Importing a Cluster

  1. Log in as an admin user.

  2. Navigate Clusters -> Add Cluster

  3. Fill out properties and click save

When the Cluster is imported into Ganeti Web Manager it will automatically synchronize. Virtual Machine objects will be created to match what is found on the Ganeti Cluster. Permission Tags will also be parsed to automatically add permissions for virtual machines.

A cluster can be added with only its hostname and port, but a username and password for the cluster are required if you want to make changes to it. Clusters added without a valid username and password appear in Cluster Read Only Mode where you can only change aspects of the cluster that are local to Ganeti Web Manager’s database.

If you’re logged in as a cluster admin or superuser you can edit properties of a cluster by using the “edit” button on the cluster detail page.

Warning

If a cluster is in Cluster Read Only Mode, there will be errors if you try to modify virtual machines or create new ones.

Synchronizing Clusters

Ganeti Web Manager stores some information about clusters in its database. Cluster and virtual machine information will refresh automatically, but the list of virtual machines must be synchronized manually. This can be done by via the orphans view

  1. Main Menu -> Orphans

Clusters are synchronized when the orphans view is visited.

Adding Virtual Machines

To add a virtual machine, select “Create VM” in the toolbar. Only fields with multiple options will be selectable. For example, if you are unable to change the cluster to which a VM gets added, it means that there is only one valid option and cluster is a mandatory field.

  • If the user creating the VM has permissions to do so, the owner will be that user. If the user does not have create permissions but is a member of a group that can create VMs, ownership defaults to that group.

  • Cluster can be chosen from those that the the user creating the VM has access to.

  • The Hypervisor will generally be dictated by the cluster that you choose.

  • The instance name must be a fully qualified domain name (FQDN). (e.g. hostname.example.org)

  • If you uncheck “Start up after creation”, you can start the VM manually on its virtual machine detail page. (click Virtual Machines in the sidebar, then the VM’s name)

  • DNS name check: if checked, sends the name you selected for the VM to the resolver (e.g. in DNS or /etc/hosts, depending on your setup). Since the name check is used to compute the IP address this also enables/disables IP checks (e.g. if the IP is pingable). Uncheck if using dynamic DNS.

  • Disk Template chooses a layout template from these options:

    • plain - Disk devices will be logical volumes (e.g. LVM)

    • drbd - Disk devices will be DRBD (version8.x) on top of LVM volumes

      • If drbd is selected, a primary and secondary node will need to be chosen unless automatic allocation has been selection. DRBD will allow the virtual machine to use live migration and failover in case one of the nodes goes offline.

    • file - Disk devices will be regular files (e.g. qcow2)

    • diskless - This creates a virtual machine with no disks. Its useful for testing only (or other special cases).

  • Operating system to install on the virtual machine. Your choices are limited to the images configured on the cluster.

General Parameters:

  • Virtual CPUs will be deducted from owner’s quota. If the owner field appears blank and is not selectable, the default owner has been chosen.

  • Memory is the amount of RAM to give this VM. If no units are given, megabytes is assumed.

  • Disk size is the amount of owner’s disk quota to allot this VM. If no units are given, megabytes is assumed.

  • Disk type determines the way the disks are presented to the virtual machine. Options may vary based on cluster’s hypervisor settings.

  • More information about NIC Mode, NIC Link, and NIC Type can be found here

Hypervisor parameters:

TODO finish this part

Orphaned Virtual Machines

Permission Tags are parsed by virtual machine objects, but sometimes virtual machines will have no tags. To quickly identify virtual machines with no admin users, use the orphans view

  1. Main Menu -> Orphans

Visiting the orphans view will force a synchronization of all clusters and display VirtualMachines that do not have any permissions assigned. You only need to grant permissions directly on virtual machines if you are granting access to non-admin users.