Creating a Provisioning operation

A Provisioning operation creates a new instance of a virtual machine (VM), including all computing, storage, and network capabilities and an unattended installation of an operating system. Optional post-install procedures can deploy software, run scripts, and perform other configuration actions on the newly provisioned server. A Provisioning operation is based on a virtual guest package (VGP) defined in BMC Server Automation. Currently, you can only use the Provisioning wizard to deploy VMware operating systems.

In the portal, a simple wizard helps you set up a Provisioning operation. The Provisioning wizard shares many common steps with the wizard you use for defining all other operations in the portal.

This topic describes the full capabilities available when you create a Provisioning operation. It includes the sections listed below.

To create a Provisioning operation

1. Click the Provisioning drop-down list and select VMware.
   The Create VMware operation opens. It presents the steps you must follow to create a provisioning operation. Headings in a ribbon of chevrons at the top of the page identify each step. For example, one step is named Definition; another is named Content.
   
   After you provide all required information, proceed to the next page by clicking Next (at bottom) or clicking the next chevron in the ribbon at top. At any time, you can click Back (at bottom left) to display the previous page in the process. Do not use the browser's Back button.

   
   The blue boxes at right summarize the information provided for each step in the process.
   
   You can define a default Provisioning operation, which requires only a few steps, or an Advanced Provisioning operation, which gives you more options for customizing the provisioned VM.

   
   Definition page for default approach
   
   
   Definition page for advanced approach
   
   
   

2. Complete the options on the Definition page.
    

3. Depending on whether you chose to use advanced VMware options in the previous step, complete the steps listed below:

   If you are defining a VMware operation, select:	If you are defining a VMware operation with advanced options, select:
   a. Content	a. Content
   b. System Info	b. System Info
   	c. Network Info
   	d. Post Provisioning (optional)
   	e. Notifications (optional)
   	f. Schedule & Run (optional)

4. When you have finished defining the operation, take any of the following actions:

   • Click Execute Now to save the operation and run it immediately.

   • Click Finish to save the operation.
     

     Note

     After you complete the Content page, you can click Finish to save the operation even if some pages are incomplete.

The following sections describe in detail each step in the Provisioning wizard.

Content

The Content page specifies the content that an operation uses when it executes. For Provisioning operations, the only content you can specify is the Virtual Guest Package.

With the Content page, you can specify content by using the following approaches:

System Info

The System Info page lets you select the virtual processor, memory, and disk settings appropriate for VM being provisioned.

The appearance of the System Info depends on whether you are defining a VMware or a VMware Advanced operation. The interface is more complex for a VMware Advanced operation (shown below).

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Network Info

The Network Info page lets you specify network settings and adapters for the VM being provisioned.

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