits of the cloud that come with this strategy, there are also management challenges that cut across clouds and operational complexities resulting from different data, applications, and policies. VMware Aria Automation is a multi-cloud infrastructure automation platform that enables our customers to deliver a unified self-service multi-cloud to help achieve their business goals with a simpler and more scalable operating model.
To support our customers’ multi-cloud journeys, we announced the plugin-based architecture to support native public cloud resources in the April release. We are excited to share that we are now adding support for Google Cloud Platform (GCP). Here are some new key features:
New Plugin-Based Native GCP Resource Support
Support for GCP VMs
VMware Aria Automation supports the provisioning of virtual machines (VM) hosted on GCP. This is now possible through the plugin-based architecture. The classic GCP VM object in Aria Automation Assembler (Assembler) has a predefined set of properties. With plugin-based architecture, the VM objects are expanded to provide all properties that are available in GCP.
With this feature, users can connect any inputs and properties provided by GCP rather than a predefined set by VMware Aria Automation; and easily unlock the latest features provided by GCP in near real-time.
Support for VM snapshots in GCP
We also have enhanced the snapshot capabilities on top of classic VM objects in VMware Aria Automation; With Plugin based framework, it now supports the following use cases on snapshots.
- Creation of a new snapshot from a disk resource while creating a new deployment using a blueprint
- Deletion of an existing snapshot
- Update an existing snapshot.
- Restoring a disk from a snapshot
With this feature, users can always easily go back to the earlier snapshots to manage the ideal state of the system.
Support for managing network resources in GCP
VMware Aria Automation now supports the provisioning of network resources on Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
Google Cloud VPC Network Peering connects two Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) networks so that resources in each network can communicate with each other. The plugin-based architecture supports add-Peering, remove-Peering, update-Peering, switch-To-Custom Mode, patch and get-Effective Firewalls.
With the plugin-based architecture, it is possible to create, update and delete the network which provides a more optimized user experience.
Support for managing disks resources in GCP
VMware Aria Automation supports storage profiles. It can attach, detach disks and encrypt for GCP resources in plugin-based architecture.
It includes:
- Disk creation (present)
- Disk deletion (absent)
- Disk display (describe)
This capability can simply manage the disk resource in GCP plugin, attaching a request to create a VM instance for a faster and more convenient user experience.
Support for GPU property in GCP
We also add GPU capabilities to GCP VM objects in VMware Aria Automation. With the plugin-based architecture, GPU property will be available in Assembler. VMware Aria Automation now supports high-performance GPUs on Google Cloud for machine learning, scientific computing, and 3D visualization, helping customers to deliver better performance and accelerate more innovations.
Support for storage buckets in GCP plugin
The StorageBucket resource represents a bucket in Cloud Storage. VMware Aria automation supports creating and deleting a Bucket resource in GCP. Also provides the ability to patch and update the storage bucket. StorageBucket Resource can be managed with default access control. Bucket resources can be patched and updated. It provides an option for users to lock the retention policy of a Bucket resource.
Manage shielded instance resources in GCP
VMware Aria Automation supports the creation of Shielded VMs, by using a dedicated “shield” property. Shielded VMs offer verifiable integrity of the compute Engine VM instances, so the user can be confident his instances haven’t been compromised by boot- or kernel-level malware or rootkits.
Learn more about how VMware Aria Automation plugin-based Architecture supports the latest GCP capabilities: GCP resource support in VMware Aria Automation.
Plugin-based native AWS resource enhancement
With the AWS classic VM objects in VMware Aria Automation, users can take care of the allocation logic or use the generic allocation framework. Now with the plugin-based architecture, the AWS EC2 Subnets are available in Assembler. Users can now configure the entire set of properties exposed by AWS for the resource.
Storage policy support for plugin-based resource
We also add more support to VMware Aria Automation current storage policy. With the Plugin based framework, it will bring many new resource types in VMware Aria Automation and Storage Allocation will support cloud-specific input.
Onboard connected NSX-T networks while onboarding VMs
When virtual machines are onboarded, we can now also onboard connected NSX networks. As part of that, the networks will show up in related deployments, and the VM IP address state will be maintained even when the VM is removed. This enhancement can speed up the customers’ adoption process and improve their onboarding experience.
To learn more about these new features in the VMware Aria Automation June/8.12.2 release, please check out these additional resources:
For a full list of updates, visit our release notes page
Also, visit us online at VMware Aria Automation and check out these additional resources.
- Learn about VMware Aria Automation features on TechZone
- IDC Spotlight on Infrastructure as Code Report
- 451 Research Report – The Public Cloud Governance Imperative Report
- vRealize Automation for Dummies Guide
- Five Strategic Automation Use Cases for Your Business eBook
- Transform your IT with Self-Service Delivery Report
- DevOps for Dummies Guide
- Enterprise Framework for Network Automation eBook
- Follow us on Twitter @VMwareAriaAuto
