test

N1 Service Provisioning System 4.1 User's Guide

Working With Host Types

A host type is a user definable classification for hosts based on some combination of attributes, such as function, location, or configuration. By assigning each host a host type, you make it easier to group hosts by their most important characteristics. For example, you can define a host type for the hosts that are used as Web servers, another host type for hosts that are used for database servers, and so on. The Web server host type might include attributes such as Location, WebServer_User, WebServer_Group, HTTP_Port, and HTTPS_Port. The database server host type might include attributes such as Location, DB_Directory, DB_InstanceName, DB_Port, and DB_SecurePort.

Host types also enable you to set configuration values dynamically when a data center operation is performed. For example, you could define a host type for Web servers, and this host type could include an HTTP port variable. When you run an installation on hosts with this host type, your installation plan could automatically set the HTTP port variable for each host.

Every host you manage with the provisioning software will be assigned a host type–either the default host type, crhost, or a host type that you have defined. Each host may only have one host type.

The Default Host Type

The N1 Service Provisioning System software includes a default host type: crhost. By default, all hosts are assigned this host type. The crhost type includes two attributes:

There are no default values for these attributes. The values must be specified for each host when you define the host. The crhost host type cannot be modified or deleted.

Host Type Attributes

A host type is distinguished by its name and its attributes. An attribute is a name-value pair. Each attribute may have a default value.

For example, you might define a host type, production_web_hosts, for production servers running a Web application. The table below describes an example of such a host type.

Table 4–3 Host Type Attributes Examples

Attribute Name 

Default Value 

Comment 

name 

None. 

The name of the host. This attribute is inherited from the crhost host type.

description 

None. 

A description of the host. This attribute is inherited from the crhost host type.

location 

San Francisco 

The name of the data center where the host is located. In this example, an organization has most of its servers in a data center in San Francisco. So, the user has made this the default value. 

host_role 

web 

An identifier for the role this host plays in the Data Center. By default, this variable is assigned the value web, indicating the host acts as a web server. 

web_port 

80 

The number of the port through which users will access this Web application. Because this variable is listed in the host type, it is accessible to plans, command lines, and Web pages and it can be configured dynamically. 

Host attributes must begin with a letter and cannot include spaces.

Adding new attributes to the host type results in the attributes and their defaults being added to every host of that type. Removing attributes from a host type permanently deletes those attributes from every host of that type. Attributes cannot be renamed; they can only be deleted and re-added with a new name, which results in the attribute value being reset to the default on all hosts of that type.

When you define a host (an individual target machine), you can selectively override the values of attributes specified by the host's host type. Default values that are not overwritten will be applied to the host.

The Host Types User Interface

The Host Types object is accessed by clicking on the Administration link in the left-hand navigation menu.

The Hosts Types Page

The Host Types Page allows you to view a list of host types and create a host type.

You can sort the host types list by clicking on one of the sort arrows in the header area host types column. Click either the ascending or descending arrow to select the desired sort order.

The Host Types Page has the following fields.

(Check Box)

Marks a host type for inclusion when host types are deleted.

Host Type

A user definable text string that names the host types object.

Description

An optional user defined text string that describes the host type object. This attribute is not used by the provisioning software but can provide meaningful information to the user.

Action

Links that take you to other host type related pages to either create a host type, view more information about a specific host type, or find a specific host type.

Actions for Checked Host Types

Permanently deletes all checked host types.

The Hosts Types Details Page

The Host Types Details Page allows you to view and change a specific host type's information and attributes.

The Host Types Details Page has the following fields.

Host Type

A user definable text string that names the host types object.

Description

An optional user defined text string that describes the host type object. This attribute is not used by the provisioning software but can provide meaningful information to the user.

Attributes

A user-definable object that can control some aspect of a deployment. For example, you can define an attribute calling it port and set its default value to 1020. This can then be used to configure the communication port for an application. This attribute is set at the time the host type is created.

This area contains two fields that displays information about the host attributes.

  • Attribute - Displays the Attribute name.

  • Default Value - Displays the default value for the attribute.

Other

Allows you to hide or display the host type.

ProcedureHow To View Host Types List

Steps

  1. In the left-hand navigation menu, click Administrative.

    The HTML user interface displays the Administrative page.

  2. In the Administrative page, click Host Types.

    The HTML user interface displays the Host types page.

ProcedureHow To Viewing Host Types Details

Steps

  1. In the left-hand navigation menu, click Administrative.

    The HTML user interface displays the Administrative page.

  2. In the Administrative page, click Host Types.

    The HTML user interface displays the Host types page.

  3. Find the row listing the Host type you're interested in, and click details.

    The HTML user interface displays a Host Types Details page for the Host Type.

ProcedureHow To Create a Host Type

Steps

  1. In the left-hand navigation menu, click Administrative.

    The HTML user interface displays the Administrative page.

  2. In the Administrative page, click Host Types.

    The HTML user interface displays the Host types page.

  3. In the top row of the table on the Host Types page, enter a name and brief description for the new host type, and click create.

    The HTML user interface displays a Host Types Details page for the new host type.

  4. For each attribute you want to assign to the host type, do the following:

    1. In the attributes table, enter a name for the attribute in the attribute column.

    2. If you would like to assign the attribute a default value, enter a default value for the attribute in the default value column.

    3. In the action column, click add.

  5. If you want to hide the host type, click the check box labeled hidden.

  6. To save the host type, click save.

ProcedureHow To Edit a Host Type

Steps

  1. In the left-hand navigation menu, click Administrative.

    The HTML user interface displays the Administrative page.

  2. In the Administrative page, click Host Types.

    The HTML user interface displays the Host types page.

  3. Find the row listing the Host type you're interested in, and click details.

    The HTML user interface displays a Host Types Details page for the Host Type.

  4. For each attribute you want to change, do the following:

    1. In the Host Type field, enter a new name.

    2. In the Description field, enter a new description.

    3. In the attributes table, enter a name for a new attribute in the attribute column.

    4. If you would like to assign the attribute a default value, enter a default value for the attribute in the default value column.

    5. In the action column, click add.

    6. You either move up, move down, or delete existing attributes.

  5. If you want to hide the host type, click the check box labeled hidden.

  6. To save the host type, click save.

Summary of CLI Commands for Host Types

Table 4–4 lists the CLI commands you can use when managing host types. For more information on CLI commands, see N1 Service Provisioning System 4.1 Reference Guide.

Table 4–4 CLI Commands for Managing Host Types (hdb.ht).

Task 

CLI Command 

hdb.ht.la 

List all host types 

hdb.ht.del 

Deletes a host type. 

hdb.ht.lo 

Retrieve information about a host type 

hdb.ht.add 

Add a host type 

hdb.ht.mod 

Modify a host type