This guide describes how to install and use Infoblox IPAM Plug-In for VMware with vRealize® Orchestrator (vRO) and vRealize Automation (vRA). It also provides information about the workflows and actions library of Infoblox IPAM Plug-In for VMware (henceforth referred to as “the plug-in”).
vRealize Orchestrator is a workflow engine that allows you to automate IT tasks. You can use the vRO workflows to create and automate processes to manage VMware products. vRealize Automation Cloud Assembly is a cloud-based service that allows you to create and deploy machines, applications, and services to your cloud infrastructure. You can use vRA Cloud Assembly to create cloud templates (formerly called blueprints), and then deploy the cloud templates, which then run vRA workflows to create the resources defined in the deployed templates. For more information on vRA and vRO, refer to the VMware documentation.
The plug-in supports Infoblox NIOS and its Cloud Network Automation platform, which automates the management of IP address and DNS for physical and virtual network devices on your VMware management platform. Instead of manually provisioning IP addresses and DNS or DHCP records for network devices and interfaces, you can use Cloud Network Automation to leverage DNS and DHCP features of the Infoblox Grid to manage your cloud networks through your current VMware management platform. For more information, see Cloud Network Automation Deployments.
The Infoblox IPAM Plug-In for VMware supports static and fixed IP address allocation and address allocation from DHCP ranges. When you use the Infoblox IPAM Plug-In for VMware to allocate IP addresses to virtual machines (VMs), it creates corresponding DNS records in your Infoblox NIOS or vNIOS appliance. The Plug-In is configurable and can create Infoblox host records or individual DNS resource records along with fixed address records to enable VMs to be located through their FQDNs as soon as the VMs are provisioned. This information is also visible through the vRealize Automation console. For information, see Provisioning and De-provisioning VMs with Registration in NIOS.
If you use Microsoft servers for DNS and DHCP services, you can integrate them with the plug-in for VMware to synchronize records. For more information, see Integrating Infoblox IPAM Plug-In for VMware with Microsoft DNS and DHCP Servers.
The following figure illustrates the architecture of the Infoblox IPAM Plug-In for VMware:
Intended Audience
Information in this document is intended for anyone who is installing and configuring the Infoblox IPAM Plug-In for VMware, and using its workflows, actions library, and APIs. This information is written for experienced users who are familiar with virtual machine technology, vRealize Orchestrator workflows, and VMware vSphere. This document assumes that readers are familiar with NIOS appliances and NIOS software.
Procedures detailed in this document might vary depending on the version of vRealize Orchestrator and vRealize Automation that you are using. For version-specific instructions, refer to the VMware documentation links listed in the Resources section.