VMware vRealize Automation is, according to the vRealize Automation product page, “a hybrid cloud automation platform that transforms IT service delivery” that enables enterprises to “increase agility, productivity, and efficiency through automation.” For enterprise organizations, these product promises can be big gains, created by connecting cloud endpoints and integrations. The question is, “how?” The answer is typically 

by creating lots of custom software code” To connect those endpoints and integrations. In this world that’s currently being eaten by software, you can build software for anything with enough time and money. But should you? If your organization has successfully implemented vRealize Automation 7.x, you’re already familiar with this scenario: “do we custom build it?” You can. You always can, but SovLabs gives you the option not to.

Is Custom Code Your Business Model?

When you need to connect to another cloud tool — an endpoint or 3rd party integration — your dev team sets out to build the custom code to do just that. The custom software code takes several months — if not more — to spec, create, and test, during which time your connection to that cloud tool does not exist. Then, you have to support that custom code throughout the entire organization. Is that the business you want to be in? 

That’s a strategic decision. If your organization is in the midst of such a decision, here are fourteen (14) examples of custom code that you don’t have to build in order to connect to popular endpoints and integrations with your implementation of vRealize Automation.

Don’t Custom Code These 14 Solutions for vRealize Automation

Below, one by one, we’re listing these solutions, but also showing you exactly how they work, meaning what it looks like (and how easy it is) to do from within the vRealize Automation interface.  

SovLabs Ansible Tower Module

SovLabs Ansible Tower Module passes static inventory data and execute Job Templates.

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SovLabs Ansible Tower Module passes Dynamic inventory data and execute Job Templates.

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SovLabs Ansible Tower PlugIn for vRealize Automation CM Framework passes Dynamic inventory data and execute Job Templates.

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SovLabs Ansible Tower requests workload deployment from vRA.
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Backup as a Service (BaaS)

Configure a vRealize Automation blueprint to leverage the SovLabs Backup plugin, including dynamically selecting the correct backup vendor for the environment. This scenario can be configured for Cohesity, Rubrik, and Veeam.

1 - BaaS - Property Toolkit - Dynamic Backup Policies

Property Toolkit

Property Toolkit can generate multiple values for several modules through a lifecycle.

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A blueprint request which leverages Property Toolkit to dynamically determine values based on requestor selections.

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Create a property group using static values which can be leveraged by Property Toolkit to set those property values. 

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Create a property group of complex values including dynamic, templated values, which can be leveraged by Property Toolkit to determine the values of other properties. 

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Create a complex property group of all templated values which can be leveraged by Property Toolkit to create highly dynamic values. 

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Use Property Toolkit to bulk-update properties on selected vCenter endpoints. 

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Use Template Tester to evaluate and troubleshoot complex templates.

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ServiceNow

Add a CMDB configuration for an existing ServiceNow endpoint and view the JSON template.

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View the SovLabs ServiceNow Connector for vRA.

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These are just 14 of the many solutions that can help your enterprise drastically reduce the custom software code that you need to create to extend the features, functionality, and connectivity of vRealize Automation.

For more in depth information, request a custom demo here.

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