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Nutanix NGT guest tools installation without manual process possible?

  • 4 January 2019
  • 4 replies
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Hello

is there a way to automatically install NGT guest tools without manually cdrom mounting process ?

I want to use Packer to generate a centOS 7 golden image with preinstalled NGT guest tools

thanks

Gilles
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Best answer by JeremyJ 10 March 2020, 18:28

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Userlevel 4
Badge +5

Hello @Gilles B 

Using Prism Central, you can install NGT on multiple VMs without the need to manually mount the iso. 

This post might guide you in the right direction. 

https://next.nutanix.com/installation-configuration-23/ngt-series-install-ngt-on-multiple-vms-using-prism-central-33591

 

Hello,

Many thanks for your response

but could we download the NGT ISO or data installer from outside Nutanix Cluster ? where this datas are store in Nutanix cluster ?
i just want to add NGT guest tools to CentOS 8 prebuild golden image for Nutanix generate with packer and KVM hypervisor

Gilles

Userlevel 3
Badge +4

Hello,

Many thanks for your response

but could we download the NGT ISO or data installer from outside Nutanix Cluster ? where this datas are store in Nutanix cluster ?
i just want to add NGT guest tools to CentOS 8 prebuild golden image for Nutanix generate with packer and KVM hypervisor

Gilles

Hi @Gilles B for now NGT iso is generated on demand and is not available as a standalone iso. this is a future feature and is on the roadmap - will add your request there too. 

NGT communicates through a secure channel to CVMs in the cluster - which is why when the iso is generated there are virtual machine related details as well which are included - to establish a secure channel.

we will inquire further and see if there is any change and if your scenario is supported.

you can explore the nutanix.dev api reference and see if you can utilise some rest api calls to invoke NGT install after the VM deployment. 
https://www.nutanix.dev/reference/prism_element/v2/api/vms/post-vms-uuid-manage-vm-guest-tools-manageguesttool/

Best regards

Userlevel 3
Badge +4

Hello @Gilles B 

You actually can pre-install NGT on a golden image, but it won’t be usable on clones deployed from this image until it gets enabled in Prism and the install on the VM is updated with the specific details for the cluster and the vm. This in-guest update will happen automatically if the NGT iso is mounted when the Nutanix Guest Agent is started. You can trigger the udpate on a live VM by mounting the CDROM and then restarting the Nutanix Guest Agent service, but I find the easiest method is to enable NGT and mount the CDROM prior to booting.

One requirement is the installed NGT version must be equal to or less than the current NGT version for the cluster. If you copied or moved a template VM from an AOS 5.10 cluster to an AOS 5.5 cluster you may need to uninstall NGT on the VM before the right version can be installed. If the version used by the cluster is newer, the NGT software should be able to update the version along with the cluster and VM details.