External orchestrators

Connect an external orchestration engine and import its workflows as flows you can run from a blueprint

  2 minute read  

Cloud Management Platform (CMP) supports two technologies: HP Operations Orchestration (HPOO) and vCenter/vRealize Orchestrator. Inputs defined on a flow appear on the order form.

Add an orchestrator

  1. Go to Admin > External Orchestrators.
  2. Select Add.
  3. Choose the technology you are connecting to.
  4. Fill in the connection details, then select Continue.
  5. Give the orchestrator a Name and the folder or library path CMP should discover flows from, then select Done.

Connection details

Field Description
Scheme Protocol used to connect to the orchestration engine.
Host IP address or hostname of the orchestrator.
Port Port used to connect to it. The field is prefilled with the default port for the technology you chose.
Account Username that runs the flows.
Password Password for that account.

Name and flow location

Field Description
Name The name this orchestrator is shown under in CMP.
Base folder for discoverable flows The folder CMP imports flows from. It must contain the workflows themselves; subfolders are not searched. Some technologies label this field as a library path.

Edit an orchestrator

The External Orchestrators page lists each connection with its Name, Technology, Username, and IP Address. Select a name to open it. From there you can:

  • Edit Credentials. Change the credentials used to authenticate the connection.
  • Edit Settings. Change the name and the flow location.
  • Verify Connection. Check that CMP can still reach the orchestrator.
  • Delete. Remove the orchestration engine. Select Remove to confirm.

Import flows

  1. On the External Orchestrators page, select the name of your orchestrator.
  2. Open the Flows tab.
  3. Select Import flows.

Run a flow from a blueprint

Once the connection is established and workflows are imported, add one to a blueprint.

  1. Open Catalog and create or open a blueprint.
  2. Open the Build tab.
  3. Select Action.
  4. Select External Flow.
  5. Select Create a new flow action now.
  6. Name the flow action, then select the target flow from the Flow dropdown.
  7. Select Save.

The flow now runs whenever an order is submitted against that blueprint.

  • External flows: using an imported flow as an action.
  • Actions: the other kinds of action a blueprint or trigger point can run.