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Table Of Contents
Orchestration as an Element of vCloud Suite Core Infrastructure
The software-defined data center requires orchestration capability. In vCloud Suite, you can use vCenter
Orchestrator to orchestrate processes by using workflows.
The orchestration layer of the software-defined data center provides the ability to build macro-like
workflows that automate manual processes and is instrumental when delivering repeatable operations.
Traditionally, orchestration is implemented when the Infrastructure Service and Platform Application
Service layers of the SDDC solution are being considered. In the IaaS layer, vCloud Automation Center can
trigger vCenter Orchestrator workflows, and you can publish workflows in your service catalog.
Establishing the orchestration engine early in the process benefits all levels of customer maturity and
provides a foundation that the rest of the solution builds on. You should deploy one vCenter Orchestrator
instance for each vCenter Server system in your environment.
The main elements of the orchestration layer are:
n
vCenter Orchestrator
n
vCenter Orchestrator plug-ins
Figure 27. Design of the orchestration layer
vCenter Orchestrator
configuration
vCenter Orchestrator
design
vCO plug-ins
Embedded
database
Authentication
AD, LDAP or SSO
vCenter Server
Multi Node
AD
vCenter Orchestrator Appliance
Plug-ins enabled
Table 22. Components of vCloud Suite orchestration
Component Description
vCenter Orchestrator Appliance You can deploy vCenter Orchestrator as a virtual
appliance. The vCenter Orchestrator Appliance, running in
stand-alone mode (not HA) is the recommended approach
for deployment.
Authentication Authentication can be provided by Active Directory or
vCenter Single Sign-on.
Chapter 2 Architecture Overview
VMware, Inc. 21