VMware vCenter Orchestrator - 4.0, vCenter Orchestrator - 4.0.4, vCenter Orchestrator - 4.0.3, vCenter Orchestrator - 4.0.2, vCenter Orchestrator - 4.0.1 Developer's Guide

vCenter Orchestrator Developer's Guide

vCenter Orchestrator 4.0.1

This document supports the version of each product listed and supports all subsequent versions until the document is replaced by a new edition. To check for more recent editions of this document, see http://www.vmware.com/support/pubs.

EN-000228-03

vCenter Orchestrator Developer's Guide

You can find the most up-to-date technical documentation on the VMware Web site at:

http://www.vmware.com/support/

The VMware Web site also provides the latest product updates.

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3401 Hillview Ave. Palo Alto, CA 94304 www.vmware.com

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Updated Information 7

About This Book 9

Introduction to VMware vCenter Orchestrator 11

Key Features of the Orchestrator Platform 11

Orchestrator User Roles and Related Tasks 12

Orchestrator Architecture 13

Developing Workflows 15

Principal Phases in the Workflow Development Process 16

Accessing the Orchestrator Client 17

Testing Workflows During Development 17

Workflow Editor 17

Provide General Workflow Information 20

Defining Attributes and Parameters 21

Workflow Schema 23

Obtaining Input Parameters from Users When a Workflow Starts 39

Requesting User Interactions While a Workflow Runs 44

Calling Workflows Within Workflows 52

Running a Workflow on a Selection of Objects 58

Developing Long-Running Workflows 60

Configuration Elements 65

Workflow User Permissions 66

Validating Workflows 67

Running Workflows 68

Develop a Simple Example Workflow 70

Develop a Complex Workflow 92

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Developing Actions 111

Reusing Actions 111

Access the Actions View 111

Components of the Actions View 112

Creating Actions 112

Scripting 115

Orchestrator Elements that Require Scripting 115

Limitations of the Mozilla Rhino Implementation in Orchestrator 116

Using the Orchestrator API 116

Exception Handling Guidelines 122

Orchestrator JavaScript Examples 123

vCenter Orchestrator Developer's Guide

Creating Resource Elements 131

View a Resource Element 131

Import an External Object to Use as a Resource Element 132

Edit the Resource Element Information and Access Rights 132

Save a Resource Element to a File 133

Update a Resource Element 133

Add a Resource Element to a Workflow 133

Add a Resource Element to a Web View 134

Creating Packages 137

Create a Package 137

Set User Permissions on a Package 138

Developing Plug-Ins 141

Overview of Plug-Ins 141

Contents and Structure of a Plug-In 147

Create an Orchestrator Plug-In 151

Orchestrator Plug-In API Reference 216

Elements of the vso.xml Plug-In Definition File 230

Developing a Web Services Client 247

Writing a Web Service Client Application 247

Web Service API Object Reference 262

Web Service API Operation Reference 267

Developing Web Views 281

Web View Overview 282

Weboperator Web View 282

Web View Development Tasks to Perform in Orchestrator 283

File Structure of a Web View 293

Web View Home Page 293

Web View Components 294

Accessing Server Objects from URLs 309

Create a Simple Web View Using the Default Template 312

Refactoring Orchestrator Applications After Upgrading vCenter Server 329

When to Refactor Applications 329

Install the VMware Infrastructure 3.5 Plug-In 330

Refactoring Packages with the Basic Refactoring Workflow 330

Refactoring Packages with the Advanced Refactoring Workflows 333

Appendix: Workflow Name Changes 337

JDBC Workflow Name Changes 337

Locking Workflow Names Unchanged 338

Mail Workflow Name Changes 338

Orchestrator Workflows 338

Refactoring Workflow Name Changes 338

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SSH Workflow Name Changes 339

vCenter Server Workflow Name Changes 339

XML Workflow Name Changes 342

Index 343

Contents

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vCenter Orchestrator Developer's Guide

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Updated Information

This VMware vCenter Orchestrator Developer's Guide is updated with each release of the product or when necessary.

This table provides the update history of the VMware vCenter Orchestrator Developer's Guide.

Revision Description

EN-000228-03

EN-000228-02

EN-000228-01

Added “Running a Workflow on a Selection of Objects,” on page 58, “Implement the Start Workflows

in a Series and Start Workflows in Parallel Workflows,” on page 59, and an example of running a

workflow in a scripted loop in “Workflow Scripting Examples,” on page 129.

Added managed object references and VcOptionValue examples in “Access Managed Object Reference

Types,” on page 127 and “Set vCenter Server Option Values,” on page 129.

Added Tapestry and Dojo versions in “Web View Overview,” on page 282.

Clarified that packages import all referenced elements in “Create a Package,” on page 137 and corrected description of Execute permission in “Set User Permissions on a Package,” on page 138.

Added “Limitations of the Mozilla Rhino Implementation in Orchestrator,” on page 116 and “Color

Coding of Scripting Keywords,” on page 120.

Added more required JAR files to “Locating the Plug-In API Java Archives,” on page 153 and “Obtain

an Application to Plug in to Orchestrator,” on page 153.

Added links to third-party Web development standards in “Web View Overview,” on page 282.

Corrected description of Execute permission in “Set User Permissions on a Package,” on page 138.

Corrected OGNL syntax in “vmo:WorkflowLink Component,” on page 307.

Added how to set a relative timeout and revised the information in “Requesting User Interactions While

a Workflow Runs,” on page 44.

Corrected descriptions of the Pre-defined answers and Pre-defined list of elements properties in “Workflow Input Parameter Properties,” on page 42.

Improved definitions in “Overview of Plug-Ins,” on page 141 and “Contents and Structure of a Plug-

In,” on page 147.

Complete revision of “Create an Orchestrator Plug-In,” on page 151.

Added information about how to add a plug-in tab to the configuration interface in “Create an

Orchestrator Plug-In,” on page 151.

Added missing classes to “Orchestrator Plug-In API Reference,” on page 216 and improved descriptions.

Added missing elements and updated “Elements of the vso.xml Plug-In Definition File,” on page 230 to list which elements and attributes are mandatory.

Removed erroneous references to Authorizations from “Import Web View Files from a Working

Folder,” on page 290, “Create a Web View Attribute,” on page 290, and “hasRights Operation,” on

page 278.

New Web view section, “Provide Unique Component Names,” on page 315, and reproduced the unique component name change throughout the Web view example.

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vCenter Orchestrator Developer's Guide

Revision Description

EN-000228-00 Updated for the release of Orchestrator 4.0.1 with the following new information:

New procedure, “Edit a Workflow from the Standard Library,” on page 18.

New sections on “Accessing the Orchestrator Client,” on page 17, “Accessing the Orchestrator Server

File System from JavaScript and Workflows,” on page 121, “Accessing Java Classes from JavaScript,”

on page 121, “Accessing Operating System Commands from JavaScript,” on page 122, and “Accessing

the Server from Web Service Clients,” on page 250, following changes to the Orchestrator security

policy.

New Chapter 5, “Creating Resource Elements,” on page 131.

Major revision of Chapter 9, “Developing Web Views,” on page 281.

New “Appendix: Workflow Name Changes,” on page 337 to reflect changes between Orchestrator 4.0 and 4.0.1.

EN-000129-01

Updated the filenames and paths of the Refactor Tutorial example throughout the sections “Refactoring

Packages with the Basic Refactoring Workflow,” on page 330 and “Refactoring Packages with the Advanced Refactoring Workflows,” on page 333 to reflect changes in the file structure of the examples

package.

Updated the filenames and paths of the solar system example plug-in in “Create an Orchestrator Plug-

In,” on page 151 to reflect changes in the file structure of the examples package.

EN-000129-00 Initial release of Orchestrator 4.0.

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About This Book

The VMware vCenter Orchestrator Developer's Guide provides information and instructions about how to use the VMware vCenter Orchestrator platform to develop process-automation applications for virtual environments.

Intended Audience

This document is intended for developers who want to develop applications using the Orchestrator platform. Specifically, this document is intended for the following types of developer.

Application developers who want to create new extensions to the Orchestrator platform.

Scripting developers who want to create new building blocks to automate certain processes.

Web service application developers who want to access these processes across a network, through technologies such as simple object access protocol (SOAP) and Web services definition language (WSDL).

Web designers who want to create or customize Web front ends for these processes, using the Web 2.0 technologies.

IT staff who want to automate processes to save time, to reduce risk and cost, and to comply with regulations or standard practices.

Example Applications

The examples applications which this document describes are available to download. You can download a ZIP file of examples from the Orchestrator documentation home page.

VMware Technical Publications Glossary

VMware Technical Publications provides a glossary of terms that might be unfamiliar to you. For definitions of terms as they are used in VMware technical documentation, go to

http://www.vmware.com/support/pubs.

Document Feedback

VMware welcomes your suggestions for improving our documentation. If you have comments, send your feedback to docfeedback@vmware.com.

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vCenter Orchestrator Developer's Guide

Technical Support and Education Resources

The following technical support resources are available to you. To access the current version of this book and other books, go to http://www.vmware.com/support/pubs.

Online and Telephone Support

Support Offerings

VMware Professional Services

To use online support to submit technical support requests, view your product and contract information, and register your products, go to

http://www.vmware.com/support.

Customers with appropriate support contracts should use telephone support for the fastest response on priority 1 issues. Go to

http://www.vmware.com/support/phone_support.html.

To find out how VMware support offerings can help meet your business needs, go to http://www.vmware.com/support/services.

VMware Education Services courses offer extensive hands-on labs, case study examples, and course materials designed to be used as on-the-job reference tools. Courses are available onsite, in the classroom, and live online. For onsite pilot programs and implementation best practices, VMware Consulting Services provides offerings to help you assess, plan, build, and manage your virtual environment. To access information about education classes, certification programs, and consulting services, go to

http://www.vmware.com/services.

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Introduction to VMware vCenter

Orchestrator 1

VMware vCenter Orchestrator is a development and process-automation platform that provides a library of extensible workflows to allow you to create and run automated, configurable processes to manage the VMware vCenter infrastructure.

Orchestrator exposes every operation in the vCenter Server API, allowing you to integrate all of these operations into your automated processes. Orchestrator also allows you to integrate with other management and administration solutions through its open plug-in architecture.

This chapter includes the following topics:

“Key Features of the Orchestrator Platform,” on page 11

“Orchestrator User Roles and Related Tasks,” on page 12

“Orchestrator Architecture,” on page 13

Key Features of the Orchestrator Platform

Orchestrator is composed of three distinct layers: an orchestration platform that provides the common features required for an orchestration tool, a plug-in architecture to integrate control of subsystems, and a library of preexisting processes. Orchestrator is an open platform that can be extended with new plug-ins and libraries, and can be integrated into larger SOAP architectures through a set of APIs.

The following list presents the key Orchestrator features.

Persistence

Central management

Check-pointing

Versioning

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Production grade external databases are used to store relevant information, such as processes, states, and configuration information.

Orchestrator provides a central way to manage your processes. The application server-based platform, with full version history, allows you to have scripts and process-related primitives in one place. This way, you can avoid scripts without versioning and proper change control spread on your servers.

Every step of a process is saved in the database, which allows you to restart the server without losing state and context. This feature is especially useful for long-running processes.

All Orchestrator Platform objects have an associated version history. This feature allows basic change management when distributing processes to different project stages or locations.

vCenter Orchestrator Developer's Guide

Scripting engine

Workflow engine

Policy engine

Web 2.0 front end

The Mozilla Rhino JavaScript engine provides a way to create new building blocks for Orchestrator Platform. The scripting engine is enhanced with basic version control, variable type checking, name space management and exception handling. It can be used in the following building blocks:

Actions

Workflows

Policies

The workflow engine allows you to capture business processes. It uses one of the following methods to create a step-by-step automation:

Building blocks of the library

Building blocks provided by the customer

Plug-ins

Users, a schedule, or a policy can start workflows.

The policy engine allows monitoring and event generation to react to changing conditions. Policies can aggregate events from the platform or any of the plugins, which allows you to handle changing conditions on any of the integrated technologies.

The Web 2.0 front end allows new possibilities of expression and flexibility. It provides a library of user customizable components to access vCO orchestrated objects and uses Ajax technology to dynamically update content without reloading complete pages.

Security

Orchestrator provides the following advanced security functions:

Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) to sign and encrypt content imported and exported between servers

Digital Rights Management (DRM) to control how exported content might be viewed, edited and redistributed

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encrypted communications between the desktop client and the server and HTTPS access to the Web front end.

Advanced access rights management to provide control over access to processes and the objects manipulated by these processes.

Orchestrator User Roles and Related Tasks

vCenter Orchestrator provides different tools and interfaces based on the specific responsibilities of the two global user roles: Administrators and End Users.

Administrators

This role has full access to all of the Orchestrator platform capabilities. Basic administrative tasks include the following items:

Installing and configuring Orchestrator

Managing access rights for Orchestrator and applications

Importing and exporting packages

Enabling and disabling Web views

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Orchestrator

database

vCenter

Orchestrator

Client application

vCenter

Server

browser access web service

workflow library

vCenter VI3 WMI XML SSH JDBC SMTP

3rd-party

plug-in

Orchestrator Architecture

Orchestrator contains a workflow library and workflow engine to allow you to create and run workflows that automate orchestration processes. You run workflows on the objects of different technologies that Orchestrator accesses through a series of plug-ins.

Orchestrator provides a standard set of plug-ins, including a plug-in to VMware vCenter Server, to allow you to orchestrate tasks in the different environments that the plug-ins expose.

Orchestrator also presents an open architecture to allow you to plug in external third-party applications to the orchestration platform. You can run workflows on the objects of the plugged-in technologies that you define yourself. Orchestrator connects to a directory services server to manage user accounts, and to a database to store information from the workflows that it runs. You can access Orchestrator and the workflows and objects it exposes through the Orchestrator client interface, through a Web browser, or through Web services.

Figure 1-1 shows the architecture of Orchestrator.

Figure 1-1. VMware vCenter Orchestrator Architecture

NOTE The VMware Infrastructure 3 and Microsoft plug-ins are not installed by default.

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vCenter Orchestrator Developer's Guide

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Developing Workflows 2

You develop workflows in the Orchestrator client interface. Workflow development involves using the workflow editor, the built-in Mozilla Rhino JavaScript scripting engine, and the Orchestrator and vCenter Server APIs.

Principal Phases in the Workflow Development Process on page 16

The process for developing a workflow involves a series of phases.

Accessing the Orchestrator Client on page 17

By default, all Orchestrator users can access the Orchestrator client. However, for security reasons, the Orchestrator administrator can limit access to the Orchestrator client to members of the Orchestrator administrator LDAP group.

Testing Workflows During Development on page 17

You can test workflows at any point during the development process, even if you have not completed the workflow or included an end element.

Workflow Editor on page 17

You create and edit workflows by using the workflow editor. The workflow editor is the Orchestrator client's IDE for developing workflows.

Provide General Workflow Information on page 20

You provide a workflow name and desription, define attributes and certain aspects of workflow behavior, set the version number, check the signature, and set user permissions in the General tab in the workflow editor.

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Defining Attributes and Parameters on page 21

After you create a workflow, you must determine the workflow's global attributes and input and output parameters.

Workflow Schema on page 23

A workflow schema is a graphical representation of a workflow that shows the workflow as a flow diagram of interconnected workflow elements.

Obtaining Input Parameters from Users When a Workflow Starts on page 39

If a workflow requires input parameters, it opens a dialog box in which users enter the required input parameter values when it runs. You can organize the content and layout, or presentation, of this dialog box in Presentation tab in the workflow editor.

Requesting User Interactions While a Workflow Runs on page 44

A workflow can sometimes require additional input parameters from an outside source while it runs. These input parameters can come from another application or workflow, or the user can provide them directly.

vCenter Orchestrator Developer's Guide

Calling Workflows Within Workflows on page 52

Workflows can call on other workflows during their run. A workflow can start another workflow either because it requires the result of the other workflow as an input parameter for its own run, or it can start a workflow and let it continue its own run independently. Workflows can also start a workflow at a given time in the future, or start multiple workflows simultaneously.

Running a Workflow on a Selection of Objects on page 58

You can automate repetitive tasks by running a workflow on a selection of objects. For example, you can create a workflow that takes a snapshot of all the virtual machines in a virtual machine folder, or you can create a workflow that powers off all the virtual machines on a given host.

Developing Long-Running Workflows on page 60

A workflow in a waiting state consumes system resources because it constantly polls the object from which it requires a response. If you know that a workflow will potentially wait for a long time before it receives the response it requires, you can add long-running workflow elements to the workflow.

Configuration Elements on page 65

A configuration element is a list of attributes you can use to configure constants across a whole Orchestrator server deployment.

Workflow User Permissions on page 66

Orchestrator defines levels of permissions that you can apply to users or groups to allow or deny them access to workflows.

Validating Workflows on page 67

Orchestrator provides a workflow validation tool. Validating a workflow helps identify errors in the workflow and checks that the data flows from one element to the next correctly.

Running Workflows on page 68

A workflow runs according to a logical flow of events.

Develop a Simple Example Workflow on page 70

Developing a simple example workflow demonstrates the most common steps in the workflow development process.

Develop a Complex Workflow on page 92

Developing a complex example workflow demonstrates the most common steps in the workflow development process and more advanced scenarios, such as creating custom decisions and loops.

Principal Phases in the Workflow Development Process

The process for developing a workflow involves a series of phases.

The order in which you perform the tasks that developing a workflow involves generally conforms to the following sequence of phases.

1 Provide general information about the workflow.

2 Create the input parameters.

3 Create the logical flow of the workflow by laying out and linking the schema.

4 Bind the input and output parameters of each element to workflow attributes, creating the necessary

parameters and attributes as you define each element.

5 Write any necessary scripts for scriptable task or custom decision elements.

6 Create the layout and behavior of the input parameters dialog box that the user sees when they run the

workflow by creating the workflow presentation.

7 Validate the workflow.

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Accessing the Orchestrator Client

If the Orchestrator administrator has limited the access to the client and if you are not a member of the Orchestrator administrator group, you cannot log in to the Orchestrator client.

To allow you to access the Orchestrator client, the administrator must either add you to the Orchestrator administrator LDAP group, or enable all users to access the Orchestrator client.

See the VMware vCenter Orchestrator Administration Guide for information about setting LDAP groups and enabling and disabling access to the Orchestrator client.

Testing Workflows During Development

You can test workflows at any point during the development process, even if you have not completed the workflow or included an end element.

By default, Orchestrator checks that a workflow is valid before you can run it. You can deactivate automatic validation during workflow development, to run partial workflows for testing purposes.

Chapter 2 Developing Workflows

NOTE Do not forget to reactivate automatic validation when you finish developing the workflow.

Procedure

1 In the Orchestrator client menu, click Tools > User Preferences.

2 Click the Workflows tab.

3 Uncheck the Validate workflow before executing it check box.

You deactivated automatic workflow validation.

Workflow Editor

You create and edit workflows by using the workflow editor. The workflow editor is the Orchestrator client's IDE for developing workflows.

You open the workflow editor by editing an existing workflow.

Create a Workflow on page 18

You can create workflows in the workflows hierarchical list in the Orchestrator client interface.

Edit a Workflow on page 18

You edit a workflow by using the Orchestrator client's workflow editor.

Edit a Workflow from the Standard Library on page 18

Orchestrator provides a standard library of workflows that you can use to automate operations in the virtual infrastructure. The workflows in the standard library are locked in the read-only state.

Workflow Editor Tabs on page 19

The workflow editor consists of tabs in which you edit the components of the workflows.

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vCenter Orchestrator Developer's Guide

Create a Workflow

You can create workflows in the workflows hierarchical list in the Orchestrator client interface.

Procedure

1 In the Orchestrator client, click the Workflows view.

2 (Optional) Right-click the root of the workflows hierarchical list, or a folder in the list, and select Add

category to create a new workflow folder.

3 (Optional) Name the new folder.

4 Right-click the new folder or an existing folder and select New workflow.

5 Name the new workflow and click OK.

The new empty workflow is created in the folder you chose.

What to do next

You can edit the workflow.

Edit a Workflow

You edit a workflow by using the Orchestrator client's workflow editor.

Procedure

1 In the Orchestrator client, click the Workflows view.

2 Expand the workflows hierarchical list to navigate to the workflow to edit.

3 Click the workflow to edit.

4 Open the workflow for editing by right-clicking the workflow and selecting Edit.

The workflow editor opens, allowing you to edit the workflow.

Edit a Workflow from the Standard Library

Orchestrator provides a standard library of workflows that you can use to automate operations in the virtual infrastructure. The workflows in the standard library are locked in the read-only state.

To edit a workflow from the standard library, create a duplicate of that workflow. You can edit duplicate workflows or custom workflows.

Procedure

1 Click in the Workflows view in the Orchestrator client.

2 (Optional) Right-click the root of the hierarchical list of workflow folders and select New category to create

a folder to contain the workflow to edit.

3 Expand the Library hierarchical list of standard workflows to navigate to the workflow to edit.

4 Right-click the workflow to edit.

The Edit option is dimmed. The workflow is read-only.

5 Right-click the workflow and select Duplicate workflow.

6 Provide a name for the duplicate workflow.

By default, Orchestrator names the duplicate workflow Copy of

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workflow_name

Chapter 2 Developing Workflows

7 Click the Workflow category value to search for a folder in which to save the duplicate workflow.

Select the folder you created in Step 2. If you did not create a folder, select a folder that is not in the library of standard workflows.

8 Click Yes or No to copy the workflow version history to the duplicate.

Option Description

Yes

The version history of the original workflow is replicated in the duplicate.

The version of the duplicate reverts to 0.0.0.

9 Click Duplicate to duplicate the workflow.

10 Right-click the duplicate workflow and select Edit.

The workflow editor opens. You can edit the duplicate workflow.

You duplicated a workflow from the standard library. You can edit the duplicate workflow.

Workflow Editor Tabs

The workflow editor consists of tabs in which you edit the components of the workflows.

Table 2-1. Workflow Editor Tabs

Tab Description

General Edit the workflow name, provide a description of what the

workflow does, set the version number, see the user permissions, define the behavior of the workflow if the Orchestrator server restarts, and define the workflow's global attributes.

Inputs Define the parameters that the workflow requires when it

runs. These input parameters are the data that the workflow processes. The workflow's behavior changes according to these parameters.

Outputs Define the values that the workflow generates when it

completes its run. Other workflows or actions can use these values when they run.

Schema Build the workflow. You build the workflow by dragging

workflow schema elements from the workflow palette on the left side of the Schema tab. Clicking an element in the schema diagram allows you to define and edit the element's behavior in the bottom half of the Schema tab.

Presentation Defines the layout of the user input dialog box that appears

when users run a workflow. You arrange the parameters and attributes into presentation steps and groups to ease identification of parameters in the input parameters dialog box. You define the constraints on the input parameters that users can provide in the presentation by setting the parameter properties.

Parameters Reference Shows which workflow elements consume the attributes and

parameters in the logical flow of the workflow. This tab also shows the constraints on these parameters and attributes that you define in the Presentation tab.

Executions Provides details about each time a particular workflow runs.

This information includes the workflow's status, the user who ran it, the business status of the current element, and the time and date when the workflow started and ended.

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vCenter Orchestrator Developer's Guide

Table 2-1. Workflow Editor Tabs (Continued)

Tab Description

Events Provides information about each individual event that

Permissions Sets the permissions to interact with the workflow for users

Provide General Workflow Information

Prerequisites

Create a workflow and open the workflow editor for that workflow.

Procedure

1 Click the General tab in the workflow editor.

2 Click the Version digits to set a version number for the workflow.

The Version Comment dialog box opens.

3 Type a comment for this version of the workflow and click OK.

For example, type Initial creation if you just created the workflow.

occurs when the workflow runs. This information includes a description of the event, the user who triggered it, the type and origin of the event, and the time and date when it occurred.

or groups of users.

4 Define how the workflow behaves if the Orchestrator server restarts by setting the Server restart

behavior value.

Leave the default value of Resume workflow execution to make the workflow resume at the point at which its run was interrupted when the server stopped.

Click Resume workflow execution and select DON'T resume workflow execution (set as FAILED) to prevent the workflow from restarting if the Orchestrator server restarts.

Prevent the workflow from restarting if the workflow depends on the environment in which it runs. For example, if a workflow requires a specific vCenter Server and you reconfigure Orchestrator to connect to a different vCenter Server, restarting the workflow after you restart the Orchestrator server causes the workflow to fail.

5 Type a detailed description of the workflow in the Description text box.

6 Click Save at the bottom of the workflow editor.

A green message at the bottom left of the workflow editor confirms that you saved your changes.

You defined aspects of the workflow behavior, set the version, and defined the operations that users can perform on the workflow.

What to do next

You must define the workflow attributes and parameters.

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Defining Attributes and Parameters

After you create a workflow, you must determine the workflow's global attributes and input and output parameters.

Workflow attributes are data that workflows process internally. Workflow input parameters are data that comes from an outside source, such as a user or another workflow. Workflow output parameters are data that the workflow delivers when it ends.

Define Workflow Attributes on page 21

Workflow attributes are the data that workflows process.

Define Workflow Parameters on page 22

Input and output parameters allow you to pass information and data into and out of the workflow.

Attribute and Parameter Naming Restrictions on page 22

You can use OGNL expressions to determine input parameters dynamically when a workflow runs. The Orchestrator OGNL parser uses certain keywords during OGNL processing that you cannot use in workflow attribute or parameter names.

Define Workflow Attributes

Chapter 2 Developing Workflows

Workflow attributes are the data that workflows process.

NOTE You can also define workflow attributes in the workflow schema elements when you create the workflow schema. It is often easier to define an attribute when you create the workflow schema element that processes it.

Prerequisites

You must have created a workflow and opened the workflow editor for that workflow.

Procedure

1 Click the General tab in the workflow editor.

The attributes pane appears in the bottom half of the General tab.

2 Right-click in the attributes pane and select Add Attribute.

A new attribute appears in the attributes list, with String as its default type.

3 Click the attribute name to change it.

The default name is att<X>, where <X> is a number.

NOTE Workflow attributes must not have the same name as any of the workflow's parameters.

4 Click the attribute type to select a new type from a list of possible values.

The default attribute type is String.

5 Click the attribute value to set or select a value according to the attribute type.

6 Add a description of the attribute in the Description text box.

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vCenter Orchestrator Developer's Guide

7 If the attribute is a constant rather than a variable, click the check box to the left of the attribute name to

make its value read-only.

The lock icon ( ) identifies the column of read-only check boxes.

8 (Optional) If you decide that the attribute should be an input or output parameter rather than an attribute,

right-click the attribute and select Move as INPUT/OUTPUT parameter to change the attribute into a parameter.

You defined an attribute for the workflow.

What to do next

You can define the workflow's input and output parameters.

Define Workflow Parameters

Input and output parameters allow you to pass information and data into and out of the workflow.

You define a workflow's parameters in the workflow editor. The input parameters are the data upon which the workflow acts that the user provides when they run the workflow. The output parameters are the data the workflow returns when it completes.

Prerequisites

You must have created a workflow and opened the workflow editor for that workflow.

Procedure

1 Click the appropriate tab in the workflow editor.

Click Inputs to create input parameters.

Click Outputs to create output parameters.

2 Right-click in the parameters tab and select Add Parameter.

A new parameter appears in the attributes list, with String as its default type.

3 Click the parameter name to change it.

The default name is arg_in_<X> for input parameters and arg_out_<X> for output parameters, where <X> is a number.

4 Click the parameter type value to change it from String to a different value from a list of possible values.

5 Add a description of the parameter in the Description text box.

6 (Optional) If you later decide that the parameter should be an attribute rather than a parameter, right-click

the parameter and select Move as attribute to change the parameter into an attribute.

You have defined an input or output parameter for the workflow.

What to do next

After you define the workflow's parameters, build the workflow schema.

Attribute and Parameter Naming Restrictions

Using a reserved OGNL keyword as a prefix to an attribute name does not break OGNL processing. For example, you can name a parameter trueParameter. Reserved keywords are not case-sensitive.

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Chapter 2 Developing Workflows

You cannot use the following keywords in workflow attribute and parameter names.

Table 2-2. Forbidden Keywords in Attribute and Parameter Names

Forbidden Keyword Forbidden Keyword Forbidden Keyword

abstract

back_char_esc

back_char_literal

boolean

byte

char

char_literal

class

_classResolver

const

context

debugger

dec_digits

dec_flt

default

delete

digit

double

dynamic_subscript

enum

eof

esc

exponent

export

extends

false

final

flt_literal

flt_suff

ident

implements

import

int

int_literal

interface

_keepLastEvaluation

_lastEvaluation

letter

long

_memberAccess

native

package

private

public

root

short

static

string_esc

string_literal

synchronized

this

_traceEvaluations

true

_typeConverter

volatil

with

WithinBackCharLiteral

WithinCharLiteral

WithinStringLiteral

Workflow Schema

A workflow schema is a graphical representation of a workflow that shows the workflow as a flow diagram of interconnected workflow elements.

View Workflow Schema on page 24

You view a workflow schema in the Schema tab for that workflow in the Orchestrator client.

Building a Workflow in the Workflow Schema on page 24

Workflow schemas consist of a sequence of schema elements. Workflow schema elements are the building blocks of the workflow, and can represent decisions, scripted tasks, actions, exception handlers, or even other workflows.

Schema Elements on page 25

The workflow editor presents the workflow schema elements in menus in the Schema tab.

Schema Element Properties on page 28

Schema elements have properties that you can define and edit in the Schema tab of the workflow palette.

Links and Bindings on page 30

Links between elements determine the logical flow of the workflow. Bindings populate elements with data from other elements by binding input and output parameters to workflow attributes.

Decisions on page 36

Workflows can implement decision functions that define different courses of action according to a Boolean true or false statement.

Exception Handling on page 38

Exception handling catches any errors that occur when a schema element runs. Exception handling defines how the schema element behaves when the error occurs.

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vCenter Orchestrator Developer's Guide

View Workflow Schema

You view a workflow schema in the Schema tab for that workflow in the Orchestrator client.

Procedure

1 Navigate to a workflow in the workflow hierarchical list.

2 Click the workflow.

Information about that workflow appears in the right pane.

3 Select the Schema tab in the right pane.

You see the graphical representation of the workflow.

Building a Workflow in the Workflow Schema

You build workflows in the workflow editor by dragging schema elements from the workflow palette on the left of the workflow editor into the workflow schema diagram.

Edit a Workflow Schema

You build a workflow by creating a sequence of schema elements in the workflow editor's Schema tab.

Repeat this procedure until you have added all of the required schema elements to the workflow schema. A workflow schema must have at least one End workflow element, but it can have several.

Prerequisites

Open a workflow for editing in the workflow editor.

Procedure

1 Click the Schema tab in the workflow editor.

2 Click the Generic menu on the left of the Schema tab.

3 Drag a schema element from the Generic menu to the workflow schema.

4 Double-click the element you dragged to the workflow schema.

Double-clicking an element allows you to name the element. You must provide elements with unique names in the context of the workflow.

a Type an appropriate element name in the schema element.

b Press the Enter key.

You cannot rename Waiting timer, Waiting event, End workflow, or Throw exception elements.

5 Right-click an element in the schema and select Copy.

6 Right-click at an appropriate position in the schema and select Paste.

Copying and pasting existing schema elements is a quick way of adding similar elements to the schema. All of the settings of the copied element appear in the pasted element, except for the business state. Adjust the pasted element settings accordingly.

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Chapter 2 Developing Workflows

7 Drag schema elements from the Basic, Log, or Network menus to the workflow schema.

You can edit the names of the elements in the Basic, Log, or Network menus. You cannot edit their scripting.

8 Drag schema elements from the Action & Workflow menu to the workflow schema.

When you drag actions or workflows to the workflow schema, a dialog box appears that allows you to search for the action or workflow to insert.

9 Type the name or part of the name of the workflow or action to insert in the workflow.

The workflows or actions that match the search appear in the dialog box.

10 Double-click a workflow or action to select it.

You inserted the workflow or action in the workflow schema.

What to do next

Define the properties of the elements you added to the workflow schema and link and bind them all together.

Modify Search Results

You use the Search text box to find elements such as workflows or actions. If a search returns a partial result, you can modify the number of results that the search returns.

When you use the search for an element, a green message box indicates that the search lists all the results. A yellow message box indicates that the search lists only partial results.

Procedure

1 (Optional) If you are editing a workflow in the workflow editor, click Save and Close to exit the editor.

2 From the Orchestrator client menu, select Tools > User Preferences.

3 Click the General tab.

4 Type the number of results for searches to return in the Finder Maximum Size text box.

5 Click Save and Close in the User Preferences dialog box.

You modified the number of results that searches return.

Schema Elements

The workflow editor presents the workflow schema elements in menus in the Schema tab.

Table 2-3 describes all of the schema elements from which you can build workflows.

Table 2-3. Schema Elements and Icons

Schema Element Name Description Icon

Start Workflow The starting point of the workflow. All

workflows contain this element and it cannot be removed from the workflow schema. A workflow can have only one start element. Start elements have one output and no input.

Scriptable Task General purpose tasks you define. You write

JavaScript functions in this element.

Icon Location in Workflow editor

Always present in the

Schema tab

Generic workflow palette

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Table 2-3. Schema Elements and Icons (Continued)

Schema Element Name Description Icon

Decision Boolean function. Decision elements take

Custom Decision Boolean function. Custom decisions can take

User Interaction Allows users to pass new input parameters

Waiting Timer Used by long-running workflows. When a

Waiting Event Used in long-running workflows. When a

End Workflow The end point of the workflow. You can have

one input parameter and return either true or false. The type of decision the element makes depends on the type of the input parameter. Decision elements allow the workflow to branch into different directions, depending on the input parameter the decision element receives. If the received input parameter corresponds to an expected value, the workflow continues along a certain route. If the input is not the expected value, the workflow continues on an alternative path.

several input parameters and act upon them according to custom scripts. Returns either true or false.

into the workflow. You can design how the user interaction element presents the request for input parameters and place constraints on the parameters that users can provide. You can set permissions to determine which users can provide the input parameters. When a running workflow arrives at a user interaction element, it enters a passive state and prompts the user for input. You can set a timeout period within which the users can answer. The workflow resumes according to the data the user passes to it, or returns an exception if the timeout period expires. While it is waiting for the user to respond, the workflow token is in the waiting state.

running workflow arrives at a Waiting Timer element it enters a passive state. You set an absolute date at which the workflow resumes running. While it is waiting for the date, the workflow token is in the waiting- signal state.

running workflow arrives at a Waiting Event element it enters a passive state. You define a trigger event that the workflow awaits before it resumes running. While it is waiting for the event, the workflow token is in the waiting-signal state.

multiple end elements in a schema, to represent the different possible outcomes of the workflow. End elements have one input with no output. When a workflow reaches an End Workflow element, the workflow token enters the completed state.

Icon Location in Workflow editor

Generic workflow palette

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Table 2-3. Schema Elements and Icons (Continued)

Schema Element Name Description Icon

Thrown Exception Creates an exception and stops the

workflow. Multiple occurrences of this element can be present in the workflow schema. Exception elements have one input parameter, which can only be of the String type, and have no output parameter. When a workflow reaches an Exception element, the workflow token enters the failed state.

Workflow Note Allows you to annotate sections of the

workflow. You can stretch notes to delineate sections of the workflow. You can change the background color of the notes to differentiate between different workflow zones. Workflow notes provide visual information only, to help you understand the schema.

Pre-Defined Task Noneditable scripted elements that perform

standard tasks that workflows commonly use. The following tasks are predefined:

Basic

Sleep

Change credential

Wait until date

Wait for custom event

Increase counter

Decrease counter

Add hours to date

Log

System log

System warning

System error

Server log

Server warning

Server error

System+server log

System+server warning

System+server error

Network

HTTP post

HTTP get

Send custom event

Action Calls on an action from the Orchestrator

libraries of actions. When a workflow reaches an action element, it calls and runs that action.

Workflow Starts another workflow synchronously. As

soon as a workflow reaches a workflow element in its schema, it runs that workflow as part of its own process. The original workflow does not continue until the called workflow completes its run.

Chapter 2 Developing Workflows

Icon Location in Workflow editor

Generic workflow palette

Basic, Log, and Network

workflow palette

Action & Workflow

workflow palette

Action & Workflow

workflow palette

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Table 2-3. Schema Elements and Icons (Continued)

Schema Element Name Description Icon

Asynchronous Workflows

Schedule Workflow Creates a task to run the workflow at a set

Nested Workflows Starts several workflows simultaneously.

Starts a workflow asynchronously. When a workflow reaches an asynchronous workflow element, it starts that workflow and continues its own run. The original workflow does not wait for the called workflow to finish before continuing.

time, then the workflow continues its run.

You can choose to nest local workflows and remote workflows that are in a different Orchestrator server. You can also run workflows with different credentials. The workflow waits until all the nested workflows complete before it continues its run.

Icon Location in Workflow editor

Action & Workflow

workflow palette

Action & Workflow

workflow palette

Action & Workflow

workflow palette

Schema Element Properties

Schema elements have properties that you can define and edit in the Schema tab of the workflow palette.

Edit a Schema Element's Global Properties

You define a schema element's global properties in the schema element's Info tab.

Prerequisites

The Schema tab of the workflow editor must contain elements.

Procedure

1 Click the Schema tab in the workflow editor.

2 Select an element to edit by clicking a schema element in the workflow schema.

The schema element's properties tabs appear at the bottom of the workflow editor.

3 Click the Info tab.

4 Provide a name for the schema element in the Name text box.

This is the name that appears in the schema element in the workflow schema diagram.

5 Click the Interaction text box and select a description from the list.

The Interaction property allows you to select between standard descriptions of how this element interacts with objects outside of the workflow. This property is for information only.

6 (Optional) Click Color to change the background color of the schema element.

You can highlight certain sections of the schema by changing the color of individual workflow elements.

7 Provide a business status description in the Business Status text box.

The Business Status property is a brief description of what this element does. When a workflow is running, the workflow token shows the Business Status of each element as it runs. This feature is useful for tracking workflow status.

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Schema Element Properties Tabs

You access a schema element's properties by clicking on a schema element that you have dragged into the workflow schema. The element properties appear in tabs at the bottom of the workflow editor.

Different element types present different properties tabs, as shown in Table 2-4.

Table 2-4. Properties Tabs per Schema Element

Schema Element Property Tab Description Applies to Schema Element Type

Attributes Attributes that elements require

from an external source, such as the user, an event, or a timer. The attributes can be a timeout limit, a time and date, a trigger, or user credentials.

Decision Defines the decision statement.

The input parameter that the decision element receives either matches or does not match the decision statement, resulting two possible courses of action.

End Workflow Stops the workflow, either

because the workflow completed successfully, or because it encountered an error and returned an exception.

Exception How this schema element

behaves in the event of an exception.

External Inputs Input parameters that the user

must provide at a certain moment while the workflow runs.

IN The IN binding for this element.

The IN binding defines the way in which the schema element receives input from the element that precedes it in the workflow.

User Interaction

Waiting Event

Waiting Timer

Decision

End

Exception

Action

Asynchronous Workflow

Exception

Nested Workflows

Predefined Task

Schedule Workflow

Scriptable Task

User Interaction

Waiting Event

Waiting Timer

Workflow

User Interaction

Action

Asynchronous Workflow

Custom Decision

Predefined Task

Schedule Workflow

Scriptable Task

Workflow

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Table 2-4. Properties Tabs per Schema Element (Continued)

Schema Element Property Tab Description Applies to Schema Element Type

Info The schema element's general

OUT The OUT binding for this

Presentation Defines the layout of the input

Scripting Shows the JavaScript function

Visual Binding Shows a graphical

Workflows Selects the workflows to nest. Nested Workflows

properties and description. The information the Info tab displays depends on the type of schema element.

element. The OUT binding defines the way in which the schema element binds output parameters to the workflow attributes or to the workflow output parameters.

parameters dialog box the user sees if the workflow needs user input while it is running.

that defines the behavior of this schema element. For Asynchronous Workflow, Schedule Workflow, and Action elements this scripting is readonly. For scriptable task and custom decision elements, you edit the JavaScript in this tab.

representation of how the parameters and attributes of this schema element bind to the parameters and attributes of the elements that come before and after it in the workflow. This is another representation of the element's IN and OUT bindings.

Action

Asynchronous Workflow

Custom Decision

Decision

Nested Workflows

Note

Predefined Task

Schedule Workflow

Scriptable Task

User Interaction

Waiting Event

Waiting Timer

Workflow

Action

Asynchronous Workflow

Predefined Task

Schedule Workflow

Scriptable Task

Workflow

User Interaction

Action

Asynchronous Workflow

Custom Decision

Predefined Task

Schedule Workflow

Scriptable Task

Action

Asynchronous Workflow

Predefined Task

Schedule Workflow

Scriptable Task

Workflow

Links and Bindings

Links between elements determine the logical flow of the workflow. Bindings populate elements with data from other elements by binding input and output parameters to workflow attributes.

To understand links and bindings, you must understand the difference between the logical flow of a workflow and the data flow of a workflow.

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