Active IQ Unified Manager Discussions
Active IQ Unified Manager Discussions
Sorry if this is a Noob question but I am wanting to simplify a workflow by removing and hardcoding some of the inputs. I figured how to specify defaults but I would also like to know where I could hardcode them. For example, say I wanted to always provision to a particular SVM or always use a particular export policy. How could I do that so the user inputs don't appear. I can't see where those are set as variables.
Keith
Solved! See The Solution
Hi Keith,
No worries. Some people like to choose... and in some cases it's better to have the workflow make the choices (or set the standards).
Here is what I'd recommend you do:
First, you will need to update your 'Create CM Volume' command... specifically for the 'export policy. What you will need to do is to hover your mouse pointer over the export_policy field until you see the three dots on the right, then click on the three dots.
this will bring up the 'export_policy' dialog box where you can select one of the filters (from the WFA Filters list... it's possible to create new ones for export_policy, if needed):
Here you can see that I chose the Filter "export policies by key". I identified the following:
of course your values will be different, but hopefully this answers your question.
Hope this helps,
Kevin
Hi Keith,
No worries. Some people like to choose... and in some cases it's better to have the workflow make the choices (or set the standards).
Here is what I'd recommend you do:
First, you will need to update your 'Create CM Volume' command... specifically for the 'export policy. What you will need to do is to hover your mouse pointer over the export_policy field until you see the three dots on the right, then click on the three dots.
this will bring up the 'export_policy' dialog box where you can select one of the filters (from the WFA Filters list... it's possible to create new ones for export_policy, if needed):
Here you can see that I chose the Filter "export policies by key". I identified the following:
of course your values will be different, but hopefully this answers your question.
Hope this helps,
Kevin
Thanks Kevin! That really helped.
The last piece of the puzzle was realizing that the Cluster Name and vServer name were variables defines in the Aggr search function. Once I hardcoded those there the user inputs updated right away... An "Ah ha" moment!
Cheers
Keith
So if I understand correctly, things will appear in the User input section as soon as they are defined as variables and thus disappear once they are no longer variables correct?
I can't for the life of me find where the R/W ESX Hosts variable is used after I deleted the create export policy command (since I want to recycle an existing policy)
Keith
Hi Keith,
As to your question... I guess the answer depends on what sort of variable you have defined. There are several types of variables in WFA:
It sounds like you are familiar with the types of user inputs... but for folks who might not be... some of this is covered at around 7min 30seconds in the Workflow Automation Technical Introduction video... give or take a few seconds, that is
For your issue... I'm not sure what the problem is.
Hope this helps,
Kevin.
Hi Keith,
Yep, this reminds me of an enhancement request to be able to add and delete User Input Variables from the User Input Variable tab of Workflow Preferences, instead of having to hunt them down like you're struggling with. It has yet to be implemented (or added to the roadmap, AFAIK) At a minimum, it sure would be helpful to have a button that would locate where all a User Input Variable is used in the Workflow.
Anywaaay... In the meantime, as Kevin suggests you can continue to search through all the parameters in the various instances of commands in the workflow via the GUI for the $UserInputVariable you're looking for.
If you still can't find it, or if you're an old-school text file hacker like me, here's a secret way to find things like this...
As a best practice, I like to define my User Input Variables as Global Constants, then use the Constant name in the workflow instead of the User Input Variable name. That way, when I go to delete a User Input Variable, I know right where to look - the Global Constants tab of the Workflow Preferences screen.
Hope documenting this hack doesn't get me shot and helps someone.
Cheers,
Dave
Hi Dave,
There's a search feature in WFA 2.1 that allow searching either within a flow for an element (Based on name),
as well as search for a building block somewhere in WFA.
This feature will hopefully offer some relief to such issues, and is based on those complaints from us and other field personnel
that in the simplified form it is was pretty complex to locate a certain variable or user input usage.
Hope that would alleviate some of our pains...
Cheers,
Yaron
Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'm glad this wasn't a silly problem. Since this was a lab and I'm learning I gave the 2.1 beta a try and yep the Search feature worked like a charm. MUCH easier finding those variables.
I agree though, being able to set them as fixed amounts from the preference screen would be the easiest and would allow customers to easily restore them as variables in the future if their needs changed.
Thanks for the help guys.
Keith