Data Center Automation with vRealize Orchestrator and vSphere PowerCLI

Course Introduction

• Introductions and course logistics
• Course objectives

Automation in vSphere

• Identify the features and the advantages of automation
• List the tools used to automate vCenter Server tasks

vSphere API

• Identify the function of an API
• Recognize the components of VMware vSphere® API
• Understand how an API is consumed
• View objects and invoke methods with the Managed Object Browser

vSphere PowerCLI Basics

• Connect vSphere PowerCLI to vCenter Server systems and VMware ESXi™ hosts
• Understand vSphere PowerCLI concepts
• Use vSphere PowerCLI cmdlets
• Deploy and manage virtual infrastructure

Advanced vSphere PowerCLI and the vSphere API

• Explore the vSphere object model
• Capture code with Onyx
• Use vSphere API documentation to analyze vCenter Server actions
• View objects with the Get-View cmdlet

vSphere PowerCLI Use Cases

• Manage host networking
• Create a distributed switch
• Migrate hosts
• Create reports

vRealize Orchestrator Basics

• Identify workflow components
• Run and manage library workflows
• Edit a workflow
• Build and schedule a simple workflow
• Debug a workflow

vRealize Orchestrator Advanced

• Identify and use advanced vRealize Orchestrator workflow elements
• Implement vRealize Orchestrator workflow nesting
• Use variable types in a workflow
• Use JavaScript to create complex workflows
• Incorporate an Oynx script in a workflow

vRealize Orchestrator Use Cases

• Create automation workflows that map to real-world scenarios
• Create reporting workflows that map to real-world scenarios
• Create migration workflows that map to real-world scenarios
• Create provisioning workflows that map to real-world scenarios

vRealize Orchestrator PowerCLI Plug-In

• Invoke external scripts and pass workflow parameters as script inputs
• Generate new vRealize Orchestrator actions from Windows PowerShell and vSphere PowerCLI scripts and cmdlets
• Browse snap-ins and their associated cmdlets in the vRealize Orchestrator workflow editor

vRealize Orchestrator Integration

• Understand the connectivity options for vRealize Orchestrator
• Differentiate between north-facing and south-facing APIs
• List the APIs and their use cases
• Run a workflow through a REST call

Guest Operations with vRealize Orchestrator and vSphere PowerCLI

• Use the most appropriate tools to perform guest operations

Software Development Process and Tools

• Understand the software development lifecycle
• Understand version control system tools
• Map the correct tools to vRealize Orchestrator and vSphere PowerCLI

Completion of the following courses, or equivalent experience with vSphere deployments:

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This five-day course equips experienced VMware vSphere® administrators with the knowledge to use the automation tools that all vSphere customers have access to. Using real-world use cases and examples, students learn how to automate day-to-day administration tasks with VMware vSphere® PowerCLI™ and VMware vRealize® Orchestrator™. In this class, you use these tools to automate tasks in a lab environment.

By the end of the course, you should be able to meet the following objectives:

• Describe the features and benefits of automation in a vSphere environment
• Understand the role of the vSphere Web services API in automation
• Use the Managed Object Browser to view the structure of the vSphere Web services API and the VMware vCenter Server™ inventory
• Use vSphere PowerCLI to deploy and manage virtual machines and virtual infrastructure
• Run and manage vRealize Orchestrator workflows from the library
• Design, develop, and run custom, reusable vRealize Orchestrator workflows
• Incorporate JavaScript into vRealize Orchestrator workflows
• Select the appropriate tool for automating tasks in vCenter Server

• Course Introduction
• Automation in vSphere
• vSphere API
• vSphere PowerCLI Basics
• Advanced vSphere PowerCLI and the vSphere API
• vSphere PowerCLI Use Cases
• vRealize Orchestrator Basics
• vRealize Orchestrator Advanced
• vRealize Orchestrator Use Cases
• vRealize Orchestrator PowerCLI Plug-In
• vRealize Orchestrator Integration
• Guest Operations with vRealize Orchestrator and vSphere PowerCLI
• Software Development Process and Tools