This page describes the most common methods to load VM templates into the multi-cloud platform.
For an overview and links to additional methods, see Add virtual machine templates to Abiquo
Upload OVA templates from the local filesystem
This section describes how to upload an OVA file from a local file system to create a VM template in the catalogue.
If your file is very large, you may prefer to save it directly to the VM repository or use the AM API, see Appliance manager template API upload and download
The enterprise you are working in when you upload and save the VM template will be the owner of the VM template.
Privileges: Upload virtual machine template
Before you begin, check these requirements:
Abiquo reads OVA files created with VMware and from the VM marketplace. See also Export an OVA from ESXi vSphere 7 with OVF tool
The file name must have the
.ovaextension and it must contain an OVF fileThe OVA must have a single VM (virtual system)
Abiquo uses the
Nametag in theVirtualSystemas the template name. If theNameis not set, the platform uses theID. The template name will be the default name for VMs that users create from this templateTo deploy a VM from an OVA with parameters, the template must have guest tools. See Deploy a VM from an OVA with parameters
If you do not have any hypervisors, the platform will convert the template into ALL possible hypervisor formats. So add your hypervisors first, to reduce use of the NFS repository space.
To add a new template from an OVA file
Go to Catalogue
In the Private cloud section, select the datacenter
On the Virtual machine templates tab, at the bottom of the templates panel, click the + add button
Select Create from OVA file
Click Select file and browse for the file.
Abiquo will display the File name.
Click Save. Abiquo will upload the file and create the template. When Abiquo has created the template, it will open the Edit template dialog
Basic steps to configure a VM template
Here is a brief description of some initial steps to edit a VM template:
On the Disks tab, you can add an extra empty hard disk for your application data.
To add OVA parameters to all VMs, add them on the Variables tab. See Deploy a VM from an OVA with parameters.
On the Advanced tab, if your VM template requires UEFI boot, select the checkbox. If you are not sure, check with your system administrator because a UEFI VM will not boot without this configuration
For the User, enter the default user for the template
For the Password, enter the default password of the user on the VM template
Check and select the Operating system and if required, the OS version. For more details see Set the guest operating system for VMware
Click Save
To modify a VM template, you must log into or switch to the owner enterprise (where the template was created).
To share a VM template with other enterprises, go to Scopes and select access lists
Advanced VM template configuration
To use advanced VM configuration with cloud_init or guest tools:
Install cloud_init (or cloudbase_init) or VMware guest tools on your VM template
Follow the steps on the page for your tool:
For a diagram and comparison of these features, see Guest setup
Related links
For general information about Abiquo templates, see Catalogue view
Upload a template disk from the local filesystem for a single file.
For Abiquo OVF file specifications, see OVF reference
For Abiquo disk compatibility, see Template compatibility table
To upload or download templates, the AM remote service must use HTTPS, which means that you must also configure certificates on the Remote services server. See Configure Abiquo Tomcat with HTTPS for Remote RS
Download templates from a remote template repository
In private cloud, to create VM templates from a remote repository, do these steps:
Privilege: Download template from remote repository
Go to Catalogue
In the Private cloud section, select the datacenter
On the Virtual machine templates tab, at the bottom of the templates panel, click the + add button
Select Create from remote template repository
Select a Repository, then select a Category or All categories.
The Packages pane will display the available template definitions with an icon, title and brief descriptionOptionally, click on Show disks
For each VM template to download, select the checkbox next to the template definition
To start the download, click the Download button
The platform will check that this template download will not exceed the repository limits for your enterprise or your enterprise in the datacenter.
You cannot download a template if it does not have any disks
A status bar will appear next to the selected packages showing the download state.
If a template belongs to a Category in the remote template repository but the Category does not exist in the Catalogue, the platform will create it for the download.
You can now work with the new VM template.
Add public cloud templates to the catalogue
Pages related to VM templates
Other ways to add VM templates through the Abiquo UI:
Main Catalogue page with links to related pages: Catalogue view
Create instance templates: Manage VMs#SaveVMdiskstocreateaninstancetemplate
Manage instance templates: Manage VM Templates#Manageinstancetemplates
VM automation with cloud-init templates: Guest setup
Configuration pages
In Modify a VM template, see Extended OVF Support and Template Definition, Guest operating system definition for VMware, and OVF Reference.