Upgrading Aria Operations for Logs to 8.16.1 via VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle

In this post, I will guide you through upgrading your 8.x vRLI appliance to Aria Operations for Logs 8.16.1 using VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle. Before proceeding, ensure that your VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle is upgraded to version 8.16. You can find the upgrade instructions here. Note that the upgrade does not include the latest PSPACK containing the 8.16.1 Aria Operations for Logs release. Instructions for obtaining the PSPACK are available in here.

To begin, navigate to VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle -> Lifecycle Operations -> Settings -> Binary Mapping. (If you haven’t added your My VMware credentials, do so first by going to vRealize Lifecycle Manager -> Lifecycle Operations -> Settings -> My VMware)

Click on Add Binaries under Product Binaries

Due to changes in the latest Aria Suite Lifecycle release (Release notes available here), My VMware based operations functionality has been deprecated. In my case, In this case, I chose to use Local and uploaded my .pak file to the /tmp directory on the Aria Suite Lifecycle appliance. The upgrade package can be downloaded from here.

This will create a request and start mapping the package. To view the progress, click on the “Click Here” hyperlink

Click on the “In Progress” button to view the details

Wait for the mapping to complete

Once the download is complete, go to Environments -> View Details on the environment that includes Aria Operations for Logs.

Click on “Upgrade”

An Inventory sync is recommended because environments can change and Aria Suite Lifecycle might be out of sync. Trigger the sync from the UI or click on “Proceed” to continue.

Select product version 8.16.1 and click “Next.” Review the compatibility matrix to ensure the environment is compatible.

A new feature allows you to automatically create a snapshot prior to the upgrade and remove it afterward. On this screen, you can also choose to keep the snapshots post-upgrade for validation testing. Click “Next.”

Run the Precheck to ensure there are no errors or issues, then click “Next” once the review is complete.

Review the upgrade details and click “Submit.” You will be taken to the progress screen to follow the upgrade process.

The system will get rebooted and once its back up we will be on 8.16.1

The system will reboot, and once it’s back up, you will be on version 8.16.1.

Since this is a major upgrade, I strongly recommend clearing the cache before using the new Aria Operations for Logs version.

Upgrading Aria Operations to 8.17.2 via Aria Suite Lifecycle

In this post i will go over upgrading my 8.x Aria Operations appliance to 8.17.2 using Aria Suite Lifecycle. As a pre requirement we do need to have Aria Suite Lifecycle upgraded to 8.16. Instructions can be found here. The upgrade does not include the latest Product Support Pack. We can apply the latest Product Support Pack following the instructions here.

To get started we can go to Aria Suite Lifecycle -> Lifecycle Operations -> Settings -> Binary Mapping. (If you haven’t added your My VMware credentials you will need to do that first by going to Aria Suite Lifecycle -> Lifecycle Operations -> Settings -> My VMware)

Click on Add Binaries under Product Binaries

Select My VMware and click on Discover

We can see a list of binaries that have been discovered. Make sure we select the upgrade package not the install package. We can select what we need and click on Add

This will create a request and start downloading the package. To view the progress we can click on the Click Here hyperlink

Click on the in Progress button to view the details

We now have to wait for the download to complete

After the download is complete we can go to Environments -> View Details on the environment that includes Aria Operations

Click on Upgrade

An Inventory sync is recommended if the environment has changed since LCM performed the last sync. We trigger the sync from the UI or click on Proceed to continue

Select product Version 8.17.2 and click Next. We can also review the compatibility matrix to make sure the environment is compatible.

Run the Assessment tool to make sure the currently used dashboards, reports, metrics etc are still compatible with the new version

Once the report has finished running we can either Download or view the report. Once everything has been reviewed, we can click on the I have viewed the report and agree to proceed box and click next to proceed to the next step.

A new feature that was added was the capability to automatically create a snapshot prior to the upgrade and remove it after the upgrade. On this screen we also have the ability to chose if we want to keep the snapshots post upgrade for validation testing for example. Click next

Run the Precheck to make sure there are no errors or issues.

Once the check is complete we can review the checks that were performed and we can continue by clicking Next.

Review the upgrade details and click on Next and the Submit. We are taken to the progress screen where we can follow the progress.

The system will get rebooted and once its back up, we will be on 8.17.2

Since we are doing a major upgrade i strongly recommend to clean the cache before using the new Aria Operations version.

Aria Suite Lifecycle Product Support Pack (PSPACK) upgrade – manual version

In this guide i will go over the manual steps of getting an existing 8.x Aria Suite Lifecycle appliance to support the latest product releases available. Here is a great blog that goes in to the details about what the Product Support Pack is https://blogs.vmware.com/management/2019/01/vrslcm-pspak.html. Typically the newer Product Support Pack is included part of the upgrade for Aria Suite Lifecycle, however sometimes there are product releases in between releases where product support packs come in handy. As of 8.16.0 Product Support Pack 4 we can no longer automatically download the Product Support Pack files. The release notes can be found here.

The first step is to log in to Aria Suite Lifecycle under the Lifecycle Operations section

Go to settings -> Product Support Pack

Make sure you download the patch from the support portal first from https://support.broadcom.com

The direct link is here.

We can see that the are no Product Support Packs available

We can click on upload and import the new downloaded Product Support Pack

We can check on the status of the import by clicking on Click Here in the request window

Once completed we can see that PSPACK 8.16.0.4 is available. Based on what we can see in the details the new support pack adds support for a few additional product versions.

Click on Apply Version

Verify that a snapshot or a backup exists and click Submit

We can view the progress by clicking on the Click Here link after submitting the request

Once the process is complete the system will most likely reboot. To check the status we can go back to settings -> Product Support Pack. As we can see we are now at the updated patch level

If you get the below error clear the browser cache and try again

Upgrading Aria Operations to 8.17.1 via Aria Suite Lifecycle

In this post i will go over upgrading my 8.x Aria Operations appliance to 8.17.1 using Aria Suite Lifecycle. As a pre requirement we do need to have Aria Suite Lifecycle upgraded to 8.16. Instructions can be found here. The upgrade does not include the latest Product Support Pack. We can apply the latest Product Support Pack following the instructions here.

To get started we can go to Aria Suite Lifecycle -> Lifecycle Operations -> Settings -> Binary Mapping. (If you haven’t added your My VMware credentials you will need to do that first by going to Aria Suite Lifecycle -> Lifecycle Operations -> Settings -> My VMware)

Click on Add Binaries under Product Binaries

Select My VMware and click on Discover

We can see a list of binaries that have been discovered. Make sure we select the upgrade package not the install package. We can select what we need and click on Add

This will create a request and start downloading the package. To view the progress we can click on the Click Here hyperlink

Click on the in Progress button to view the details

We now have to wait for the download to complete

After the download is complete we can go to Environments -> View Details on the environment that includes Aria Operations

Click on Upgrade

An Inventory sync is recommended if the environment has changed since LCM performed the last sync. We trigger the sync from the UI or click on Proceed to continue

Select product Version 8.17.1 and click Next. We can also review the compatibility matrix to make sure the environment is compatible.

Run the Assessment tool to make sure the currently used dashboards, reports, metrics etc are still compatible with the new version

Once the report has finished running we can either Download or view the report. Once everything has been reviewed, we can click on the I have viewed the report and agree to proceed box and click next to proceed to the next step.

A new feature that was added was the capability to automatically create a snapshot prior to the upgrade and remove it after the upgrade. On this screen we also have the ability to chose if we want to keep the snapshots post upgrade for validation testing for example. Click next

Run the Precheck to make sure there are no errors or issues.

Once the check is complete we can review the checks that were performed and we can continue by clicking Next.

Review the upgrade details and click on Next and the Submit. We are taken to the progress screen where we can follow the progress.

The system will get rebooted and once its back up, we will be on 8.17.1

Since we are doing a major upgrade i strongly recommend to clean the cache before using the new Aria Operations version.

Aria Suite Lifecycle Product Support Pack (PSPACK) upgrade

In this guide i will go over the steps of getting an existing 8.x Aria Suite Lifecycle appliance to support the latest product releases available. Here is a great blog that goes in to the details about what the Product Support Pack is https://blogs.vmware.com/management/2019/01/vrslcm-pspak.html. Typically the newer Product Support Pack is included part of the upgrade for Aria Suite Lifecycle, however sometimes there are product releases in between releases where product support packs come in handy.

The first step is to log in to Aria Suite Lifecycle under the Lifecycle Operations section

Go to settings -> Product Support Pack

We can see that i recently upgraded to 8.16.0 however a new update is available 8.16.0.2. Based on what we can see in the details the new support pack adds support for a few additional product versions. If an update is not available click on the Check Support Packs Online button and refresh the screen within a few minutes

Click on Apply Version

Verify that a snapshot or a backup exists and click Submit

We can view the progress by clicking on the Click Here link after submitting the request

Once the process is complete the system will most likely reboot. To check the status we can go back to settings -> Product Support Pack. As we can see we are now at the updated patch level

If you get the below error clear the browser cache and try again

Creating a Custom Role in vCenter for Aria for Logs (vRealize Log Insight): A Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction
Logs play a pivotal role in the management and troubleshooting of IT environments. Aria for Logs (formerly known as vRealize Log Insight) provides powerful log management capabilities, enabling deep analytical insights and real-time monitoring of data from various sources, including vSphere. To ensure Aria for Logs effectively collects and analyzes log data, it requires specific permissions within your vCenter Server. This blog post will guide you through creating a custom role in vCenter tailored for the Aria for Logs service account.

Prerequisites

  • Access to vCenter with administrative privileges.
  • VMware PowerCLI installed on your computer.
  • Basic knowledge of VMware vSphere and log management concepts.

Step 1: Connect to Your vCenter Server
Start by launching VMware PowerCLI and connecting to your vCenter server. Replace the placeholders with your vCenter server details and credentials:

$vcServer = 'vcenter.yourdomain.com'
$username = 'administrator@yourdomain.com'
$password = 'yourPassword'
Connect-VIServer -Server $vcServer -User $username -Password $password

Step 2: Define the Role and Permissions
Define the role name and the permissions necessary for Aria for Logs to operate effectively. These permissions primarily ensure the ability to read events and log data:

$roleName = "Aria for Logs Role"
$permissions = @(
    "System.Anonymous",
    "System.View",
    "System.Read",
    "Host.Config.NetService",
    "Host.Config.Network",
    "Host.Config.AdvancedConfig",
    "Host.Config.Settings"
)

Step 3: Create the Custom Role
Use the New-VIRole cmdlet to create the new role with the specified permissions. This assigns the necessary permissions for monitoring and log collection:

New-VIRole -Name $roleName -Privilege (Get-VIPrivilege -Id $permissions)
Write-Output "Role '$roleName' created successfully with necessary permissions."

Step 4: Confirm and Disconnect
After successfully creating the role, verify the role details and ensure to disconnect from your vCenter server to maintain security best practices:

Disconnect-VIServer -Server $vcServer -Confirm:$false

Step 5: Put it all together

$vcServer = 'vcenter.yourdomain.com'
$username = 'administrator@yourdomain.com'
$password = 'yourPassword'
Connect-VIServer -Server $vcServer -User $username -Password $password
$roleName = "Aria for Logs Role"
$permissions = @(
    "System.Anonymous",
    "System.View",
    "System.Read",
    "Host.Config.NetService",
    "Host.Config.Network",
    "Host.Config.AdvancedConfig",
    "Host.Config.Settings"
)
New-VIRole -Name $roleName -Privilege (Get-VIPrivilege -Id $permissions)
Write-Output "Role '$roleName' created successfully with necessary permissions."
Disconnect-VIServer -Server $vcServer -Confirm:$false

Conclusion
Setting up a custom role for the Aria for Logs service account is crucial for ensuring that your log management system has the necessary access to perform its functions effectively. This setup helps in proactive monitoring and troubleshooting, enhancing the operational efficiency of your VMware environment.

Happy Logging!

This guide provides VMware professionals with the necessary steps to configure permissions for Aria for Logs, ensuring comprehensive log coverage and robust system monitoring.

Creating a Custom Role in vCenter for Aria Automation: A Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction
Automation in VMware environments enhances efficiency, reduces human error, and improves the consistency of operations. Aria Automation (formerly vRealize Automation) is a powerful tool designed to automate processes in your VMware infrastructure. However, to fully leverage its capabilities, Aria Automation requires specific permissions in vCenter. This blog post will guide you through creating a custom role in vCenter with all necessary permissions for the Aria Automation service account.

Prerequisites

  • Access to vCenter with administrative privileges.
  • VMware PowerCLI installed on your computer.
  • Familiarity with VMware environments and basic scripting.

Step 1: Establish a Connection to Your vCenter Server
Begin by opening VMware PowerCLI and connecting to your vCenter server. Use the following script, substituting your actual credentials and server details:

$vcServer = 'vcenter.yourdomain.com'
$username = 'administrator@yourdomain.com'
$password = 'yourPassword'
Connect-VIServer -Server $vcServer -User $username -Password $password

Step 2: Define the Role and Permissions
Next, specify the role’s name and the permissions necessary for Aria Automation. These permissions will allow Aria Automation to manage virtual machines and other resources effectively:

$roleName = "Aria Automation Custom Role"
$permissions = @(
    "System.Anonymous",
    "System.View",
    "System.Read",
    "Global.ManageCustomFields",
    "Global.SetCustomField",
    "Folder.Create",
    "Folder.Delete",
    "Datastore.Browse",
    "Datastore.FileManagement",
    "Datastore.AllocateSpace",
    "Network.Assign",
    "VirtualMachine.Inventory.Create",
    "VirtualMachine.Inventory.CreateFromExisting",
    "VirtualMachine.Inventory.Delete",
    "VirtualMachine.Inventory.Move",
    "VirtualMachine.Interact.PowerOn",
    "VirtualMachine.Interact.PowerOff",
    "VirtualMachine.Interact.Suspend",
    "VirtualMachine.Interact.Reset",
    "VirtualMachine.Interact.ConsoleInteract",
    "VirtualMachine.Interact.DeviceConnection",
    "VirtualMachine.Interact.SetCDMedia",
    "VirtualMachine.Interact.ToolsInstall",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.Rename",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.Annotation",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.AddExistingDisk",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.AddNewDisk",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.RemoveDisk",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.CPUCount",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.Memory",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.AddRemoveDevice",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.EditDevice",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.Settings",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.Resource",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.AdvancedConfig",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.SwapPlacement",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.DiskExtend",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.ChangeTracking",
    "VirtualMachine.State.CreateSnapshot",
    "VirtualMachine.State.RevertToSnapshot",
    "VirtualMachine.State.RemoveSnapshot",
    "VirtualMachine.Provisioning.Customize",
    "VirtualMachine.Provisioning.Clone",
    "VirtualMachine.Provisioning.DeployTemplate",
    "VirtualMachine.Provisioning.CloneTemplate",
    "VirtualMachine.Provisioning.ReadCustSpecs",
    "Resource.AssignVMToPool",
    "Resource.HotMigrate",
    "Resource.ColdMigrate",
    "Authorization.ModifyPermissions",
    "VApp.ApplicationConfig",
    "VApp.Import",
    "StoragePod.Config",
    "InventoryService.Tagging.AttachTag",
    "InventoryService.Tagging.ModifyUsedByForCategory",
    "ContentLibrary.EvictLibraryItem",
    "InventoryService.Tagging.DeleteCategory",
    "ContentLibrary.TypeIntrospection",
    "ContentLibrary.GetConfiguration",
    "InventoryService.Tagging.EditTag",
    "ContentLibrary.UpdateSession",
    "ContentLibrary.UpdateLibrary",
    "InventoryService.Tagging.ModifyUsedByForTag",
    "ContentLibrary.SyncLibraryItem",
    "ContentLibrary.UpdateSubscribedLibrary",
    "ContentLibrary.UpdateLibraryItem",
    "ContentLibrary.DeleteLibraryItem",
    "InventoryService.Tagging.CreateTag",
    "InventoryService.Tagging.DeleteTag",
    "ContentLibrary.SyncLibrary",
    "ContentLibrary.UpdateConfiguration",
    "ContentLibrary.DownloadSession",
    "ContentLibrary.DeleteLocalLibrary",
    "InventoryService.Tagging.ObjectAttachable",
    "ContentLibrary.EvictSubscribedLibrary",
    "ContentLibrary.DeleteSubscribedLibrary",
    "ContentLibrary.CreateSubscribedLibrary",
    "ContentLibrary.UpdateLocalLibrary",
    "InventoryService.Tagging.EditCategory",
    "InventoryService.Tagging.CreateCategory",
    "ContentLibrary.ProbeSubscription",
    "ContentLibrary.ReadStorage",
    "ContentLibrary.AddLibraryItem",
    "ContentLibrary.CreateLocalLibrary"
)

Step 3: Create the Custom Role
Create the role using the New-VIRole cmdlet. This step involves applying the previously defined permissions to the new role:

New-VIRole -Name $roleName -Privilege (Get-VIPrivilege -Id $permissions)
Write-Output "Role '$roleName' created successfully with necessary permissions."

Step 4: Verify and Disconnect
After creating the role, it’s good practice to verify that the role has been created with the correct permissions. Then, ensure you disconnect from your vCenter server securely:

Disconnect-VIServer -Server $vcServer -Confirm:$false

Step 5: Put it all together

$vcServer = 'vcenter.yourdomain.com'
$username = 'administrator@yourdomain.com'
$password = 'yourPassword'
Connect-VIServer -Server $vcServer -User $username -Password $password
$roleName = "Aria Automation Custom Role"
$permissions = @(
    "System.Anonymous",
    "System.View",
    "System.Read",
    "Global.ManageCustomFields",
    "Global.SetCustomField",
    "Folder.Create",
    "Folder.Delete",
    "Datastore.Browse",
    "Datastore.FileManagement",
    "Datastore.AllocateSpace",
    "Network.Assign",
    "VirtualMachine.Inventory.Create",
    "VirtualMachine.Inventory.CreateFromExisting",
    "VirtualMachine.Inventory.Delete",
    "VirtualMachine.Inventory.Move",
    "VirtualMachine.Interact.PowerOn",
    "VirtualMachine.Interact.PowerOff",
    "VirtualMachine.Interact.Suspend",
    "VirtualMachine.Interact.Reset",
    "VirtualMachine.Interact.ConsoleInteract",
    "VirtualMachine.Interact.DeviceConnection",
    "VirtualMachine.Interact.SetCDMedia",
    "VirtualMachine.Interact.ToolsInstall",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.Rename",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.Annotation",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.AddExistingDisk",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.AddNewDisk",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.RemoveDisk",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.CPUCount",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.Memory",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.AddRemoveDevice",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.EditDevice",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.Settings",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.Resource",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.AdvancedConfig",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.SwapPlacement",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.DiskExtend",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.ChangeTracking",
    "VirtualMachine.State.CreateSnapshot",
    "VirtualMachine.State.RevertToSnapshot",
    "VirtualMachine.State.RemoveSnapshot",
    "VirtualMachine.Provisioning.Customize",
    "VirtualMachine.Provisioning.Clone",
    "VirtualMachine.Provisioning.DeployTemplate",
    "VirtualMachine.Provisioning.CloneTemplate",
    "VirtualMachine.Provisioning.ReadCustSpecs",
    "Resource.AssignVMToPool",
    "Resource.HotMigrate",
    "Resource.ColdMigrate",
    "Authorization.ModifyPermissions",
    "VApp.ApplicationConfig",
    "VApp.Import",
    "StoragePod.Config",
    "InventoryService.Tagging.AttachTag",
    "InventoryService.Tagging.ModifyUsedByForCategory",
    "ContentLibrary.EvictLibraryItem",
    "InventoryService.Tagging.DeleteCategory",
    "ContentLibrary.TypeIntrospection",
    "ContentLibrary.GetConfiguration",
    "InventoryService.Tagging.EditTag",
    "ContentLibrary.UpdateSession",
    "ContentLibrary.UpdateLibrary",
    "InventoryService.Tagging.ModifyUsedByForTag",
    "ContentLibrary.SyncLibraryItem",
    "ContentLibrary.UpdateSubscribedLibrary",
    "ContentLibrary.UpdateLibraryItem",
    "ContentLibrary.DeleteLibraryItem",
    "InventoryService.Tagging.CreateTag",
    "InventoryService.Tagging.DeleteTag",
    "ContentLibrary.SyncLibrary",
    "ContentLibrary.UpdateConfiguration",
    "ContentLibrary.DownloadSession",
    "ContentLibrary.DeleteLocalLibrary",
    "InventoryService.Tagging.ObjectAttachable",
    "ContentLibrary.EvictSubscribedLibrary",
    "ContentLibrary.DeleteSubscribedLibrary",
    "ContentLibrary.CreateSubscribedLibrary",
    "ContentLibrary.UpdateLocalLibrary",
    "InventoryService.Tagging.EditCategory",
    "InventoryService.Tagging.CreateCategory",
    "ContentLibrary.ProbeSubscription",
    "ContentLibrary.ReadStorage",
    "ContentLibrary.AddLibraryItem",
    "ContentLibrary.CreateLocalLibrary")
New-VIRole -Name $roleName -Privilege (Get-VIPrivilege -Id $permissions)
Write-Output "Role '$roleName' created successfully with necessary permissions."
Disconnect-VIServer -Server $vcServer -Confirm:$false

Conclusion
Creating a custom role for the Aria Automation service account in vCenter is an essential step for securing and optimizing your automation tasks. By assigning precise permissions tailored to your needs, you can maintain a secure and efficient VMware environment.

Happy Automating!

This blog post offers a practical walkthrough for VMware professionals looking to customize and secure their VMware automation tools, ensuring a robust setup for extensive and complex automation tasks.

Creating a Custom Role in vCenter for Aria Operations Actions

Introduction
Monitoring your VMware infrastructure effectively is crucial for maintaining system health and performance. VMware’s Aria Operations (formerly vRealize Operations) provides comprehensive monitoring capabilities, but it requires specific permissions to function optimally. In this blog post, we’ll walk through the steps to create a custom role in vCenter specifically for the Aria Operations service account, ensuring it has the necessary permissions to monitor and take actions in your infrastructure.

Prerequisites
Before we begin, ensure you have the following:

  • Access to vCenter with administrative privileges.
  • VMware PowerCLI installed on your system.
  • Basic understanding of VMware vSphere and Aria Operations.

Step 1: Connect to Your vCenter Server
Open VMware PowerCLI and connect to your vCenter server using the following commands. Replace the placeholders with your actual login credentials and vCenter server details.

$vcServer = 'vcenter.yourdomain.com'
$username = 'administrator@yourdomain.com'
$password = 'yourPassword'
Connect-VIServer -Server $vcServer -User $username -Password $password

Step 2: Define the Role and Required Permissions
Define the role name and the specific permissions needed for Aria Operations to monitor the system. Here, we create a variable for the role and an array containing all necessary permissions IDs.

$permissions = @(
    "System.Anonymous",
    "System.View",
    "System.Read",
    "Global.ManageCustomFields",
    "Global.SetCustomField",
    "Global.Health",
    "Global.SystemTag",
    "Global.GlobalTag",
    "Datastore.Browse",
    "Datastore.AllocateSpace",
    "Host.Inventory.EditCluster",
    "Host.Inventory.ManageClusterLifecyle",
    "VirtualMachine.Inventory.Delete",
    "VirtualMachine.Inventory.Move",
    "VirtualMachine.Interact.PowerOn",
    "VirtualMachine.Interact.PowerOff",
    "VirtualMachine.Interact.Reset",
    "VirtualMachine.GuestOperations.Query",
    "VirtualMachine.GuestOperations.Modify",
    "VirtualMachine.GuestOperations.Execute",
    "VirtualMachine.GuestOperations.QueryAliases",
    "VirtualMachine.GuestOperations.ModifyAliases",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.CPUCount",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.Memory",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.Resource",
    "VirtualMachine.State.CreateSnapshot",
    "VirtualMachine.State.RemoveSnapshot",
    "VirtualMachine.Namespace.Management",
    "VirtualMachine.Namespace.Query",
    "VirtualMachine.Namespace.ModifyContent",
    "VirtualMachine.Namespace.ReadContent",
    "Resource.AssignVMToPool",
    "Resource.HotMigrate",
    "Resource.ColdMigrate",
    "Resource.QueryVMotion",
    "StorageProfile.Apply",
    "Performance.ModifyIntervals",
    "Extension.Register",
    "Extension.Update",
    "Extension.Unregister",
    "ExternalStatsProvider.Register",
    "ExternalStatsProvider.Update",
    "ExternalStatsProvider.Unregister",
    "vStats.QueryAny",
    "vStats.CollectAny",
    "vStats.Settings",
    "AutoDeploy.Rule.Create",
    "AutoDeploy.RuleSet.Activate",
    "AutoDeploy.Rule.Edit",
    "AutoDeploy.RuleSet.Edit",
    "StorageProfile.Update",
    "StorageProfile.View",
    "StorageViews.ConfigureService",
    "AutoDeploy.Rule.Delete",
    "StorageViews.View"
)

Step 3: Create the Custom Role
Use the New-VIRole cmdlet to create the new role with the defined permissions. This step applies the permissions array to the role.

New-VIRole -Name $roleName -Description $roleDescription -Privilege (Get-VIPrivilege -Id $permissions)
Write-Output "Role '$roleName' created successfully with necessary permissions."

Step 4: Confirm and Disconnect
After the role is successfully created, you will receive a confirmation output. Always ensure to disconnect from your vCenter server cleanly to avoid any security issues.

Disconnect-VIServer -Server $vcServer -Confirm:$false

Step 5: Put it all together

$vcServer = 'vcenter.yourdomain.com'
$username = 'administrator@yourdomain.com'
$password = 'yourPassword'
Connect-VIServer -Server $vcServer -User $username -Password $password
$roleName = "Aria Operations Actions Role"
$permissions = @(
    "System.Anonymous",
    "System.View",
    "System.Read",
    "Global.ManageCustomFields",
    "Global.SetCustomField",
    "Global.Health",
    "Global.SystemTag",
    "Global.GlobalTag",
    "Datastore.Browse",
    "Datastore.AllocateSpace",
    "Host.Inventory.EditCluster",
    "Host.Inventory.ManageClusterLifecyle",
    "VirtualMachine.Inventory.Delete",
    "VirtualMachine.Inventory.Move",
    "VirtualMachine.Interact.PowerOn",
    "VirtualMachine.Interact.PowerOff",
    "VirtualMachine.Interact.Reset",
    "VirtualMachine.GuestOperations.Query",
    "VirtualMachine.GuestOperations.Modify",
    "VirtualMachine.GuestOperations.Execute",
    "VirtualMachine.GuestOperations.QueryAliases",
    "VirtualMachine.GuestOperations.ModifyAliases",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.CPUCount",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.Memory",
    "VirtualMachine.Config.Resource",
    "VirtualMachine.State.CreateSnapshot",
    "VirtualMachine.State.RemoveSnapshot",
    "VirtualMachine.Namespace.Management",
    "VirtualMachine.Namespace.Query",
    "VirtualMachine.Namespace.ModifyContent",
    "VirtualMachine.Namespace.ReadContent",
    "Resource.AssignVMToPool",
    "Resource.HotMigrate",
    "Resource.ColdMigrate",
    "Resource.QueryVMotion",
    "StorageProfile.Apply",
    "Performance.ModifyIntervals",
    "Extension.Register",
    "Extension.Update",
    "Extension.Unregister",
    "ExternalStatsProvider.Register",
    "ExternalStatsProvider.Update",
    "ExternalStatsProvider.Unregister",
    "vStats.QueryAny",
    "vStats.CollectAny",
    "vStats.Settings",
    "AutoDeploy.Rule.Create",
    "AutoDeploy.RuleSet.Activate",
    "AutoDeploy.Rule.Edit",
    "AutoDeploy.RuleSet.Edit",
    "StorageProfile.Update",
    "StorageProfile.View",
    "StorageViews.ConfigureService",
    "AutoDeploy.Rule.Delete",
    "StorageViews.View"
)
New-VIRole -Name $roleName -Privilege (Get-VIPrivilege -Id $permissions)
Write-Output "Role '$roleName' created successfully with necessary permissions."
Disconnect-VIServer -Server $vcServer -Confirm:$false

Conclusion
Creating a custom role in vCenter for your Aria Operations service account is a best practice that enhances both security and functionality. By following these steps, you equip your monitoring tools with the necessary permissions without compromising the principle of least privilege.

Happy Monitoring!

This guide provides a clear pathway to securing your VMware infrastructure monitoring with Aria Operations, ensuring you’re well-prepared to tackle performance and health monitoring with confidence.

Creating a Custom Role in vCenter for Aria Operations Monitoring

Introduction
Monitoring your VMware infrastructure effectively is crucial for maintaining system health and performance. VMware’s Aria Operations (formerly vRealize Operations) provides comprehensive monitoring capabilities, but it requires specific permissions to function optimally. In this blog post, we’ll walk through the steps to create a custom role in vCenter specifically for the Aria Operations service account, ensuring it has the necessary permissions to monitor your infrastructure.

Prerequisites
Before we begin, ensure you have the following:

  • Access to vCenter with administrative privileges.
  • VMware PowerCLI installed on your system.
  • Basic understanding of VMware vSphere and Aria Operations.

Step 1: Connect to Your vCenter Server
Open VMware PowerCLI and connect to your vCenter server using the following commands. Replace the placeholders with your actual login credentials and vCenter server details.

$vcServer = 'vcenter.yourdomain.com'
$username = 'administrator@yourdomain.com'
$password = 'yourPassword'
Connect-VIServer -Server $vcServer -User $username -Password $password

Step 2: Define the Role and Required Permissions
Define the role name and the specific permissions needed for Aria Operations to monitor the system. Here, we create a variable for the role and an array containing all necessary permissions IDs.

$permissions = @(
    "System.Anonymous",
    "System.View",
    "System.Read",
    "Global.ManageCustomFields",
    "Global.SetCustomField",
    "Global.Health",
    "Global.SystemTag",
    "Global.GlobalTag",
    "Datastore.Browse",
    "Datastore.AllocateSpace",
    "Host.Inventory.EditCluster",
    "Host.Inventory.ManageClusterLifecyle",
    "VirtualMachine.Inventory.Move",
    "VirtualMachine.GuestOperations.Query",
    "VirtualMachine.GuestOperations.Modify",
    "VirtualMachine.GuestOperations.Execute",
    "VirtualMachine.GuestOperations.QueryAliases",
    "VirtualMachine.GuestOperations.ModifyAliases",
    "VirtualMachine.Namespace.Management",
    "VirtualMachine.Namespace.Query",
    "VirtualMachine.Namespace.ModifyContent",
    "VirtualMachine.Namespace.ReadContent",
    "Resource.AssignVMToPool",
    "Resource.HotMigrate",
    "Resource.ColdMigrate",
    "Resource.QueryVMotion",
    "StorageProfile.Apply",
    "Performance.ModifyIntervals",
    "Extension.Register",
    "Extension.Update",
    "Extension.Unregister",
    "ExternalStatsProvider.Register",
    "ExternalStatsProvider.Update",
    "ExternalStatsProvider.Unregister",
    "vStats.QueryAny",
    "vStats.CollectAny",
    "vStats.Settings",
    "AutoDeploy.Rule.Create",
    "AutoDeploy.RuleSet.Activate",
    "AutoDeploy.Rule.Edit",
    "AutoDeploy.RuleSet.Edit",
    "StorageProfile.Update",
    "StorageProfile.View",
    "StorageViews.ConfigureService",
    "AutoDeploy.Rule.Delete",
    "StorageViews.View"
)

Step 3: Create the Custom Role
Use the New-VIRole cmdlet to create the new role with the defined permissions. This step applies the permissions array to the role.

New-VIRole -Name $roleName -Description $roleDescription -Privilege (Get-VIPrivilege -Id $permissions)
Write-Output "Role '$roleName' created successfully with necessary permissions."

Step 4: Confirm and Disconnect
After the role is successfully created, you will receive a confirmation output. Always ensure to disconnect from your vCenter server cleanly to avoid any security issues.

Disconnect-VIServer -Server $vcServer -Confirm:$false

Step 5: Put it all together

$vcServer = 'vcenter.yourdomain.com'
$username = 'administrator@yourdomain.com'
$password = 'yourPassword'
Connect-VIServer -Server $vcServer -User $username -Password $password
$roleName = "Aria Operations Monitoring Role"
$permissions = @(
    "System.Anonymous",
    "System.View",
    "System.Read",
    "Global.ManageCustomFields",
    "Global.SetCustomField",
    "Global.Health",
    "Global.SystemTag",
    "Global.GlobalTag",
    "Datastore.Browse",
    "Datastore.AllocateSpace",
    "Host.Inventory.EditCluster",
    "Host.Inventory.ManageClusterLifecyle",
    "VirtualMachine.Inventory.Move",
    "VirtualMachine.GuestOperations.Query",
    "VirtualMachine.GuestOperations.Modify",
    "VirtualMachine.GuestOperations.Execute",
    "VirtualMachine.GuestOperations.QueryAliases",
    "VirtualMachine.GuestOperations.ModifyAliases",
    "VirtualMachine.Namespace.Management",
    "VirtualMachine.Namespace.Query",
    "VirtualMachine.Namespace.ModifyContent",
    "VirtualMachine.Namespace.ReadContent",
    "Resource.AssignVMToPool",
    "Resource.HotMigrate",
    "Resource.ColdMigrate",
    "Resource.QueryVMotion",
    "StorageProfile.Apply",
    "Performance.ModifyIntervals",
    "Extension.Register",
    "Extension.Update",
    "Extension.Unregister",
    "ExternalStatsProvider.Register",
    "ExternalStatsProvider.Update",
    "ExternalStatsProvider.Unregister",
    "vStats.QueryAny",
    "vStats.CollectAny",
    "vStats.Settings",
    "AutoDeploy.Rule.Create",
    "AutoDeploy.RuleSet.Activate",
    "AutoDeploy.Rule.Edit",
    "AutoDeploy.RuleSet.Edit",
    "StorageProfile.Update",
    "StorageProfile.View",
    "StorageViews.ConfigureService",
    "AutoDeploy.Rule.Delete",
    "StorageViews.View"
)
New-VIRole -Name $roleName -Privilege (Get-VIPrivilege -Id $permissions)
Write-Output "Role '$roleName' created successfully with necessary permissions."
Disconnect-VIServer -Server $vcServer -Confirm:$false

Conclusion
Creating a custom role in vCenter for your Aria Operations service account is a best practice that enhances both security and functionality. By following these steps, you equip your monitoring tools with the necessary permissions without compromising the principle of least privilege.

Happy Monitoring!

This guide provides a clear pathway to securing your VMware infrastructure monitoring with Aria Operations, ensuring you’re well-prepared to tackle performance and health monitoring with confidence.

Setting User SSH Keys in NSX: A Guide for Custom Labels and Types

In VMware NSX, configuring SSH keys for users with specific labels and types provides a tailored access control approach that enhances both security and management capabilities. This blog walks through the process of setting user-specific SSH keys in NSX, using customized labels and types for better organization and identification.

Overview

SSH keys are crucial for secure authentication in NSX environments, allowing administrators to manage access without exposing systems to the risks of password-based logins. By setting SSH keys with specific labels and types, you can streamline user access management and improve security configurations.

Prerequisites

Ensure you have administrative access to the NSX Manager and that the users have generated their SSH key pairs. You will need the public key, and an understanding of the user’s role and required access level within NSX.

Step 1: Prepare the SSH Key Information

Collect the following information for each user:

  • User ID: The identifier for the user in NSX.
  • Label: A unique label to identify the key’s purpose or the user’s role.
  • Type: The encryption type of the SSH key, typically RSA or ECDSA.
  • Public Key: The actual public key string.

Example format:

set user [USER] ssh-keys label [LABEL] type [TYPE] value [PUBLIC KEY]

Step 2: Access the NSX Manager CLI

Connect to your NSX Manager via SSH or through the direct console interface. You will need to use the administrative credentials to log in.

ssh admin@nsx-manager-ip

Step 3: Add the SSH Key

Once logged in, you can add the SSH key for the user. Replace [USER], [LABEL], [TYPE], and [PUBLIC KEY] with the actual values. Here’s an example command:

set user jdoe ssh-keys label admin-access type rsa value "AAAAB3NzaC1yc2EAAAADAQABAAABAQC..."

This command sets an RSA key for user jdoe with the label admin-access.

Step 4: Verify the Key Setup

After adding the SSH key, verify that it has been correctly set up by listing the SSH keys for the user:

show user jdoe ssh-keys

This command should display all SSH keys associated with the user, including the newly added key with its label and type.

Step 5: Test SSH Connectivity

Have the user test their SSH connectivity to ensure that the key works correctly:

ssh -i /path/to/private/key jdoe@nsx-manager-ip

If the setup is correct, the user should be able to connect without a password prompt, indicating that the key has been accepted.

Conclusion

Setting user SSH keys in NSX with specific labels and types is a powerful way to enhance your network security and streamline access management. By organizing SSH keys in this manner, you can easily maintain control over who accesses what within your NSX environment, ensuring that only authorized users can perform administrative tasks.