Table Of Contents
Managing Variable Group Types from Global Libraries
Understanding Variable and Variable Group Types
Working with Variable and Variable Group Types
Creating Variable Group Types
Editing and Deleting Variable Group Types
Creating Variable Types
Editing and Deleting Variable Types
Global Libraries Reference
Global Libraries Tab
Variable Group Dialog Box
Variable Group Type Selector Dialog Box
Variable Dialog Box
Managing Variable Group Types from Global Libraries
You use the Global Libraries to create and manage variable and variable group types.
The following topics provide detailed information about variable group types and how to manage them from Global Libraries:
•
Understanding Variable and Variable Group Types
•Working with Variable and Variable Group Types
•Global Libraries Tab
Understanding Variable and Variable Group Types
Variables are representations of values to use in macros within VFrame. For added flexibility, you can define variable and variable group types.
Sometimes you might want to use the same types of variables for several different macros. VFrame allows you to create variable types and variable group types, which are basically templates of variables and variable groups that you can use over and over.
For example, if you find yourself repeatedly using the following three variables:
•IP address
•Subnet mask
•Gateway IP address
You can create three variable types for these variables and a variable group type to contain them. Later, when you create macros and service network templates that reference these variables, you only need to reference the variable group type, and all three variable types also will be referenced. If needed, you can modify the variables to meet your specific requirements.
Working with Variable and Variable Group Types
The following topics help you work with variable and variable group types:
•Creating Variable Group Types
•Editing and Deleting Variable Group Types
•Creating Variable Types
•Editing and Deleting Variable Types
Creating Variable Group Types
You can create variable group types, which are templates of variable groups that you can use over and over.
Procedure
Step 1 Select Design > Global Libraries. The Global Libraries tab opens.
Step 2 Right-click the User_VGT_Library item and select Create Variable Group Type.
Step 3 Enter a name and description in the fields and click Ok. The newly created variable group type appears under the User_VGT_Library item.
Step 4 Right-click the newly created variable group type and do one of the following:
•To add a previously created variable group type, select Add Variable Group Type. The Variable Group Type Selector dialog box opens. Select the desired variable group type and click OK. The variable group type and its contents are added to the variable group type you just created. For details, see Variable Group Type Selector Dialog Box.
•To add a variable type, select Add Variable Type, enter the appropriate information in the Variable dialog box, and click OK. For details, see Variable Dialog Box.
Step 5 Click Save.
Related Topics
•Understanding Variable and Variable Group Types
•Variables, page 11-13
•Global Libraries Tab
Editing and Deleting Variable Group Types
You can edit variable group types, or delete them if they are no longer necessary.
Procedure
Step 1 Select Design > Global Libraries. The Global Libraries tab opens.
Step 2 Navigate to the variable group type to edit or delete.
Step 3 Right-click the variable group type and do one of the following:
•To edit it, select Edit Variable Group Type, change the name and description as desired, and click OK.
•To delete it, select Delete Variable Group Type.
Step 4 Click Save.
Related Topics
•Understanding Variable and Variable Group Types
•Variables, page 11-13
•Global Libraries Tab
Creating Variable Types
You can create variable types, which are templates of variables that you can use repeatedly.
Procedure
Step 1 Select Design > Global Libraries. The Global Libraries tab opens.
Step 2 Navigate to an existing variable group type or create a new one (see Creating Variable Group Types).
Step 3 Right-click the newly created variable group type and select Add Variable Type.
Step 4 Enter the following information in the fields:
•Enter a name and description in the appropriate fields.
•In the Type field, select the type of variable that you are creating.
•Click the Advanced check box to define any of the following parameters:
–Shared—Select this check box to allow the variable value to be used by child elements, such as servers in a server group.
–Multivalued—Select this check box to specify that the variable contains more than one value. If multivalue is selected, resource pools (not single values) must be assigned as the value. For more information, see Understanding Variable and Variable Group Types.
If you select the Multivalued and Assign a default value check boxes, you can define multiple default values.
–Optional—Select this check box to indicate that a value is not required for the variable.
–Allow pool assignment—Select this check box to allow a resource pool to be assigned to the variable. Left unchecked, only one resource can be assigned to the variable.
–Restrict values—Select this check box to enumerate specific values or a identify a range of values from to choose when defining the variable value. (Applies only to Integer or String variable types.)
–Assign a default value—Select this check box to show the selected value as the default value for the variable.
Step 5 Click OK.
Step 6 Click Save.
Related Topics
•Understanding Variable and Variable Group Types
•Global Libraries Tab
Editing and Deleting Variable Types
You can edit variable types, or delete them if they are no longer necessary.
Procedure
Step 1 Select Design > Global Libraries. The Global Libraries tab opens.
Step 2 Navigate to the variable type that you want to edit or delete.
Step 3 Right-click the variable type and do one of the following:
•To edit it, select Edit Variable Type, make the desired changes, and click OK. For information about the fields in this dialog box, see Variable Dialog Box.
•To delete it, select Delete Variable Type.
Step 4 Click OK.
Step 5 Click Save.
Related Topics
•Understanding Variable and Variable Group Types
•Global Libraries Tab
Global Libraries Reference
The following topics provide reference information for these tabs and dialog boxes:
•Global Libraries Tab
•Variable Group Dialog Box
•Variable Group Type Selector Dialog Box
•Variable Dialog Box
Global Libraries Tab
Use the Global Libraries tab to display information about system variable group types. You can also create, edit, and delete user-defined variable types and variable group types.
How to Get to This Tab
Select Design > Global Libraries.
Related Topics
•Understanding Variable and Variable Group Types
•Working with Variable and Variable Group Types
Field Reference
Table 12-1 Global Libraries Tab
Element
|
Description
|
Actions button
|
Select an item and click this button to open a context-sensitive drop-down menu of actions that you can perform. This menu is also available when you right-click an item.
|
Save button
|
Saves changes you have made.
|
Name
|
Names of variable group types and variable types. Variable group types are divided into two categories:
•User_VTG_Library—User-definable variable group types and variable types.
•System_VTG_Library—Predefined variable group types and variable types.
Within these categories, variable group types and variable types are displayed as a hierarchical tree to show relationships between items. Items in the tree are identified by icons.
|
Description
|
Word or phrase describing the variable or variable group type.
|
Type
|
Type of variable value, as follows:
•Boolean—True or False.
•Date—Date in the format YY-MM-DD.
•Double—Double precision number, which can be defined as an integer, fixed-point number, or floating-point number.
•Float—Floating point number.
•IPAddrResourceType—IP address.
•Integer—Integer. You can define variable value restrictions that define minimum and maximum values or enumerate specific values.
•Long—Long integer.
•String—Sequence of simple objects. You can define variable value restrictions that define regular expressions or the enumerated values.
•Vlan—Name or number of VLANs discovered or created by VFrame.
|
IsShared
|
Indicates whether the variable value can be used by child elements, if any exist, such as servers in a server group. True means the variable can be shared, and False means the variable cannot be shared.
|
Multivalued
|
Indicates whether the variable is set to multivalue. True means the variable is set to multivalue, and False means it is not set to multivalue.
|
Optional
|
Indicates that a value is not required for the variable.
|
Variable Group Dialog Box
Use the Variable Group dialog box to create variable groups or variable group types, depending on where you are in VFrame. From the Global Library tab, you create variable group types, and from anywhere else in the VFrame interface, you create variable groups.
How to Get to This Dialog Box
Do one of the following:
•Select Design > Service Templates and open a template. Click the Properties tab or select a logical element and click the Macro Assignments tab. Click the Macros & Variables button, and then click the Variables tab. Navigate to the desired macro file container and click the New button.
•Select Tools > Server Images. Select a golden image from the Image Repository selector. In the Golden Image Parameters field, select the Golden Image Variables item and click New.
Related Topics
•Variables, page 11-13
•Understanding Variable and Variable Group Types
Field Reference
Table 12-2 Variable Group Dialog Box
Element
|
Description
|
Group Name
|
Name of the variable group.
|
Description
|
Word or phrase that describes the variable group.
|
Multivalued1
|
Click to specify that the variable contains more than one value. If multivalue is selected, you must assign resource pools, not single values, as the value.
|
Use Group Type1
|
Select this check box to choose a previously created variable group type from the Library Manager. The new variable group is created with the same contents as the variable group type you selected.
|
Variable Group Type Selector Dialog Box
Use the Variable Group Type Selector dialog box to add existing variable group types to the selected variable group.
How to Get to This Dialog Box
From the Global Libraries Tab, navigate to the desired user-defined variable group type, right click it, and select Add Variable Group Type.
Related Topics
•Understanding Variable and Variable Group Types
•Variable Group Dialog Box
Field Reference
Table 12-3 Variable Group Type Selector Dialog Box
Element
|
Description
|
Name
|
Names of variable group types and variable types. Variable group types are divided into two categories:
•User_VTG_Library—User-definable variable group types and variable types.
•System_VTG_Library—Predefined variable group types and variable types.
Within these categories, variable group types and variable types are displayed as a hierarchical tree to show relationships between items. Items in the tree are identified by icons.
|
Description
|
Word or phrase describing the variable or variable group type.
|
Type
|
Type of variable value, as follows:
•Boolean—True or False.
•Date—Date in the format YY-MM-DD.
•Double—Double precision number, which can be defined as an integer, fixed-point number, or floating-point number.
•Float—Floating point number.
•IPAddrResourceType—IP address.
•Integer—Integer. You can define variable value restrictions that define minimum and maximum values or enumerate specific values.
•Long—Long integer.
•String—Sequence of simple objects. You can define variable value restrictions that define regular expressions or the enumerated values.
•Vlan—Name or number of VLANs discovered or created by VFrame.
|
IsShared
|
Indicates whether the variable value can be used by child elements, if any exist, such as servers in a server group. True means the variable can be shared, and False means the variable cannot be shared.
|
Multivalued
|
Indicates whether the variable is set to multivalue. True means the variable is set to multivalue, and False means it is not set to multivalue.
|
Optional
|
Indicates that a value is not required for the variable.
|
Variable Dialog Box
Use the Variable dialog box to create variable or variable types, depending on where you are in VFrame. From the Global Library tab, you create variable types, and from anywhere else in the VFrame interface, you create variables.
How to Get to This Dialog Box
Do one of the following:
•Select Design > Service Templates and open a template. Click the Properties tab or select a logical element and click the Macro Assignments tab. Click the Macros & Variables button, and then click the Variables tab. Navigate to the desired variable group and click the New button.
•Select Tools > Server Images. Select a golden image from the Image Repository selector. In the Golden Image Parameters field, select the desired variable group and click New.
•From the Global Libraries Tab, navigate to the desired user-defined variable group type, right-click it, and select Add Variable Type.
Related Topics
•Variables, page 11-13
•Understanding Variable and Variable Group Types
Field Reference
Table 12-4 Variable Dialog Box
Element
|
Description
|
Variable Name
|
Name of the variable.
|
Description
|
Word or phrase that describes the variable.
|
Type
|
Type of variable, as follows:
•Boolean—True or False.
•Date—Date in the format YY-MM-DD.
•Double—Double precision number, which can be defined as an integer, fixed-point number, or floating-point number.
•Float—Floating point number.
•IPAddrResourceType—IP address.
•Integer—Integer. You can define variable value restrictions that define minimum and maximum values or enumerate specific values.
•Long—Long integer.
•String—Sequence of simple objects. You can define variable value restrictions that define regular expressions or the enumerated values.
•Vlan—Name or number of VLANs discovered or created by VFrame.
|
Show advanced settings
|
Click this button to show advanced settings. Applicable settings are activated based on the type of variable you are creating. You can select multiple settings for a variable. These settings affect what you or another user is allowed to enter when defining values for the variables.
•Shared—Select this check box to allow the variable value to be used by child elements, such as servers in a server group.
•Multivalued—Select this check box to specify that the variable contains more than one value. If multivalue is selected, resource pools (not single values) must be assigned as the value. For more information, see Understanding Variable and Variable Group Types.
If you select the Multivalued and Assign a default value check boxes, you can assign multiple default values.
•Optional—Select this check box to indicate that a value is not required for the variable.
•Allow pool assignment—Select this check box to allow a resource pool to be assigned to the variable. Left unchecked, only one resource can be assigned to the variable.
•Restrict values—Select this check box to enumerate specific values or to identify a range of values from which to choose when defining the variable value. (Applies only to Integer or String variable types.)
•Assign a default value—Select this check box to enter a default value for the variable.
|
