Server Automation with Hewlett Packard Enterprise Server Automation
Modern enterprises use more and more servers in their work. Because of this, the number of routine tasks necessary for their implementation of tools and standards that must be observed in the operation of the system significantly increases. This, in turn, increases maintenance costs, as well as losses due to a variety of failures. As a solution to most problems, you can use automation tools. One of them is Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) Server Automation. This software is designed to centralize management and streamline the many functions of data centers, as well as automate critical places in the management of IT infrastructure.
Getting to know the server
HPE Server Automation scans the network for servers that are not under the control of the program and displays them in a special list. Then the administrator connects these servers to the system by installing software modules on each of them. After this is done, you can perform management tasks on them, including the following:
Deploying the operating system on dedicated resources : allows you to allocate physical space on the server or create virtual servers for pre-configured operating systems and enter them into a managed server pool. After that, HPE Server Automation can manage the newly created resources.
Automatic OS upgrade: HPE Server Automation can automatically, centrally, and flexibly update operating systems and install the necessary patches. This applies to servers based on the operating systems of the Windows, Linux and Solaris families. You can select the necessary patches from those offered by the operating system vendor, as well as configure the installation process so that patches that are incompatible with the server environment are not taken into account.
Software initialization: after the server has entered the managed pool, you can install and configure applications using special templates, better known as Software Policies. These templates determine which software to install, which configurations will be used, as well as the scripts that will be used during installation. These templates allow you to define the basic server configuration that will be deployed to all managed units in accordance with HPE Server Automation Software policy compliance features. For example, you can install the basic version of Apache on all servers that are managed by HPE Server Automation, as well as on a given part of them.
Audit and Compliance: The Audit and Remediation function allows you to find out the server configuration policy and make sure that they correspond to it. If inconsistencies are found or the servers are not configured as you want, this can be fixed by software. So, you can configure the base server and, based on its image, automatically configure all the others, bringing them in line with the policy you set.
Software Configuration : You can create application configuration templates and deploy them to all servers running HPE Server Automation. You can also check the standardization of configuration files on all servers in the pool.
Application Deployment: using this function, you can quickly and easily move the created complex of applications from the development team to testers and further along the chain.
Software compliance check : Using the Policy Compliance Scan tool, you can determine whether the software policy specification of the managed server matches the configuration of the software installed on it.
Reporting : HPE Server Automation provides an extensive suite of comprehensive status reports on managed servers. These reports can be flexibly configured, which allows you to provide them to various categories of users.
HPE Server Automation allows you to make changes to various systems more securely and flexibly. This is because you can model and validate your changes before you actually implement them. Due to this, server downtime is significantly reduced, since the changes introduced for the first time have already been tested for operability. You do not need to debug them and fix errors immediately after making changes or installing updates.
HPE Server Automation Configuration
A simple installation package for HPE Server Automation consists of the system core, its components, and an Oracle database hosted on a single server. More advanced packages may have additional elements:
- secondary kernels that complement the main core and increase the power for server management;
- satellites, similar in functionality to conventional cores, but having more limited capabilities. They are used for data centers and IT infrastructure with limited requirements or resources;
- Multi-master connection, which allows two independent systems to exchange data and implement joint server management.
HPE Server Automation supports installation in eight designated configurations. Other configurations require HPE Professional Services.
Simple configuration
HPE Server Automation installs a number of components that provide server management capabilities. If you do not need to configure the installation of the product, you can choose the installation for one host. If you need to configure (for example, distribute the kernel components on different servers for performance reasons), then you need to contact certified HPE consultants.
The simplest installation case is to deploy a system for a single data center or facility. It consists of all the automation components of HPE Server Automation installed on a single server management host on the same network.
Oracle Database
All system deployment options require an Oracle database configured specifically for HPE Server Automation. One of its components is used to store information about your network, storage devices, managed servers (along with the operating systems and applications installed on them), and so on. This database is part of the installation package, but you can use the existing Oracle database that was configured for use with HPE Server Automation.
Application Deployment
With the HPE Server Automation Application Deployment feature, you can create, test, and deploy custom software products for target servers in your data centers. For example, you can move applications from developers to testers to ensure better test quality. Application Deployment Tool simplifies the communications required to deploy applications. It provides a single access point where all employees involved in the development process can view or enter the data they work with. Using this tool, you can also:
- simulate application components such as code, scripts, configuration files;
- manage multiple parallel releases and versions of your applications;
- Deploy and collapse applications on target servers, roll back their versions in case of unstable operation and errors;
- simulate target servers running the elements necessary for applications;
- Establish convenient and quick communication between developers, testers, system administrators and other authorized personnel;
- plan and implement application development cycles from writing code to the release of the product. You can configure Hewlett Packard Enterprise Server Automation depending on the type of your enterprise, the standards adopted and how it works.
Audit and Correction
The audit and error correction function allows you to set objects, places and time for checking objects that are part of your IT infrastructure. A variety of validation policies determine what needs to be verified - specific files, directories, and specific configurations. The places of verification are also determined: these can be specific servers or their entire groups. And the ability to create a check schedule automates this process - for example, you can set specific dates for checks and determine their regularity (a check can be either one-time or scheduled repeating).
HPE Server Automation also provides insights into how to make servers compatible in a managed environment. So, you can activate the option of compliance of servers with the standards of a certain policy. When the system detects servers that do not meet specified standards, you can correct their operation so that it complies with accepted standards.
Using the HPE Server Automation client, you can check the values of server configuration parameters based on a working server with the correct parameters or an image of such a server. You can also do a check based on your own settings or based on pre-configured audit policies. In addition, it is possible to receive reports on the status of specific servers to check the current status of the system and for comparison with other servers.
Audit policies allow you to determine whether the security standards adopted by the company or the whole industry correspond to the current state of affairs. You can also define such standards yourself. They will be used during the audit, reporting, as well as in other audit policies.
Using audit tools for repair and recovery, you can also perform the following tasks:
- Compare servers and system snapshots with the specified servers and snapshots;
- create checks that will be performed regularly;
- Create audit policies that set standards for compatibility and security for your organization;
- create specific checks for specific servers or server groups.
- fix problems at different levels, including problems with files, directories, patches, registry keys, packages, etc.
Features of Hewlett Packard Enterprise Server Automation
This product is a set of features that automate many IT processes. These include tools such as Service Automation Visualizer, Storage Visibility and Automation, and a reporting system.
Service Automation Visualizer (SAV)
This tool is designed to help you better understand and manage the operational architecture and distributed business applications in your IT environment. As you know, these applications consist of complex sets of diverse services running on multiple servers, as well as network devices and storage devices. In this regard, in the event of performance problems, it can be difficult to determine their causes and eliminate them. It also becomes unclear what the result will be when making certain changes in the IT environment. The SAV tool allows you to visualize this type of information using drawings. They can be displayed on the monitor screen or printed on paper.
Storage Visibility and Automation
This tool allows you to manage data storage through visualization from the beginning to the end of the entire chain of data entry into the warehouse. This is very useful for the routine tasks of system administrators. They are provided with funds that help save space (and, as a result, money) by reviewing available resources, audit storage facilities, analyze resource usage trends, create a variety of scenarios and automate processes.
Reports
The real-time HPE Server Automation reporting system provides the user with a variety of information regarding managed servers, network devices, software, patches, operating systems, clients and objects (virtual and physical), and the application of a variety of policies. You can also get reports on security and user actions.
Resource deployment system
HPE Server Automation allows you to install preconfigured operating systems on physical and virtual servers. The procedure takes place quickly and with minimal human involvement. This feature is a key part of the server startup process. The automatic deployment feature ensures that each server in your facility will have a standardized operating system configuration by default. The benefits of this system include:
- Integration with other HPE Server Automation features and tools. Since the resource deployment system is tightly integrated with a set of automation tools (including automatic patch management, software management, script execution, etc.), this ensures a smooth transfer of work between different departments. This ensures that various groups of IT departments will work with an understanding of the ongoing processes, the general state of the working environment. This is one of the keys to productive work and reliable control over the implementation of changes.
- Ability to upgrade software servers without reinstalling. Unlike many other similar solutions, the HPE Server Automation Resource Deployment System makes it easy to make changes after installation. This is due to the use of special templates and a package-oriented approach to work.
- Flexible architecture designed to work in many environments . The HPE Server Automation deployment system supports many different types of servers, networks, security architectures, and operational processes. This flexibility ensures that you can deploy the necessary operating systems to meet the needs of your organization.
You can perform HPE Server Automation functions from both the regular and web client. The system automates all typical deployment tasks, namely:
- Preparation of equipment for installing the operating system using the prepared OS installation profile and the use of specified sequences;
- Making plans, which are a list of tasks that must be performed on the server before and after installing the operating system. Such plans take precedence over predefined installation sequences;
- Installation of the basic and default configuration of the operating system in accordance with a given sequence or construction plan.
- Installation of all the latest patches for operating systems (the list depends on the applications running on the server);
- Execution of certain scripts before and after installing the OS, which set certain configuration parameters, for example, the root password;
- Installation of system components and utilities, such as for example Secure Shell, PC Anywhere, anti-virus software and data backup programs, system monitoring tools;
- Installation of common system software, such as Java Virtual Machine.
The HPE Server Automation Deployment System supports:
- Windows, Solaris, and Linux;
- network installation and installation from physical media (CD / DVD);
- and also allows you to distribute responsibilities between employees of the data center and system administrators.
The system also integrates with native installation technologies used in different operating systems:
- Windows answer files: unattend.txt, unattend.xml, sysprep.inf
- Red Hat Kickstart
- SuSE YaST (Yet another Setup Tool)
- Solaris Jumpstart
- WINPE / WIN-BCOM / UNDI
You can deploy the operating system on:
- physical servers on which the HPE Server Automation agent is not installed and there is no operating system;
- virtual servers;
- servers included in the pool of servers not managed by HPE Server Automation and having installed OS;
- servers included in the pool of servers managed by HPE Server Automation and having installed OS (redeployment).
Script execution
Using the scripting function of HPE Server Automation allows you to run one-time or saved scripts across the entire pool of managed servers in automatic mode, rather than manually. For system administrators, this provides the following benefits:
- parallel execution of scripts on many UNIX and / or Windows servers, which significantly saves time and provides a high degree of consistency;
- access control is carried out on the principle that only authorized administrators can run scripts on the hosts to which they have access;
- the ability to control access to scripts by storing them in private or public libraries;
- the ability to group script settings, when administrators can access server status information. This is important so that the right scripts are executed on the right servers;
- A comprehensive logbook of reports that shows when and where a particular script was executed and who is responsible for it.
Because scripting tools are an integral part of HPE Server Automation, system administrators have unique advantages over third-party tools:
- Using information about the state of the system and its configuration to configure scripts, you can also adapt scripts to specific tasks by learning additional information through a simple link in HPE Server Automation. This can be information about the user or the company that owns the server, whether the server is a simple repository or is it used to calculate which object it is located on, etc.
- Users can share scripts without any security risk, as HPE Server Automation monitors for who and on which servers can run script execution, and also conducts a comprehensive audit of script execution.
Device Information
Device Explorer, part of HPE Server Automation, lets you view server information in a managed environment. Using this browser, you can perform the following tasks:
- take snapshots of the status of servers, prepare their audits, check application configurations, create packages and open remote sessions on remote servers;
- view the file system of servers, registry, hardware, software, a list of patches and services;
- find out information about the properties of the server and its history;
In the group explorer, you can perform the following tasks:
- audit system information, take snapshots of the status of servers and application settings;
- View and access groups of members - servers and other groups;
- View a brief description of the group and its history.
Virtualization Management
HPE works with cloud and virtualization providers. HPE supports VMware vCenter Server and Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM). HPE also has limited integration with the OpenStack cloud service operating on the Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) scheme.
Virtualization management HPE Server Automation gives you:
- visibility in your data center and convenient viewing of all your physical and virtual machines;
- simple creation of virtual machines;
- compliance with all regulatory and corporate policies;
- control over your entire virtual environment, which makes it possible to comfortably manage it even with a significant increase in the number of virtual machines, and also allows you to quickly detect and fix emerging problems.
Discovering servers without an agent and performing its installation
This function allows you to quickly find all servers on which the HPE Server Automation agent is not installed and automatically install it on a large number of devices, thereby placing them under HPE SA control.
With it, you can perform the following tasks:
- scan the network for the presence of agentless servers;
- select the server to install the HPE SA agent;
- set the tool for communication and set the login / password combination;
- select installation and deployment options for agents.
You can find additional informational materials on the official website , as well as on the YouTube channel .
Getting to know the server
HPE Server Automation scans the network for servers that are not under the control of the program and displays them in a special list. Then the administrator connects these servers to the system by installing software modules on each of them. After this is done, you can perform management tasks on them, including the following:
Deploying the operating system on dedicated resources : allows you to allocate physical space on the server or create virtual servers for pre-configured operating systems and enter them into a managed server pool. After that, HPE Server Automation can manage the newly created resources.
Automatic OS upgrade: HPE Server Automation can automatically, centrally, and flexibly update operating systems and install the necessary patches. This applies to servers based on the operating systems of the Windows, Linux and Solaris families. You can select the necessary patches from those offered by the operating system vendor, as well as configure the installation process so that patches that are incompatible with the server environment are not taken into account.
Software initialization: after the server has entered the managed pool, you can install and configure applications using special templates, better known as Software Policies. These templates determine which software to install, which configurations will be used, as well as the scripts that will be used during installation. These templates allow you to define the basic server configuration that will be deployed to all managed units in accordance with HPE Server Automation Software policy compliance features. For example, you can install the basic version of Apache on all servers that are managed by HPE Server Automation, as well as on a given part of them.
Audit and Compliance: The Audit and Remediation function allows you to find out the server configuration policy and make sure that they correspond to it. If inconsistencies are found or the servers are not configured as you want, this can be fixed by software. So, you can configure the base server and, based on its image, automatically configure all the others, bringing them in line with the policy you set.
Software Configuration : You can create application configuration templates and deploy them to all servers running HPE Server Automation. You can also check the standardization of configuration files on all servers in the pool.
Application Deployment: using this function, you can quickly and easily move the created complex of applications from the development team to testers and further along the chain.
Software compliance check : Using the Policy Compliance Scan tool, you can determine whether the software policy specification of the managed server matches the configuration of the software installed on it.
Reporting : HPE Server Automation provides an extensive suite of comprehensive status reports on managed servers. These reports can be flexibly configured, which allows you to provide them to various categories of users.
HPE Server Automation allows you to make changes to various systems more securely and flexibly. This is because you can model and validate your changes before you actually implement them. Due to this, server downtime is significantly reduced, since the changes introduced for the first time have already been tested for operability. You do not need to debug them and fix errors immediately after making changes or installing updates.
HPE Server Automation Configuration
A simple installation package for HPE Server Automation consists of the system core, its components, and an Oracle database hosted on a single server. More advanced packages may have additional elements:
- secondary kernels that complement the main core and increase the power for server management;
- satellites, similar in functionality to conventional cores, but having more limited capabilities. They are used for data centers and IT infrastructure with limited requirements or resources;
- Multi-master connection, which allows two independent systems to exchange data and implement joint server management.
HPE Server Automation supports installation in eight designated configurations. Other configurations require HPE Professional Services.
Simple configuration
HPE Server Automation installs a number of components that provide server management capabilities. If you do not need to configure the installation of the product, you can choose the installation for one host. If you need to configure (for example, distribute the kernel components on different servers for performance reasons), then you need to contact certified HPE consultants.
The simplest installation case is to deploy a system for a single data center or facility. It consists of all the automation components of HPE Server Automation installed on a single server management host on the same network.
Oracle Database
All system deployment options require an Oracle database configured specifically for HPE Server Automation. One of its components is used to store information about your network, storage devices, managed servers (along with the operating systems and applications installed on them), and so on. This database is part of the installation package, but you can use the existing Oracle database that was configured for use with HPE Server Automation.
Application Deployment
With the HPE Server Automation Application Deployment feature, you can create, test, and deploy custom software products for target servers in your data centers. For example, you can move applications from developers to testers to ensure better test quality. Application Deployment Tool simplifies the communications required to deploy applications. It provides a single access point where all employees involved in the development process can view or enter the data they work with. Using this tool, you can also:
- simulate application components such as code, scripts, configuration files;
- manage multiple parallel releases and versions of your applications;
- Deploy and collapse applications on target servers, roll back their versions in case of unstable operation and errors;
- simulate target servers running the elements necessary for applications;
- Establish convenient and quick communication between developers, testers, system administrators and other authorized personnel;
- plan and implement application development cycles from writing code to the release of the product. You can configure Hewlett Packard Enterprise Server Automation depending on the type of your enterprise, the standards adopted and how it works.
Audit and Correction
The audit and error correction function allows you to set objects, places and time for checking objects that are part of your IT infrastructure. A variety of validation policies determine what needs to be verified - specific files, directories, and specific configurations. The places of verification are also determined: these can be specific servers or their entire groups. And the ability to create a check schedule automates this process - for example, you can set specific dates for checks and determine their regularity (a check can be either one-time or scheduled repeating).
HPE Server Automation also provides insights into how to make servers compatible in a managed environment. So, you can activate the option of compliance of servers with the standards of a certain policy. When the system detects servers that do not meet specified standards, you can correct their operation so that it complies with accepted standards.
Using the HPE Server Automation client, you can check the values of server configuration parameters based on a working server with the correct parameters or an image of such a server. You can also do a check based on your own settings or based on pre-configured audit policies. In addition, it is possible to receive reports on the status of specific servers to check the current status of the system and for comparison with other servers.
Audit policies allow you to determine whether the security standards adopted by the company or the whole industry correspond to the current state of affairs. You can also define such standards yourself. They will be used during the audit, reporting, as well as in other audit policies.
Using audit tools for repair and recovery, you can also perform the following tasks:
- Compare servers and system snapshots with the specified servers and snapshots;
- create checks that will be performed regularly;
- Create audit policies that set standards for compatibility and security for your organization;
- create specific checks for specific servers or server groups.
- fix problems at different levels, including problems with files, directories, patches, registry keys, packages, etc.
Features of Hewlett Packard Enterprise Server Automation
This product is a set of features that automate many IT processes. These include tools such as Service Automation Visualizer, Storage Visibility and Automation, and a reporting system.
Service Automation Visualizer (SAV)
This tool is designed to help you better understand and manage the operational architecture and distributed business applications in your IT environment. As you know, these applications consist of complex sets of diverse services running on multiple servers, as well as network devices and storage devices. In this regard, in the event of performance problems, it can be difficult to determine their causes and eliminate them. It also becomes unclear what the result will be when making certain changes in the IT environment. The SAV tool allows you to visualize this type of information using drawings. They can be displayed on the monitor screen or printed on paper.
Storage Visibility and Automation
This tool allows you to manage data storage through visualization from the beginning to the end of the entire chain of data entry into the warehouse. This is very useful for the routine tasks of system administrators. They are provided with funds that help save space (and, as a result, money) by reviewing available resources, audit storage facilities, analyze resource usage trends, create a variety of scenarios and automate processes.
Reports
The real-time HPE Server Automation reporting system provides the user with a variety of information regarding managed servers, network devices, software, patches, operating systems, clients and objects (virtual and physical), and the application of a variety of policies. You can also get reports on security and user actions.
Resource deployment system
HPE Server Automation allows you to install preconfigured operating systems on physical and virtual servers. The procedure takes place quickly and with minimal human involvement. This feature is a key part of the server startup process. The automatic deployment feature ensures that each server in your facility will have a standardized operating system configuration by default. The benefits of this system include:
- Integration with other HPE Server Automation features and tools. Since the resource deployment system is tightly integrated with a set of automation tools (including automatic patch management, software management, script execution, etc.), this ensures a smooth transfer of work between different departments. This ensures that various groups of IT departments will work with an understanding of the ongoing processes, the general state of the working environment. This is one of the keys to productive work and reliable control over the implementation of changes.
- Ability to upgrade software servers without reinstalling. Unlike many other similar solutions, the HPE Server Automation Resource Deployment System makes it easy to make changes after installation. This is due to the use of special templates and a package-oriented approach to work.
- Flexible architecture designed to work in many environments . The HPE Server Automation deployment system supports many different types of servers, networks, security architectures, and operational processes. This flexibility ensures that you can deploy the necessary operating systems to meet the needs of your organization.
You can perform HPE Server Automation functions from both the regular and web client. The system automates all typical deployment tasks, namely:
- Preparation of equipment for installing the operating system using the prepared OS installation profile and the use of specified sequences;
- Making plans, which are a list of tasks that must be performed on the server before and after installing the operating system. Such plans take precedence over predefined installation sequences;
- Installation of the basic and default configuration of the operating system in accordance with a given sequence or construction plan.
- Installation of all the latest patches for operating systems (the list depends on the applications running on the server);
- Execution of certain scripts before and after installing the OS, which set certain configuration parameters, for example, the root password;
- Installation of system components and utilities, such as for example Secure Shell, PC Anywhere, anti-virus software and data backup programs, system monitoring tools;
- Installation of common system software, such as Java Virtual Machine.
The HPE Server Automation Deployment System supports:
- Windows, Solaris, and Linux;
- network installation and installation from physical media (CD / DVD);
- and also allows you to distribute responsibilities between employees of the data center and system administrators.
The system also integrates with native installation technologies used in different operating systems:
- Windows answer files: unattend.txt, unattend.xml, sysprep.inf
- Red Hat Kickstart
- SuSE YaST (Yet another Setup Tool)
- Solaris Jumpstart
- WINPE / WIN-BCOM / UNDI
You can deploy the operating system on:
- physical servers on which the HPE Server Automation agent is not installed and there is no operating system;
- virtual servers;
- servers included in the pool of servers not managed by HPE Server Automation and having installed OS;
- servers included in the pool of servers managed by HPE Server Automation and having installed OS (redeployment).
Script execution
Using the scripting function of HPE Server Automation allows you to run one-time or saved scripts across the entire pool of managed servers in automatic mode, rather than manually. For system administrators, this provides the following benefits:
- parallel execution of scripts on many UNIX and / or Windows servers, which significantly saves time and provides a high degree of consistency;
- access control is carried out on the principle that only authorized administrators can run scripts on the hosts to which they have access;
- the ability to control access to scripts by storing them in private or public libraries;
- the ability to group script settings, when administrators can access server status information. This is important so that the right scripts are executed on the right servers;
- A comprehensive logbook of reports that shows when and where a particular script was executed and who is responsible for it.
Because scripting tools are an integral part of HPE Server Automation, system administrators have unique advantages over third-party tools:
- Using information about the state of the system and its configuration to configure scripts, you can also adapt scripts to specific tasks by learning additional information through a simple link in HPE Server Automation. This can be information about the user or the company that owns the server, whether the server is a simple repository or is it used to calculate which object it is located on, etc.
- Users can share scripts without any security risk, as HPE Server Automation monitors for who and on which servers can run script execution, and also conducts a comprehensive audit of script execution.
Device Information
Device Explorer, part of HPE Server Automation, lets you view server information in a managed environment. Using this browser, you can perform the following tasks:
- take snapshots of the status of servers, prepare their audits, check application configurations, create packages and open remote sessions on remote servers;
- view the file system of servers, registry, hardware, software, a list of patches and services;
- find out information about the properties of the server and its history;
In the group explorer, you can perform the following tasks:
- audit system information, take snapshots of the status of servers and application settings;
- View and access groups of members - servers and other groups;
- View a brief description of the group and its history.
Virtualization Management
HPE works with cloud and virtualization providers. HPE supports VMware vCenter Server and Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM). HPE also has limited integration with the OpenStack cloud service operating on the Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) scheme.
Virtualization management HPE Server Automation gives you:
- visibility in your data center and convenient viewing of all your physical and virtual machines;
- simple creation of virtual machines;
- compliance with all regulatory and corporate policies;
- control over your entire virtual environment, which makes it possible to comfortably manage it even with a significant increase in the number of virtual machines, and also allows you to quickly detect and fix emerging problems.
Discovering servers without an agent and performing its installation
This function allows you to quickly find all servers on which the HPE Server Automation agent is not installed and automatically install it on a large number of devices, thereby placing them under HPE SA control.
With it, you can perform the following tasks:
- scan the network for the presence of agentless servers;
- select the server to install the HPE SA agent;
- set the tool for communication and set the login / password combination;
- select installation and deployment options for agents.
You can find additional informational materials on the official website , as well as on the YouTube channel .