XOAP Connector is an agent designed for secure system automation. The Connector enables centralized management of distributed systems and simplifies the operation of hybrid IT infrastructures.

It runs on Windows, macOS und Linux, and connects directly to your XOAP backend. Currently, supported on-premises environments include vSphere und Nutanix.

Below, you will find the initial steps to get started with the Connector.

Add Connection

The Connections area in your XOAP Workspace is where you define credentials to link your on-premises environment with the XOAP platform.

To create a new connection:

1. Go to Verbindungen und klicken Sie New Connection.

2. Select one of the on-premises environments and fill in the required fields.

3. Click Bestätigen Sie um die Verbindung zu speichern.

Add API key

Adding an API key to your XOAP environment enables a secure connection between XOAP and your Connector device.

To create a new API key:

1. In your XOAP workspace, go to Verbindungen und klicken Sie New Connection.

2. Select API Key as the connection type.

3. Provide a Connection Name and select the API Token Type called “XOAP Connector”.

4. Click Bestätigen Sie to create a new API key.

You can now copy the key to the clipboard, as you will need it in the next step.

Connect your device

To run images in your on-premises environment, you need to install the XOAP Connector on a machine that has access to your on-premises infrastructure.

1. In Application Management, go to Application Groups.

2. Find the group XOAP Connector – Base Group and open Details.

3. On the Details page, under Assigned applications, click the Connector application eye icon to view details.

4. Set the apiKey und workspace values and click Update to save the new values to the application group.

5. Now, go to Configuration Management → Configuration Groups.

6. Find the XOAP Connector group, click the action menu und wählen Sie Copy registration command.

7. Run this command on your device in a PowerShell administrator session.

Once complete, your device will appear under Inventory → Devices in the left-side menu in your XOAP Workspace.

Add operating system

In the XOAP workspace, Operating Systems is where you define the OS that will serve as the base for deploying your image. For cloud providers, all Marketplace images are available directly in XOAP and you can simply select the one that best fits your needs. For on-premises environments, you must provide the path to the ISO.

To add a new operating system:

1. Go to Image Management → Betriebssysteme und klicken Sie New Operating System.

2. In the New Operating System window, select the On-premises type and fill in the required fields.

3. Click Speichern Sie to add the new operating system.

If you are missing Setup Files like autonunattend.xml or hypervisor-specific adjustments, upload them to the Ressourcen area, take a look at our GitHub-Repository oder Kontaktieren Sie uns for examples.

Next: Creating an image

Once your environment, API key, device and operating system are configured, you can create your first machine image. For detailed instructions, you can find the documentation hier.

The post First steps appeared first on XOAP.

Once you have enabled the Connector by connecting your on-premises environment with XOAP and adding an operating system (see First steps for detailed instructions), you can create a machine image for vSphere or Nutanix. To do that, follow the steps below.

Create Builder Configuration

Builder Configuration creates machine images for a specific platform by launching temporary resources, provisioning them and producing the final image artifact. Builder Configurations are specific to each environment type.

To create a Builder Configuration:

1. In your XOAP Workspace, go to Image Management → Builder Configurations.

2. Click New Builder Configuration and select either vSphere oder Nutanix builder from the drop-down menu.

3. Fill in General Details und klicken Sie Add.

Image Definition

Now, you will create the Image Definition and run it in your environment.

1. In Image Management → Image definition table, click Neues Bild.

2. Provide the Image Definition Name and select the desired Builder provider type.

3. Select the created Builder Configuration, Connector, Operating System und Provisioner Role.

4. When everything is selected, click Speichern Sie.

Run the image definition by clicking ausführen. from the action menu. This will create the image in your environment.

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