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1. Clusters

Clusters provide high availability and load balancing for a group of hosts. The Clusters page under Compute  Infrastructure displays the clusters discovered in your enterprise environment.

Any filter applied will be in effect here.

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Use the Clusters Taskbar to manage the analysis and tagging of your clusters. These buttons manage multiple clusters at one time. To manage one cluster, click on that cluster in the main area of the screen.

1.1. Performing SmartState Analysis on Clusters

Analyze a cluster to gather historical data to compare with previous points in time.

  1. Navigate to Compute  Infrastructure  Clusters.

  2. Check the clusters to analyze.

  3. Click 1847 (Configuration), and then 1942 (Perform SmartState Analysis).

  4. Click OK.

The SmartState Analysis begins and returns the current data.

1.2. Comparing Clusters

ManageIQ provides features to compare properties of clusters.

  1. Navigate to Compute  Infrastructure  Clusters.

  2. Check the clusters to compare.

  3. Click 1847 (Configuration), and then 2148 (Compare Selected items). The comparison displays in a default expanded view and lists a limited set of properties.

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  4. To delete a cluster from the comparison, click 1861(Remove this Cluster from the Comparison).

  5. To go to a compressed view, click 2024 (Compressed View). To return to an expanded view, click 2023 (Expanded View).

  6. To change the base cluster that all other clusters compare to, click its label at the top of its column.

  7. To go to the cluster summary screen, click its virtual thumbnail or icon.

  8. There are three buttons in the taskbar to limit the type of views:

    • Click 2178 (All attributes) to see all attributes.

    • Click 2204 (Attributes with different values) to see only the attributes that are different across clusters.

    • Click 2148 (Attributes with the same values) to see only the attributes that are the same across clusters.

  9. To limit the mode of the view, there are two taskbar buttons.

    • Click 2022 (Details Mode) to see all details for an attribute.

    • Click 2025 (Exists Mode) to only see if an attribute exists compared to the base or not. This only applies to attributes that can have a Boolean property. For example, a user account exists or does not exist, or a piece of hardware that does or does not exist.

This creates a comparison between clusters. Export this data or create a report from your comparison for analysis using external tools.

1.2.1. Creating a Cluster Comparison Report

Create a quick report of to compare clusters in CSV, TXT, or PDF formats.

  1. Create the comparison to analyze.

  2. Click 2107 (Download).

  3. Click the output button for the type of report.

    • Click 2133 (Download comparison report in TXT format) for a text file.

    • Click 2133 (Download comparison report in CSV format) for a comma-separated file.

    • Click 2134 (Download comparison report in PDF format) for a PDF file.

1.3. Viewing a Cluster

You can click on a specific cluster to view its details. The screen provides you with a cluster taskbar, a cluster accordion, and a cluster summary.

Cluster Management Screen

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  1. Cluster Taskbar: Choose between Configuration, Policy and Monitoring options for the selected cluster

  2. Cluster Summary: See cluster summary such as Relationships, Totals for Hosts, Totals for VMs

  3. Cluster Summary Views: Choose between graphical or text view of the cluster summary

  4. Cluster Summary PDF: Generates cluster summary in PDF format

  5. Cluster Accordion: See details about Properties, Relationships, Storage Relationships for the selected cluster

1.4. Tagging Clusters

Use tags to categorize clusters.

  1. Navigate to Compute  Infrastructure  Clusters.

  2. Check the Clusters to tag.

  3. Click 1941 (Policy), and then 1851 (Edit Tags).

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  4. Select a customer tag from the first dropdown, and then a value for the tag.

  5. Select more tags or click Save to save your changes.

1.5. Viewing Capacity and Utilization Charts for a Cluster

View capacity and utilization for a cluster.

  1. Navigate to Compute  Infrastructure  Clusters.

  2. Click the cluster to view Capacity and Utilization data.

  3. Click 1994 (Monitoring), and then 1994 (Utilization) or from the accordion menu, click Properties  Capacity & Utilization.

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  4. From Interval, select to view hourly or daily data points and the dates to view data. Use Group by to group the lines by SmartTags. Use Time Profiles to select a time range for the data.

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The Capacity & Utilization charts display

Daily charts only include full days of data. If a day does not include all the 24 data points for a day, the data does not show for that day.

For information about data optimization including utilization trend reports, see Data Optimization.

1.6. Viewing Cluster Timeline

Use the cluster timeline to see a graphical depiction of operational and configuration events over time.

  1. Navigate to Compute  Infrastructure  Clusters.

  2. Click the cluster to view the timeline.

  3. Click 1994 (Monitoring), and then 1994 (Timelines) or from the accordion menu, click Properties  Timelines.

  4. From Options, customize the period of time to display, and the types of events to see.

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    • Use the Interval dropdown to select hourly or daily data points.

    • Use Date to type the date for the timeline to display.

    • If you select to view a daily timeline, use Show to set how many days back to go. The maximum history is 31 days.

    • The three Event Group dropdowns allow the selection of different groups of events to display. Each has its own color.

    • From the Level dropdown, select a Summary event if needed, or a Detail list of events. For example, the detail level of a Power On event might include the power on request, the starting event, and the actual Power On event. If you select Summary, the timeline only displays the Power On event.

  5. To see more detail on an item in the timeline, click on it. A balloon appears with a clickable link to the resource.

1.7. Detecting Drift on Clusters

Over time, a cluster’s configuration might change. Drift is the comparison of a cluster to itself at different points in time. The cluster requires analysis at least twice to collect information. Detecting drift provides users with the following benefits:

  • See the difference between the last known state of a cluster and its current state

  • Review the configuration changes that happen to a particular cluster between multiple points in time.

  • Capture the configuration drifts for a single cluster across a time period.

Detect drift on clusters:

  1. Navigate to Compute  Infrastructure  Clusters.

  2. Click on the cluster to view drift.

  3. Click Relationships in the cluster accordion.

  4. Click Drift History.

  5. Check the analyses to compare.

  6. Click 1946 (Drift Analysis) at the top of the screen. The results are displayed.

  7. Check the Comparison sections on the left to view in your comparison.

  8. Click the plus sign next to the section name to expand it.

    • An item displayed on red text shows a change from the base analysis. An item displayed in black text shows no change from the base analysis.

    • A 2177 (Changed from previous) shows there has been a change since the last analysis.

    • A 2150 (Same as previous) means there has been no change since the last analysis.

    • Click 1861 (Remove from drift) at the bottom of a column to remove a specific analysis. The drift is then recalculated and the new results display.

  9. Click 2023 (Expanded View) to see the expanded view. Click 2024 (Compressed View)] to compress the information.

  10. Click the minus sign next to the section name to collapse it.

  11. To limit the type of views, there are three buttons in the taskbar.

    • Click 2178 (All attributes) to see all attributes of the sections selected.

    • Click 2204 (Attributes with different values) to see only the attributes different across drifts.

    • Click 2148 (Attributes with the same values) to see only the attributes the same across drifts.

The drift displays for your cluster. Download the data or create a report from the drift for analysis using external tools.

1.8. Creating a Drift Report for Clusters

Use the drift report feature to export information about your cluster’s drift.

  1. Create a drift of a cluster.

  2. Click 2107 (Download).

  3. Click the output button for the type of report you want.

    • Click 2133 (Download drift report in TXT format) for a text file.

    • Click 2133 (Download drift report in CSV format) for a comma-separated file.

    • Click 2134 (Download drift report in PDF format) for a PDF file.

1.9. Removing Clusters

If a cluster has been decommissioned or requires troubleshooting, it might require removal from the VMDB.

  1. Navigate to Compute  Infrastructure  Clusters.

  2. Check the clusters to remove.

  3. Click 1847 (Configuration), and then 1861 (Remove Clusters from the VMDB).

  4. Click OK.

The clusters are deleted. Any virtual machines or hosts associated with these clusters remain, but are no longer associated with them.

2. Hosts

The Hosts page under Compute  Infrastructure displays the hosts discovered in your enterprise environment.

Any applied filters will be in effect here.

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After adding or sorting your hosts, click on one to examine it more closely and see its virtual machines, SmartProxy settings, and properties.

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  1. Top left quadrant: Number of virtual machines on this host

  2. Bottom left quadrant: Virtual machine software

  3. Top right quadrant: Power state of host

  4. Bottom right quadrant: Authentication status

Icon Description

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Validated: Valid authentication credentials have been added.

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Invalid: Authentication credentials are invalid

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Unknown: Authentication status is unknown or no credentials have been entered.

2.1. Filtering Hosts

The Host Filter accordion is provided to easily navigate through the hosts. Use the ones provided or create your own. In addition, you can set a default filter.

2.1.1. Setting a Default Host Filter

Set the default filter for viewing your hosts.

  1. From the Filters accordion on the left, click on the filter to use.

  2. Click Set Default at the top of the filters list.

The default filter is set and marked by a green star next to its name.

2.1.2. Creating a Host Filter

Create a filter for viewing your hosts.

  1. Navigate to Compute  Infrastructure  Hosts.

  2. Click 2125 (Advanced Search) to open the expression editor.

  3. Use the expression editor to choose the appropriate options for your criteria.

  4. Click Save.

  5. Type in a name for the search expression in Save this search as.

    This title depends on the type of resource you are searching.

  6. Click Save.

The filter is saved and displays in the My Filters area of the Filter accordion.

2.2. Performing SmartState Analysis on Hosts

Perform a SmartState analysis on a host to collect additional information about it, such as patches, CPU, and memory.

  • SmartState analysis on hosts is processed by the Provider Operations role. It is enabled by default.

  • For ESX or ESXi hypervisors, consider the following: ESX hosts utilize a service console for host management and can be accessed using SSH. ESXi hosts lack a service console and therefore SSH cannot be used to obtain information sets for patches, services, Linux packages, user groups, SSH Config, and FS Files.

  • root or administrator credentials are required to get patch information.

  1. Navigate to Compute  Infrastructure  Hosts.

  2. Check the hosts to analyze.

  3. Click 1847 (Configuration), and then 1942(Perform SmartState Analysis).

  4. Click OK.

2.3. Comparing Hosts

ManageIQ allows you to compare hosts and check operating systems, host software and version information, and hardware.

  1. Navigate to Compute  Infrastructure  Hosts.

  2. Check the hosts to compare.

  3. Click 1847 (Configuration), and then 2148 (Compare selected Hosts). The comparison displays in a default expanded view, which lists a limited set of properties.

  4. To remove a host from the comparison, click 1861 (Remove this Host from the comparison) at the bottom of the column.

  5. To go to a compressed view, click 2024 (Compressed View). To return to an expanded view, click 2023 (Expanded View).

  6. To limit the mode of the view, there are two buttons in the taskbar.

    • Click 2022 (Details Mode) to see all details for an attribute.

    • Click 2025 (Exists Mode) to limit the view to if an attribute exists compared to the base or not. This only applies to attributes that can have a Boolean property. For example, a user account exists or does not exist, or a piece of hardware that does or does not exist.

  7. To change the base host that compare to the other hosts, click its label at the top of its column.

  8. To go to the summary screen for a host, click its virtual thumbnail or icon.

2.3.1. Host Comparison Sections

Section Description

Host Properties

Use this section to see basic information of the host, such as hostname, product, build number, hardware, and network adapters.

Security

Use this to see users and groups for the host, and firewall rules.

Configuration

Use this to see the operating system, applications, services, patches, vSwitches, vLANS, and advanced settings.

My Company Tags

Use this to see all tags.

2.3.2. Using the Host Comparison Sections

The following procedure describes how to use the host comparison sections.

  1. On the left of a comparison screen, select the categories of properties to display.

  2. Click the plus sign next to the sections name to expand it.

  3. The following descriptions pertain to the Expanded View 2023. Either the value of a property or an icon representing the property displays depending on the properties type.

    • A property displayed in the same color as the base means that the compared host matches the base for that property.

    • A property displayed in a different color from the base means that the compared host does not match the base for that property.

  4. If you are in the Compressed View 2024, the values of the properties do not display. All items are described by the icons shown below.

    • A 2150 (checkmark) means the compared host matches the base for that property. Hover over it and the value of the property displays.

    • A 2151 (x) means the compared host does not match the base for that property. Hover over it and the value of the property displays.

  5. Click the plus sign next to the section name to collapse it.

This comparison is viewable in multiple ways. Export the data or create a report from your comparison for analysis using external tools.

2.3.3. Creating a Host Comparison Report

Create a quick report to compare clusters in CSV, TXT, or PDF formats.

  1. Create the comparison to analyze.

  2. Click 2107 (Download).

  3. Click the output button for the type of report.

    • Click 2133 (Download comparison report in TXT format) for a text file.

    • Click 2133 (Download comparison report in CSV format) for a comma-separated file.

    • Click 2134 (Download comparison report in PDF format) for a PDF file.

2.4. Refreshing Multiple Hosts

Manually refresh a host for its properties and related infrastructure components.

  1. Navigate to Compute  Infrastructure  Hosts.

  2. Check the hosts to refresh.

  3. Click 1847 (Configuration), and then 2003 (Refresh Relationships and Power States).

  4. Click OK.

When a host is refreshed and a new virtual machine is discovered on that host, ManageIQ checks to see if the virtual machine is already registered with another host. If this is the case, the host that the virtual machine is associated with switches to the new host. If the SmartProxy is monitoring a provider, this happens automatically. If not, the next refresh of the host addresses this.

2.5. Discovering Multiple Hosts

If not using a provider, use ManageIQ’s Discovery to find hosts in your environment within a range of IP addresses.

  1. Navigate to Compute  Infrastructure  Hosts.

  2. Click 1847 (Configuration), then click 1942 (Discover items).

  3. Check the types of hosts to discover: ESX or IPMI.

  4. Type in a range of IP Addresses.

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  5. Click Start.

ManageIQ searches for the supported hosts. When available, the new hosts display. They are named by hostname and IP address. To make them identifiable, edit the basic information for each host.

2.6. Adding a Single Host

To analyze a host for more detailed information, add it to the VMDB first. If the host has not been found during Host Discovery or Provider Refresh, and the host’s IP address is known, use the Add a New Host button.

  1. Navigate to Compute  Infrastructure  Hosts.

  2. Click 1847 (Configuration), then click 1862 (Add a New item).

  3. Type the Name, Host Name, and IP Address of the host to add. Name is how the device is labeled in the console. Select the type of operating system from the Host Platform dropdown. If the Host has been found during Discovery or Refresh and the host’s operating system has been identified, the Host Platform selector remains disabled. If adding an IPMI server for provisioning, add in the IP address of that host.

    The Host Name must use a unique fully qualified domain name.

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  4. In the Credentials box, the Default tab provides fields to type a user name with elevated security credentials and the user’s password. If using domain credentials, the format for User ID is in the format of [domainname]\[username]. On ESX hosts, if the SSH login is disabled for the Default user, type in a user with remote login access on the Remote Login tab.

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  5. Click Validate to check the credentials.

  6. Click Save.

2.7. Editing Hosts

If multiple hosts have the same settings or credentials, edit them at the same time.

  1. Navigate to Compute  Infrastructure  Hosts.

  2. Click 1847 (Configuration).

  3. Check the Hosts to edit.

  4. Click 1851 (Edit Selected items).

  5. Use Credentials to provide login credentials required for this host.

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    • On the Default tab, type a user name with elevated security credentials and the users password. If you are using domain credentials, the format for User ID must be in the format of [domainname]\[username].

    • On ESX hosts, if SSH login is disabled for the Default user, type in a user with remote login access on the Remote Login tab. If this is not supplied, Default credentials will be used.

    • Use Web Services to supply credentials for any web service calls made directly to the host system. If this is not supplied, Default credentials are used.

      Login credentials are required for performing SmartState Analysis on the host’s virtual machines and templates.

      For each type of credential used, the following information is required:

    • Use User ID to specify a login ID.

    • Use Password to specify the password for the User ID.

    • Use Verify Password to confirm the password.

  6. Test the credentials by using the Select Host to validate against drop down and click Validate.

  7. Click Save.

2.8. Viewing a Host

You can click on a specific host to review it. The screen shows a host virtual thumbnail, a host taskbar, a host accordion, and a host summary.

Host Management Screen