Stage and Configuration of a Nutanix Cluster with Ansible

This Git repository contains the Ansible script to stage and configure a Nutanix cluster. The goal is to run the code once and automate the manual steps.

Prerequisites

Development and testing were done within Ubuntu WSL 20.04.6 LTS on a local notebook. Followed this guide to install the environment correctly: Installing Ansible on Ubuntu WSL. Test if the Ubuntu WSL can ping the Nutanix Cluster or any element in the IP Range. If you are working with Ansible for the first time, review this guide to get familiar with Ansible: Getting Started with the Nutanix Ansible Module.

MacOS installation

Follow this guide for further instructions: https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/installation_guide/intro_installation.html

Collections

The following modules need to be installed on the host where the Ansible script is running from:

• gradvies.nutanix
• nutanix.ncp

Staging

the following steps are automated in ansible:

• add nodes
• define IP range of Host, CVM and IPMI
• define IP for Host, CVM and IPMI
• cluster formation

To stage the cluster, modify only the JSON file in group_vars/dev/vars-staging.json with the correct values. To run the automated cluster staging, you need to enter following command in the folder tasks:

ansible-playbook image_nodes_manual.yml

Cluster configuration

the following steps are automated in ansible:

• add cluster IP
• add data service IP
• add DNS
• add NTP
• delete default storage container
• add storage container with the name ctr01
• update storage pool name to sp01
• add VLANs
• add SMTP
• add alert configuration
• configure HA

To add customer values, modify only the JSON file group_vars/dev/config.json with the values from the Config Sheet. To run the the automated cluster configuration, you need to enter the following command in the folder tasks:

ansible-playbook cluster-config.yml

IPMI Configuration

the following steps are automated in ansible:

• change IPMI IP address
• add IPMI Gateway
• add IPMI Netmask

To modify the IPMI configuration, modify only the JSON file in group_vars/dev/vars-staging.json with the values from the config sheet. To run the automated IPMI configuration, you need to enter the following command in the folder tasks:

ansible-playbook ipmi_config.yml

Deploy Prism Central

the following steps are automated in ansible:

• create PCVM
• configure PCVM
• deploy Prism Central

To modify the Prism Central configuration, modify only the JSON file in group_vars/dev/vars-staging.json with the values from the config sheet, you need to enter the following command in the folder tasks:

ansible-playbook deploy_pc.yml

Cluster Hardening script

the following steps are automated in ansible:

• Cluster hardening

To modify the cluster hardening, modify only the JSON file in group_vars/dev/vars-staging.json with the values from the config sheet, you need to enter the following command in the folder tasks:

ansible-playbook hardening.yml

Helpful sources

• official Github Repo from Nutanix Ansible: https://github.com/nutanix/nutanix.ansible/tree/main
• First try with Ansible on Nutanix: https://www.nutanix.dev/2022/08/05/getting-started-with-the-nutanix-ansible-module/
• Gitrepo from AD-Code with some automated Ansible Scripts: https://github.com/AD-Code/Automation/tree/master/ansible/nutanix_cluster_baseline