Using OVF Files

This chapter contains the following sections:

Overview of OVF Files

This information describes how administrators and end users can use Cisco UCS Director to configure appliance storage, upload Open Virtualization Format (OVF) files, and deploy those files to a group or customer organization. Group administrators and end users can only deploy OVF files from their respective groups.

Working with OVF Files

The administrator, group-administrator, or end user can upload Open Virtualization Format (OVF) files (in both zip and jar formats) to a previously configured storage location where they are deployed.

The overall process is as follows:

    Step 1   Configure storage appliance.
    Step 2   Upload OVF files.
    Step 3   Deploy OVF files.
    Step 4   (Optional)Delete OVF files.

    Configuring an External Storage Mounting Point


    Note

    By default the appliance storage location is configured to the local storage location (/opt/infra/uploads/external/public/*).

      Step 1   On the menu bar, choose Administration > Integration > Appliance Storage tab.
      Step 2   In the Appliance Storage window, click Template Storage.
      Step 3   Click the Edit Mount Point icon.
      Step 4   In the Edit NFS Mount Configuration dialog box, check the Enable External Mount check box to configure the external mount point.
      Step 5   In the Edit NFS Mount Configuration dialog box, complete the following fields:
      Name Description

      Enable External Mount check box

      		If checked, enables an external mount.

      NFS Server IP Address

      field       		The IP address of your NFS server. An administrator can create an NFS share on NetApp Filer or any Network File System (NFS) server as storage. The OVF file that an end user uploads is stored in the location that is configured by the administrator.

      NFS Server Path

      field       		The NFS server path/share directory, such as /vol/ovfupload.
      Step 6   Click Submit.
      What to Do Next

      Administrators and end users can upload OVF files.

      Accessing the Storage Application Configuration

      Uploaded files can be stored locally on the Cisco UCS Director appliance.

        Step 1   On the menu bar, choose Administration > Integration.
        Step 2   Click the Appliance Storage tab.

        From this window, you can view existing external storage locations.

        Uploading OVF Files

        Cisco UCS Director allows an administrator, group administrator, or end user to upload OVF files (OVA, zip and jar formats) to a predefined storage location and deploy them to a group or customer organization.

        Note

        Group administrators and end users are the only types with privileges to upload and deploy OVF files.

        Before You Begin

        Ensure that you have the proper access rights.

          Step 1   On the menu bar, choose Administration > Integration.
          Step 2   Click the User OVF Management tab.
          Step 3   Click Upload File.
          Step 4   In the Upload File dialog box, complete the following fields:
          Name Description

          Folder Type drop-down list

          The type of folder containing the OVF file. Choose one of the following:

          • Public—This file is available to all public users.
          • User—Choose this role if you are an end user. End users are not granted extensive privileges. The User role is well suited for first-level support, in which problem identification, remediation, and escalation are the primary goals.
          • Group—The file is only available to those in a defined group.

          File Name field

          The name of the OVF file to upload and display.

          Upload option

          Launches the File Upload dialog box in which you can browse and select an OVF file.

          Note   

          Only OVF files in OVA, zip and jar formats can only be uploaded to the storage location.

          After the file is uploaded, and a confirmation message stating that the file is ready for use is displayed. Click Submit.

          The Submit button is enabled only after the file is uploaded in the File Upload dialog box.

          File Description field

          The description of the file (if required).

          Step 5   Click Submit.
          Step 6   When the Submit Result - Upload Successfully dialog box appears, click OK. The uploaded file is listed in the User OVF Management table.
          What to Do Next

          Deploy the OVF file.

          Deploying OVF Files

          If you are an administrator, you have the authority to deploy OVF files to a group by selecting the group's Virtual Data Center (vDC). Once an OVF file is deployed to a vDC, the files are automatically unzipped and a VM is deployed on a VMware cloud that is associated to the vDC.

            Step 1   On the menu bar, choose Administration > Integration.
            Step 2   Click the User OVF Management tab.
            Step 3   Choose an OVF file from the table.
            Step 4   Click Deploy OVF.
            Step 5   In the Deploy OVF window, complete the following fields:
            Name Description

            Select vDC drop-down list

            Choose a vDC.

            Note   

            Group administrators and end users can only view vDCs that are associated to their group.

            OVF File Name field

            The name of the selected OVF file.

            VM Name field

            The VM name. If you do not enter a VM name, a default name is automatically provided.

            User Name field

            The OVF user name.

            Password field

            The OVF file password.

            Provision field

            The time to provision the VM.

            Choose either Now or Later. If you choose Later, then you must select the date and time.

            Power OFF the VM after field

            Check this check box to specify the number of days or hours after which the VM is automatically powered off.

            Days field

            The number of days to after which the VM is automatically powered off.

            Hours field

            The number of hours after which the VM is automatically powered off.

            Step 6   Click Submit.

            After an OVF file deploys, a service request is created that displays the status of the deployed OVF. For more information, refer to the Viewing Service Requests topic.

            Deleting OVF Files

            If you are an administrator, you can delete files located in the storage area.

            Before You Begin

            You must obtain the proper authorization to delete files from the Cisco UCS Director appliance. Service end users and group administrators are authorized to delete OVF files.

              Step 1   On the menu bar, choose Administration > Integration.
              Step 2   Click the User OVF Management tab.
              Step 3   Choose an OVF file from the table and click Delete File.

              The Delete File dialog box appears.

              Step 4   Click Submit.

              OVF File Limitations

              OVF File Upload Limitations

              The current OVF file upload limitations are as follows:

              • Provisioning a VM from an OVF file with multiple NICs is not supported. The VM is provisioned by taking a primary vNIC only into consideration.

              • Custom resize (CPU, memory and disk) is not possible for VMs provisioned from an OVF file.

              • Multi-disk provisioning is not supported for VM that are provisioning from an OVF VM.