vCAC 6 - how to attach a CD-ROM in virtual console?

[bdamian]

Hi all, (me again).

I've created a Basic Bluprint to create an empty VM. I've add the property "VirtualMachine.CDROM.Attach" to true (screenshot attached), but when I open the console the only two options are "Send CTRL+ALT+DEL" and "Toggle Full Screen" (screenshot attached).

How do I attach a CD-ROM in order to install an operating system or any other application?

Thanks a lot,

D.

[admin]

Hi,

As far as I know, the console for vCenter VMs does not contain any CD-ROM capabilities. This is a feature that exists in vCAC + vCD.

If you want to attach the CDROM, yes, the blueprint property you mentioned will attach the CD ROM specified in the property to the VM, but that doesn't mean you will get a CDROM icon in VMRC console.

what I suggest you'd do (in continue to my previous answer to you on your other post), is to let the users choose an OS, and then set 2 other properties with relationship to the OS choice:

1. The vCenter OS name

2. The CDROM that needs to be attached to the VM.

if you need some more clarification around this i'd be happy to help.

BR

Omer

[bdamian]

Thanks for the answer.

I think this is not a trivial thing. If a user cannot attach a CD, then he cannot install software. In addition, it is almos useless a blueprint for an empty VM.

I will try to do this with vCO and let you know.

Thanks a lot.

D.

[bdamian · Accepted solution]

Hi all,

I could partially resolve this.

In order to mount a CD-ROM, we must configure Orchestrator and use the workflow to "Mount CD-ROM" as a new "Action" in vCAC. I did it and it works perfect.

The only problem is that only can mount ISO files from vCenter catalog and not from the client machine.

In fact, now I can create new workflows in Orchestrator to build a lot of "Actions" for the Virtual Machines. It's really cool!

[willonit]

Would you be willing to share your workflow?

[bdamian]

I have deleted the lab in order to install a new one with the lastest vcac version. I'm always hoping for that this kind of stuff comes out of the box.

I will test this again and I'll share it with the community. But you need to know that this is nothing special. Just add an Orchestrator workflow as a vcac action and it works. I've just put a dropdown to select the image.

Later I can create a step by step document. That might be better, don't you think?

D.

[awjudge]

If you have VCO configured already, you can use the workflow in Library/vCenter/Virtual Machine Management/Device Management/Mount CD-ROM.

Go to Advanced Services in vCAC and then to Resource Actions. Go to add a new Action, then browse the vCO workflow tree for the workflow above.

Once that's done, its just a question of customising the form that the user sees. As bdamian has mentioned, you probably need to pre-specify the .ISO files in a datastore somewhere so the user can select from a list.

Once that's set up, just Publish the new action, then add it to the Entitlements for the relevant Business Group. (Administration/Catalog Management/Entitlements.) Then the user will get Mount-CDROM as an option on any of their provisioned VMs.

Hope this helps.