Getting started with Project Magpie
The original launch post can be found here.
Project Magpie’s goal is to provide an OVA based appliance that will serve as a framework for various tools to support operation and management of VMware NSX deployments.
Get started with Magpie today over at Github.
The instructions are straightforward. Download and install the OVA. I am using Fusion. From there, these simple gifs step through what is required.
The Setup
- Using root/changeme log in to the appliance
- Change the password as prompted.
- Retrieve the IP address allocated to the Magpie VM.
Using Magpie
Once Magpie is setup it is time to use it.
- Using root/changeme log in to the appliance
- Change the password as prompted.
- Retrieve the IP address allocated to the Magpie VM.
Dynamic documentation
PSdocs forms the basis of the documentation. PSdocs generates HTML output for each cmdlet equipment to running get-help new-nsxedge -full.
This means administrators have the full documentation at their fingertips in a browsable format.
SSH access
SSH access can be used for PowerNSX/PowerCLI. This provides access to PowerNSX/PowerCLI for the users of Magpie.
Multi-user support.
Magpie supports multiple web and powernsx users. This means numerous administrators can use Magpie simultaneously. Running create_powernsx_user <username> will create a user and present a password prompt.
Using `set_powernsx_user_pass <username> will start a password reset process. These actions are performed via SSH.
In summary
The ‘Multi Access General Purpose Infrastructure Explorer’ is specifically designed to be modular, allowing new tools to be rapidly integrated into Magpie in future releases.
Today’s release is ‘MVP’ (Minimum Viable Product) but the team is sitting on some great plugins that will launch as soon as they are ready. Watch this space!