[V13] Software Appliance scripted installation, unattended installs

[leemurphy]

Hi

I have been playing with the VSA since Beta 1. I quite like the look and feel thus far but I would like to see a situation where it is possible to automate the deployment of the appliance via OVA. We are a partner and build managed deployments for customers and reducing the time to delivery would be ideal (I know the VSA delivery time is shorter than the old VBR).

But one thing I am hoping for in future is the ability to script the OVA installation using a tool (such ovftool cli or ansible or something). It would generally require being able to inject the values that currently need to get inputted on the console after OVA deployment

The key things that are set in the Console after OVA build are:

- Network info (IP, Mask, Gateway, DNS, etc.)
- veeamadmin credential
- veeamso credential (optional)

I think the block might be the MFA set up on the veeamadmin but I believe it should be possible to make that a "first login" requirement after the OVA is built. That's how it is for veeamso when you create a password for that account (and also lines up with how other portals like the Veeam Service Provider Console) might act when MFA is mandated

[Gostev]

Hi, Lee. We do have auto-deploy available for ISO, the proper public documentation is being created as we speak but this capability is already being used internally for our labs. Fun fact, it cuts down the VSA deployment time in half comparing to manual (7 min vs. 15 min).

@Egor Yakovlev is the creator and the man to bug for updates or submit related feature requests to.

[gtelnet]

Checking in to see if these instructions have been posted yet. Haven't been able to find them on the Veeam site yet. Thanks!

[Egor Yakovlev]

Hi Greg.
Not yet available, still in progress.
I have this thread bookmarked for update as soon as they go live.

[mboswell]

Great to hear! Any ETA? Also, if you'd like a beta tester, I'd be glad to try it out and offer feedback.

Thanks,

Matt

[Egor Yakovlev]

We are in the final review stage, and it’s only a matter of days before publication.

[GT-Engineer]

Following.

[Egor Yakovlev]

Official documentation for unattended installation is ready!
Automated Veeam Software Appliance Installation

Guide is split into two parts:

Automating Installation without Initial Configuration
For deploying software appliances without mass configuration i.e. each appliance starts at the Initial Configuration Wizard and all settings are still to be configured by the user.

Automating Installation with Initial Configuration
For full autodeployment with hardcoded default user names, passwords, MFA keys i.e. each appliance starts already at the Welcome Screen and is ready-to-use.

[Daniel.Saffran]

Really nice Feature!
But I would have hoped for a Middleground-Solution - an "Automated Install with some Initial Configuration" so to speak.

Background being that we usually prepare Hardened Repos for Customers in an automated Process and then send them ready for "plug & play" to them. So all Network Settings (Interface Config like LACP-Bonds, IP, DNS, NTP, Hostname) are already set, but the Passwords come with a default Value and being forced to Change by the Customer on the Customer Site. So it is only Rack -> Passwords -> Add in Veeam -> Disable SSH
So it would be nice if these Network Settings can be already set but then not being asked in the Initial Configuration Wizard - but it should still show up to to set the admin and so Passwords and MFA.

Is that somehow possible now or planned in the Future?

[Egor Yakovlev]

We are tracking this behavior request along with future improvements, as password resets could be included in the server deployment process documentation.
However, making it a mandatory step would certainly simplify matters.
Thank you.