Automating VMs and environments
Skytap offers various ways to automate your VMs and environments. Some of these are features within the environment (such as schedules), while others are tools that you can use (such as API, automation packs, CLI).
Contents
Automation features
Reporting
Auditing webhook and Usage webhook – provide Skytap account audit and usage data in real time to a URL that you choose. You can use the webhook service to create custom applications and reports.
For more information, see Configuring the Skytap webhook service for audit data and Configuring the Skytap webhook service for usage data.
Auto-shutdown options
Auto-shutdown options – helps save resources by automatically shutting down or suspending inactive environments.
Notes
- Suspend applies only to x86 VMs. If an environment contains both x86 The most common CPU architecture. x86 CPUs support Windows and Linux VMs in Skytap. and Power A CPU architecture that supports IBM i, AIX, and Linux (on Power) in Skytap. VMs, only the x86 VMs in an environment will be suspended.
- For more information, see Automatically shut down or suspend inactive environments.
Schedules
Schedules – let you automate operations on environments and templates. Create a schedule by choosing which resource you want to automate, what actions to perform, and what time the actions occur.
Notes
- The Suspend action is available only for x86 VMs. Supported power-state actions for Power VMs are Run, Shut Down, and Power off.
- For more information, see Automating actions with schedules.
VM sequencing
VM Sequencing – lets you control the order of start up and shut down for VMs in an environment. In a complex environment, this is useful for starting some virtual machines before other virtual machines (for example, starting your database servers before your application servers).
For more information, see VM sequencing.
Development tools
API
You can use the Skytap REST API to automate complex operations on your Skytap resources.
Metadata service
Accessing the VM metadata service (and user data fields) from within the VM explains how to access the representation of your VM and store additional data for reference in automated workflows.
Plugins, automation packs, how-to guides
See Developer tools for a list of plugins, automation packs, and how-to guides, including integrations with Vagrant, Jenkins, Ansible, and more!