15:59:40 #startmeeting Ansible VMware Working Group Meeting 15:59:40 Meeting started Mon Aug 14 15:59:40 2017 UTC. The chair is akasurde. Information about MeetBot at http://wiki.debian.org/MeetBot. 15:59:40 Useful Commands: #action #agreed #halp #info #idea #link #topic. 15:59:40 The meeting name has been set to 'ansible_vmware_working_group_meeting' 16:00:28 hello 16:00:28 o/ 16:00:34 #chair jtanner 16:00:34 Current chairs: akasurde jtanner 16:00:39 #chair pdellaert 16:00:39 Current chairs: akasurde jtanner pdellaert 16:00:41 o/ 16:00:47 hi 16:00:48 #chair dag 16:00:48 Current chairs: akasurde dag jtanner pdellaert 16:00:53 #chair dericcrago 16:00:53 Current chairs: akasurde dag dericcrago jtanner pdellaert 16:00:54 #action dag will ask for a meeting bot here 16:01:07 you mean in ansible-vmware? 16:01:13 yes :-) 16:02:14 * dag still needs to add action items to the Plan from previous meetings 16:02:19 Hi 16:02:27 #chair kaneda-f_ 16:02:27 Current chairs: akasurde dag dericcrago jtanner kaneda-f_ pdellaert 16:02:30 side note: i am no longer the only one in this group with god powers on the github repos 16:02:54 * akasurde wondering who else ? 16:03:15 Hello everyone, let us start meeting 16:03:25 our friendly neighborhood dag 16:03:41 friendly? 16:03:45 Cool 16:03:46 ok... 16:03:50 * dag probably complained too much ;-) 16:04:19 #topic What are the problems with govcsim 16:04:21 pdellaert: :-) 16:04:28 #link https://github.com/ansible/community/issues/206#issuecomment-321696010 16:04:29 dag: MPD did same to me .. once i complained too much, ... now i'm 'complained to' 16:04:46 #chair bcoca 16:04:46 Current chairs: akasurde bcoca dag dericcrago jtanner kaneda-f_ pdellaert 16:04:51 bcoca: so it's punishment :) 16:05:06 Background: I've been looking at doing something useful on the VMworld Hackathon (Barcelona one) 16:05:27 didn't know there was a vmworld barcelona 16:05:43 and i was wondering what is the most useful: trying to add functionality to govcsim for the vmware modules 16:05:54 or work on modules themselves (and in that case, i'd suggest a new module) 16:05:57 pdellaert: I prepared a sprint to tackle open issues 16:06:21 pdellaert, Me and dag listed few here - https://github.com/ansible/community/wiki/VMware%3A-testing-efforts#limitations-of-vcsim 16:06:23 pdellaert: at PyCon there was also a sprint IIRC 16:06:30 contributing to vcsim is a hefty topic ... are we really at a point to train people on that? 16:06:35 dag: working on open issues (on existing modules), is hardly exiting for others at a hackathon :) 16:06:51 i still don't know jack about golang 16:07:10 akasurde: Yes, I was going to add references to open tickets for govcsim (and we should open tickets for each one that hasn't) 16:07:21 jtanner, same here 16:07:40 jtanner: contributing is one thing, we should at least report them... 16:07:43 dag I remember that is action item for me 16:07:45 filing vcsim bugs/features is probably doable 16:07:59 i agree 16:08:23 pdellaert: it's all perception, the Windows sprint was very exciting, we almost closed them all (with some delay) 16:09:20 dag: i get that, but i can't take over the hackathon event as a sprint to fix issues with people who might have never or hardly worked on Ansible modules 16:09:53 Pretty new here, are you al guys mainly working on vcenter or also on vCloud ? 16:09:54 doing a sprint on VMware modules issues, is great, just not something for during a public hackathon event 16:09:55 pdellaert: true, govcsim is more attractive, and doesn't have to be Ansible-related as such 16:09:57 i suspect you might have to cater your sprint topics based on the attendees general ability levels 16:10:27 who's going? 16:10:40 kaneda_: i think most here are involved with vCenter only... however, if there is something you want to discuss on vCloud, we can add it at the end of the meeting? 16:10:41 pdellaert, are you targeting golang or Python (ansible) in Hackthon 16:10:50 * dag is trying to get his flight rescheduled to go to the second contributors meeting day 16:10:51 akasurde: i'm open to both 16:11:01 out of the blue there was a second day announced :-( 16:11:13 pdellaert: sure 16:12:17 #action akasurde + dag will document / report the various vcsim issues on the Wiki 16:12:21 akasurde: i haven't added a topic yet, first thing i wanted to discuss: There might be some interest in Ansible functionality during the hackathon (i saw some tweets on that for VMworld US) 16:13:00 pdellaert, ok 16:13:14 #action pdellaert will do something exciting at VMWorld related to govcsim/ansible (TBA) 16:13:58 and either we see a chance for a simple module that a team might be able to work on, or we propose expanding govcsim with something useful for Ansible testing 16:14:15 pdellaert, I can tell you two features in govcsim that we can have for Ansible - Snapshot and Maintenance mode 16:14:17 personally, getting a simple module going, seems more interesting 16:14:27 if you go with a module, make sure it's something vcsim supports 16:14:42 creating integrations tests is something doable too 16:15:15 but you may have to select which modules can be supported 16:15:18 dag: far less exciting ;), the team has to present it to try and win the competition ;) 16:15:25 ah 16:15:55 speaking of which ... https://github.com/vmware/govmomi/blob/master/simulator/license_manager.go 16:16:02 does that imply vcsim handles licensing now? 16:16:15 maybe we can use experts available in hackthon for Ansible 16:16:48 jtanner, last time I tried it didn't work for me 16:16:54 doh 16:16:55 jtanner: on the hackathon, you get a full vCenter 6.5 + NSX environment, so it might be more interesting of something that is useful in Ansible, but not necessarily supported by vcsim (tho it would be nice, of course) 16:17:10 who's providing that? 16:17:10 Anyway, there's two things here we are discussing at once: 16:17:33 1) Get govcsim limitations as issues on govcsim so they can be resolved 16:18:21 jtanner, VMware :) 16:18:39 2) Proposals for the VMworld Hackathon activities: is there a module we could use that is exciting (if no-one can think of something, i'll do an analysis on current functionality and see if i can come up with something :)) 16:18:51 ok 16:19:10 on (1) Let's start with getting the limitations in issues 16:20:07 a suggestion: every example in the modules should ultimately have a tested path 16:21:41 on (2): i'm willing to lead a team, just trying to find the most exciting thing to do... And that might be different from what is crucial to do at this stage. I want to use the hackathon to get people excited to work on VMware Ansible stuff, once they work on something fun, they might be more eager to also work on the integration tests, other module issues, etc 16:22:10 i have no advice on that front 16:25:05 ok, anyway, we don't need to talk to long on this, i just wanted to inform of the opportunity 16:25:33 OK Let us discuss PR review then 16:25:50 #topic Code review 16:26:17 pdellaert, you have a PR to discuss right ? 16:26:29 we had the issue with CDROM support in vmware_guest 16:26:33 #link https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/28155 16:26:39 i've opened a PR for it 16:27:48 tested on vCenter with adding CDROM on VM creation, CDROM update on existing shutdown VM and CDROM update on running VM 16:27:51 pdellaert, I haven't read whole code but look good to me 16:29:14 take your time, it's just the requested functionality that was missing from vmware_guest vs vsphere_guest 16:30:14 how do you initiate a kickstart with that? (i'm dumb, educate me) 16:30:44 and then how do you detach the cdrom aftewards? 16:30:57 you create a VM, attach a kickstart ISO on it, and by default, if the VM has no bootable partition on its HDs, VMware will boot from CDROM 16:31:23 detach isn't supported on the module yet (wasn't supported on vsphere_guest either), but it is something i want to add 16:31:29 i just wantted to get the PR started 16:31:36 that implies the ISO is automatically initiating kickstart? 16:31:56 so that initial functionality is there and can be reviewed 16:32:03 jtanner: yes 16:32:09 or you open the console 16:32:45 the old module had no way to provide kernel/kickstart args? 16:32:51 no 16:33:07 k, that's something i was confused about then 16:33:09 at least, not that i'm aware of 16:35:52 Next one - https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/26819 16:35:55 #link https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/26819 16:35:59 ok, so vsphere_guest did also support client cdrom, missed that... i'll be adding some more functionality (specifying an extra sub param on the cdrom: type: iso/client/none) 16:37:43 akasurde: merged 16:38:09 Thanks jtanner 16:38:29 #link https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/25772 16:38:47 pdellaert, dag could you please comment on 25772 16:38:57 jtanner, ^^ 16:39:02 #action pdellaert to add removal of cdrom iso (introducing type, with two values: iso or client) 16:39:04 i have never used VCA before 16:39:30 akasurde: will do, on phone call 16:39:38 dag ok 16:39:44 akasurde: LGTM 16:40:05 (only checked code, not tested) 16:40:12 akasurde: merged 16:40:18 i can test that 16:40:28 file bug if test fails 16:40:34 kanedafr, thanks 16:40:45 jtanner, thanks for merge 16:40:52 anyone has anything else to discuss 16:41:38 what's the general consensus on how this working group is functioning? 16:41:43 are we happy? 16:42:39 I don't think the action plan is actively being managed :-) 16:42:45 but if it works without it, I'm good 16:42:57 just worried that some of the action-items from the meeting are not being followed up 16:43:35 * dag is happy we have this forum 16:44:17 I am happy with WG (atleast we have someone to talk with :)) 16:44:34 indeed 16:45:07 same, happy we have a team looking at this and a forum to discuss how to move forward 16:45:08 a lot of people signed up for the WG, so pdellaert you should probably announce your hackathon to those people 16:45:32 these are VMware-people with Ansible knowledge and may be present at VMWorls 16:45:43 we should also get these people more involved 16:45:50 i will, thanks, what's the best place, wiki or one of the community threads? 16:45:57 that's why I wanted to do that sprint 16:46:13 maybe a issue like invitation 16:46:19 pdellaert: you could open an issue on the community repo with these people in cc: 16:46:50 (it's not that easy to get the github handles from the current page though, would be nice if this was managed from a YAML file) 16:46:55 +1 16:46:57 (just like kubernetes is doing) 16:48:03 #action pdellaert to trigger a bit of spam on VMworld EU hackathon 16:48:08 :-D 16:48:16 ;) 16:48:27 We have some work to do on the new VMware modules before v2.4 16:48:33 the deadline is 29/8 16:48:46 maybe we may want to schedule some time for working on those ? 16:49:07 (e.g. one or two hours after next week's meeting ?) 16:49:23 what is special about 2.4? 16:49:58 fyi, the ansible org is having an allhands meeting next week so our response is going to be limited 16:50:34 I'll be out next week (unless i find a gap in my conference presenting schedule that overlaps with this meeting) 16:50:34 jtanner: if people submitted modules before the submission deadline, they would be disappointed if (for lack of feedback) these modules won't ship 16:51:27 i'll do my action points this week (also traveling starting wednesday afternoon, but that should be fine) 16:53:03 #topic open floor 16:53:24 I have one question regarding API integration 16:53:35 Today teh vcloud 16:53:35 kanedafr, yes please 16:54:03 Today the vcloud API integration is based on pyvcloud, which doesn't cover the entire API 16:54:45 to increase the scope, would the direction be to push pyvcloud to cover more (not much activity there) or add that directly in the vca / vcloud modules ? 16:55:09 is there an alternative to pyvcloud? 16:55:37 i'd suggest to push pyvcloud development more, especially as it is the official VMware library. 16:55:50 it's not really official 16:56:01 only Java, .Net & PHP are official 16:56:08 It's on their github, it is more official than any 3rd party one ;) 16:56:13 sure ;) 16:56:47 the point being: If it is in a library from VMware, there's more confidence in it being the best way of using the API 16:56:52 alternative would be to add teh API support directly in ansible module. I did one to manage independant disks 16:57:50 the challenge on I see on pyvcloud is taht there is no active development 16:58:08 Well, it's certainly not against the rules (i'd say, others will correct me) to do that, and if it is the only way, perhaps it can be accepted? But it should clearly be marked as such, and tracked to be cleaned up if pyvcloud evolves to support something 16:59:19 ok, I'll check with the current contact on pyvcloud first, then move on developing ansible modules 16:59:30 The problem on developing the own API integration, is going to be maintenance, support, and testing 16:59:44 also trust 17:00:08 people prefer things if it is from VMware or actual vendor 17:00:08 yeah (part of support, in my view) 17:00:08 indeed 17:00:29 anyway: I'd try and trigger the pyvcloud maintainers to see what their future plans are 17:01:12 on vcenter integration, you are using a vmware library ? 17:01:15 kanedafr: If you like to lead any effort related to vcloud, you don't need to ask for permission 17:01:21 it's been granted here and now :-P 17:01:29 thanks ;) 17:01:31 :p 17:01:37 ok 17:01:55 if we don;t have anything then we can close the meeting for today 17:02:00 what dag basically is saying: Fix the whole vCloud integration! 17:02:01 ;) 17:02:07 kanedafr: you can add stuff to the Wiki, track progress there, find people with similar interest etc. 17:02:07 thanks akasurde ! 17:02:20 #endmeeting