Cloud Automation Content

The Content Runtime environments consist of three key components: a pattern manager, a Chef server, and a software repository. These runtime environments run in your location and space on a single virtual machine (VM). You can have more than one runtime environment to serve different purposes, such as development, test and production. There must be bidirectional network access between these runtime environments and the Cloud Automation Manager environment.

These advanced Content Runtime environments must be set up before you can deploy a pattern or template. The setup process is a one time step which is performed through the Cloud Automation Manager user interface by using Terraform templates.

As part of the Cloud Automation Manager installation, there is a Terraform Provider container that must have network access to communicate with the VM and network in which the runtime environments operate. It must also be able to communicate with the managed VMs. This container can communicate with the Content Runtime environments over either the public network or a virtual private network (VPN). If communication takes place over a private network, which can be either Amazon or IBM Cloud, the container must also include VPN services. The following Figure 1 illustrates this Cloud Automation Content overview.

Figure 1. Cloud Automation Content overview

For optimal performance, the runtime environments should be set up in a location that is geographically close to where you will deploy your templates. After you configure a runtime environment, the settings are stored in a secure location in Cloud Automation Manager that identifies the deployed RUNTIME name and the associated settings, such as data center, IP address, and credentials. The settings are later injected as an input to a template during deployment when you select the RUNTIME name to use to deploy a template. All variables must be modeled in camvariables of the template that is being deployed to ensure the expected behavior during deployment. When you deploy a template, you select the target runtime environment and the system injects the associated values for that runtime environment into the pattern or template.

Important notes

• Consider where (for example, the region, the data center, and the environment) you want to deploy templates as you plan the setup of your runtime environment.
• Be sure to have a well-defined plan of your desired topology, taking into account available network communication.
• Be sure that the outputs that are stored from the runtime environment align with the expected inputs for your templates. If these outputs and inputs are not aligned, you are prompted to define the runtime parameters for each deployment, which can be difficult and error prone.

Cloud Automation Content frameworks

The IBM Cloud Automation Content Middleware Template Library was built around a set of non-proprietary frameworks which are openly available.

Terraform and Chef were chosen for standardizing the IBM-created content due to the following key advantages:

• Popularity and growth with users.
• A community Model for development, support and third party tooling.
• They are proven for Enterprises at scale.
• Support for hybrid environments (environments that are based both in the cloud and on-premises).
• Consistent automation format and management for IBM content.

Both communities provide learning resources:

• Terraform: https://www.terraform.io/intro/index.html
• Chef: https://learn.chef.io/#/

Note: Although the IBM Content is created using Terraform and Chef, Cloud Automation Manager does not preclude the use of other popular tools.

What to do next

The topics and tasks in this section will guide you through configuring these runtime environments and deploying templates from the Middleware Template Content library. For more information, see Provisioning and managing the Content Runtime.