Intro
In the flurry of announcements from our recent NetApp INSIGHT, you may have missed all the updates related to NetApp Console. Simply put, BlueXP is now the NetApp Console... and so much more. The new NetApp Console focuses on speeding up administration and eliminating data silos, all while ensuring that security and compliance are never overlooked.
The NetApp Console team has developed a ton of new content, guided demos, and blogs in support of this launch.
Need more reasons to try the NetApp Console? Let me reintroduce you to Automation Hub. Located within the NetApp Console, Automation Hub is all new and includes a diverse collection of NetApp validated automation scripts, toolkits, and simulators to help you automate and orchestrate your environments. As we create new solutions for enterprise applications, virtualization, and designs spanning both on-premises and cloud environments, we aim to automate these processes and share our expertise with customers and partners. Whether you're looking to streamline, enhance your workflows, or optimize costs - Automation Hub is your go-to destination for all things automation.
Accessing Automation Hub
Did I mention it was easy to find, right within the NetApp Console? You can find Automation Hub under Governance, as shown below.
Once you have selected Automation Hub, you will find an ever-growing list of resources, including scripts, simulators, and toolkits.
Scripts
Automation scripts are the backbone of Automation Hub, providing ready-to-use code snippets that can be integrated into your existing workflows. These scripts cover a wide range of data management tasks, from routine maintenance to complex orchestration. Each script is validated by NetApp, ensuring it adheres to best practices and delivers reliable results. Explore Automation Hub and find Python, Terraform, and PowerShell scripts and choose the best one for you.
Example: Amongst the many scripts available on Automation Hub, I want to highlight storage provisioning of Azure NetApp Files (ANF) for Oracle. This script, available for Ansible and Terraform, automates the provisioning of ANF volumes and makes them available for use by Oracle within Azure. This is just one example of the many scripts that allow you to effortlessly migrate on-premises databases to cloud resources. Additionally, there are scripts for initial setup of ONTAP systems, Cyber Vault Deployment, and NetApp Shift Toolkit migration use cases.
Toolkits
Toolkits in the Automation Hub are comprehensive sets of tools, many GUI-driven, designed to automate specific data management or management tasks, plug into 3rd party offerings, or generally streamline operations such as data collection and monitoring. These toolkits are curated and validated by NetApp to ensure they meet the highest standards of reliability and performance. Toolkits provide the necessary resources to get the job done efficiently.
Example: One of the most popular resources developed in recent memory by the Solutions Engineering team is the NetApp Shift Toolkit. If you're looking for a flexible and cost-effective way to migrate virtual machines (VMs) between different hypervisors, convert virtual disk formats, and manage the creation and configuration of destination VMs quickly, then the Shift Toolkit is definitely worth exploring.
Simulators
As technologists, whenever we learn something new, there is no replacement for hands-on. The challenge is that we all have day jobs and often don’t have the time to set up the applications just to kick the tires on something new. That is where simulators come in. Simulators are an invaluable resource for testing and validating workflows in a controlled environment. They allow users to explore various scenarios and evaluate the impact of new workflows before deploying them in a live environment.
Example: We all know that setting up cloud resources to conduct a proof of concept (POC) can be expensive and require multiple levels of security sign-offs. This is why we developed simulators that show you how to move from on-premises VMware environments to cloud environments such as Azure VMware Solution. This simulator helps you learn how to maximize the potential of both Azure VMware Solution and Azure NetApp Files for virtualized workloads. Beyond the cloud simulators, we have simulators for various Shift Toolkit use cases as well, including VMware to Hyper-V, VMware to OpenShift, and VMware to Oracle Linux Virtualization Manager.
Benefits of Using Automation Hub
Now that you know more about Automation Hub, the benefits should be clear. Automation Hub delivers:
- Efficiency and consistency - Automation Hub helps eliminate repetitive and time-consuming tasks, allowing IT teams to focus on more strategic initiatives. By automating routine operations, you ensure consistency and reduce the risk of human error.
- Cost optimization - By leveraging automation, you can optimize resource utilization and reduce operational costs. Automation Hub provides the tools to streamline processes and achieve cost savings through efficient data management.
- Scalability - As your data environment grows, Automation Hub scales with you. It provides the flexibility to automate tasks across a variety of environments, ensuring that your automation strategy can evolve with your organization’s needs.
- Enhanced workflows - With a diverse collection of validated scripts, toolkits, and simulators, Automation Hub empowers you to enhance your workflows and achieve better operational outcomes. Whether you’re managing on-premises storage, cloud resources, or a hybrid environment, Automation Hub has the resources you need.
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Feedback loop and requests – Within Automation Hub, you can make requests and provide feedback on available solutions. Simply click “Submit a request” and complete a form to request a new simulator, toolkit, script, or suggest something new.
Conclusion
Automation Hub, within NetApp Console, is a game-changer for organizations looking to streamline their data management operations and practitioners looking to try out new offerings in a hassle-free manner. By providing a centralized repository of validated automation scripts, toolkits, and simulators, Automation Hub empowers IT teams to enhance workflows, optimize costs, and ensure consistency across their data environments.
Log in into the NetApp Console and explore Automation Hub today and take your data management to the next level!
...And if you missed NetApp Insight, check out the highlights and on-demand versions of sessions and keynotes.
