Discrete resource tracking for VirtualMachines #5946

@PieterL75 commented on GitHub (Jan 17, 2022):

I see that the request were closed with the remarks 'NB primary function is to manage network infrastructure, not end hosts.'
I think that NB evolved and is more than that.
In my case, we try do document the physical world of our datacenter. That does not only include the network gear, but also all servers, appliances, etc.
If I have cable coming out of my switch, then I want it to go to a device that exists in Netbox, and not only a 'is connected' checkbox with some remarks on what other CMDB that owns the server.
And because the IPAM is 100% in Netbox, we have almost no other choice then to add the VM's to Netbox also.

I feel that Netbox was not intended to do that (Devices are mainly network focused and adding Servers quickly hits limitations), but step by step it could become a 100% physical world tool

@PieterL75 commented on GitHub (Jan 17, 2022): I see that the request were closed with the remarks 'NB primary function is to manage network infrastructure, not end hosts.' I think that NB evolved and is more than that. In my case, we try do document the physical world of our datacenter. That does not only include the network gear, but also all servers, appliances, etc. If I have cable coming out of my switch, then I want it to go to a device that exists in Netbox, and not only a 'is connected' checkbox with some remarks on what other CMDB that owns the server. And because the IPAM is 100% in Netbox, we have almost no other choice then to add the VM's to Netbox also. I feel that Netbox was not intended to do that (Devices are mainly network focused and adding Servers quickly hits limitations), but step by step it could become a 100% physical world tool

adam commented

@dkirhlarov commented on GitHub (Feb 8, 2022):

NetBox version 3.1.0

We are using VM's with CEPH store or local store in our own OpenNebula clouds. For now we have to use custom field for separate store types. We would like to use VM types or inventory items for VMs like as Device.

@dkirhlarov commented on GitHub (Feb 8, 2022): NetBox version 3.1.0 We are using VM's with CEPH store or local store in our own OpenNebula clouds. For now we have to use custom field for separate store types. We would like to use VM types or inventory items for VMs like as Device.

adam commented

@jeremystretch commented on GitHub (Apr 6, 2022):

I appreciate the use case here, but I'm not sure it makes sense to repurpose the existing inventory item model, which supports fields like part_id and manufacturer, as well as component mapping. It might be better to introduce a separate model e.g. VMResource to model VM-specific items.

@jeremystretch commented on GitHub (Apr 6, 2022): I appreciate the use case here, but I'm not sure it makes sense to repurpose the existing inventory item model, which supports fields like `part_id` and `manufacturer`, as well as component mapping. It might be better to introduce a separate model e.g. VMResource to model VM-specific items.

adam commented

@DanSheps commented on GitHub (Apr 8, 2022):

I think a new model would be appropriate.

I guess the question is what fields do we want to capture? The problem with VM resources is they are sometimes all over the map with what you might actually want to capture.

For example,

Disk you might want to associate it with a parent on the cluster, which I don't think we can capture here unless we dive deep into it and come out with multiple models.
CPU you care about speed, which could just simply be tied to disk using a generic "value".
CD/DVD drives get a little more complex as you don't need speed but you might want to track whether it is a physical passthrough or a ISO mounted by the hypervisor
NIC, again you might want to associate a vswitch or something.

I think, if we wanted to get a decent model we might want to revisit the VM model all together and see if we want to do things like modelling vswitches/sans and stuff as well. In the meantime, perhaps a few freeform text fields would be all that is needed but that does make automatic migrations difficult.

@DanSheps commented on GitHub (Apr 8, 2022): I think a new model would be appropriate. I guess the question is what fields do we want to capture? The problem with VM resources is they are sometimes all over the map with what you might actually want to capture. For example, * Disk you might want to associate it with a parent on the cluster, which I don't think we can capture here unless we dive deep into it and come out with multiple models. * CPU you care about speed, which could just simply be tied to disk using a generic "value". * CD/DVD drives get a little more complex as you don't need speed but you might want to track whether it is a physical passthrough or a ISO mounted by the hypervisor * NIC, again you might want to associate a vswitch or something. I think, if we wanted to get a decent model we might want to revisit the VM model all together and see if we want to do things like modelling vswitches/sans and stuff as well. In the meantime, perhaps a few freeform text fields would be all that is needed but that does make automatic migrations difficult.

adam commented

@themurman commented on GitHub (May 16, 2022):

My specific use case is passing pcie nics through from the host to a vm running a software firewall/router appliance. If we are documenting the network, I would argue that we have to go inside the hosts to have complete documentation.

@themurman commented on GitHub (May 16, 2022): My specific use case is passing pcie nics through from the host to a vm running a software firewall/router appliance. If we are documenting the network, I would argue that we have to go inside the hosts to have complete documentation.

adam commented

@MalfuncEddie commented on GitHub (Jun 17, 2022):

My use case is has 2 parts:
Vmware vm:
I would write a scritp that read out the API. For each disk on the vm create a Virtual disk with size and spec (HDD. SSD ...)

vmware vm with direct attache lun or physical server:

Well this is a bit more complex. I could read out the storage subsystem and gather all the disks and create them in a "virtual disk/lun device" The tricky part would be mapping it to the correct server (hate to do this manual)

There is also the question what "storage" you want?
What do you do with a LUN that is replicated? or thin provisioned or has a snapshot?

I would suggest splitting up storage into a backend layer and a front end layer
backend:

3par/ceph/storwize look of "how much raw storage do I have"

frontend:

What Luns are defined (and are the replicated or snapshotted) and to what device (if any) are they mapped.

The underlying use case is a question I got that mgmt wants to know how much storage/cpu/... a certain department (tenant) is using so a replicated LUN needs to have a checkmark "replicated" so it ha a factor times 2.

@MalfuncEddie commented on GitHub (Jun 17, 2022): My use case is has 2 parts: Vmware vm: I would write a scritp that read out the API. For each disk on the vm create a Virtual disk with size and spec (HDD. SSD ...) vmware vm with direct attache lun or physical server: Well this is a bit more complex. I could read out the storage subsystem and gather all the disks and create them in a "virtual disk/lun device" The tricky part would be mapping it to the correct server (hate to do this manual) There is also the question what "storage" you want? What do you do with a LUN that is replicated? or thin provisioned or has a snapshot? I would suggest splitting up storage into a backend layer and a front end layer backend: - 3par/ceph/storwize look of "how much raw storage do I have" frontend: - What Luns are defined (and are the replicated or snapshotted) and to what device (if any) are they mapped. The underlying use case is a question I got that mgmt wants to know how much storage/cpu/... a certain department (tenant) is using so a replicated LUN needs to have a checkmark "replicated" so it ha a factor times 2.

adam commented

@jose-pr commented on GitHub (Aug 9, 2022):

Would like to be able to document passthrough devices, such as hddd, nic, gpu.

@jose-pr commented on GitHub (Aug 9, 2022): Would like to be able to document passthrough devices, such as hddd, nic, gpu.

adam commented

@github-actions[bot] commented on GitHub (Oct 8, 2022):

This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has not had recent activity. It will be closed if no further activity occurs. NetBox is governed by a small group of core maintainers which means not all opened issues may receive direct feedback. Do not attempt to circumvent this process by "bumping" the issue; doing so will result in its immediate closure and you may be barred from participating in any future discussions. Please see our contributing guide.

@github-actions[bot] commented on GitHub (Oct 8, 2022): This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has not had recent activity. It will be closed if no further activity occurs. NetBox is governed by a small group of core maintainers which means not all opened issues may receive direct feedback. **Do not** attempt to circumvent this process by "bumping" the issue; doing so will result in its immediate closure and you may be barred from participating in any future discussions. Please see our [contributing guide](https://github.com/netbox-community/netbox/blob/develop/CONTRIBUTING.md).

adam commented

@arjenvri commented on GitHub (Oct 21, 2022):

Could we possibly reduce the scope initially for this to being able to add multiple disks? The current field ‘disk space’ seems less useful as @PieterL75 outlined since many vms have multiple disks

@arjenvri commented on GitHub (Oct 21, 2022): Could we possibly reduce the scope initially for this to being able to add multiple disks? The current field ‘disk space’ seems less useful as @PieterL75 outlined since many vms have multiple disks

adam commented

@pycolas commented on GitHub (Dec 6, 2022):

I upvote this idea (possibility to add inventory items to virtual-machines).
I don't see why an inventory item shall be a physical object.

I was thinking of using inventory items to list certificates and licences attached to a device (physical or virtual), but it's not possible for VM.
Maybe it's not the perfect match, but here it would help removing spreadsheets completely.

@pycolas commented on GitHub (Dec 6, 2022): I upvote this idea (_possibility to add inventory items to virtual-machines_). I don't see why an inventory item shall be a physical object. I was thinking of using inventory items to list certificates and licences attached to a device (physical or virtual), but it's not possible for VM. Maybe it's not the perfect match, but here it would help removing spreadsheets completely.

adam commented

@jeremystretch commented on GitHub (Jan 24, 2023):

I don't see why an inventory item shall be a physical object.

@pycolas the InventoryItem model was constructed specifically to represent physical resources; hence the presence of e.g. the serial number and manufacturer fields. These wouldn't make sense in the context of a virtual resource, so we'd need to use a separate model, much like we do for interfaces belong to VMs vs. devices.

I'm tagging this as needs milestone with the understanding that it will entail the introduction of a new model suitable for representing virtual items.

@jeremystretch commented on GitHub (Jan 24, 2023): > I don't see why an inventory item shall be a physical object. @pycolas the InventoryItem model was constructed specifically to represent physical resources; hence the presence of e.g. the serial number and manufacturer fields. These wouldn't make sense in the context of a virtual resource, so we'd need to use a separate model, much like we do for interfaces belong to VMs vs. devices. I'm tagging this as `needs milestone` with the understanding that it will entail the introduction of a new model suitable for representing virtual items.

adam commented

@AnythingOverIP commented on GitHub (Mar 7, 2023):

We use Inventory items to track individual Software license keys. Having this for VM would be much appreciated.

@AnythingOverIP commented on GitHub (Mar 7, 2023): We use Inventory items to track individual Software license keys. Having this for VM would be much appreciated.

adam commented

@pdenessen commented on GitHub (May 11, 2023):

Hi, I also go the question to add the used licenses to the system. Inventory items would indeed a nice solutions but it lacks, as already mentioned, the use of the VMs. Hope this feature can be added soon.

@pdenessen commented on GitHub (May 11, 2023): Hi, I also go the question to add the used licenses to the system. Inventory items would indeed a nice solutions but it lacks, as already mentioned, the use of the VMs. Hope this feature can be added soon.

adam commented