Host templates

This section describes how to use host templates to provision your host.

Host templates overview

Host templates are used for defining provisioning-related details, such as instance types, regions, hardware specifications, and software images. You can use default host templates or create your own templates. Performance Center uses the details of the selected template to provision your host.

All cloud hosts are provisioned from host templates. When you provision a host, Performance Center copies the details of the template into the provisioned host.

By default, Performance Center creates host templates for each Amazon EC2 cloud account. The templates can use predefined Micro Focus images or custom images and the recommended hardware settings (defined by instance type) for the load generator machine. When using the host templates, the administrator can control and manage which machine's specifications are allowed and recommended for use.

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Considerations when creating a host template

When creating host templates, make sure to:

  • Create a template for each host configuration that your testers will need. Testers can only provision cloud hosts from existing templates.

  • Clearly describe the type of host that is provisioned by each template so that testers can provision exactly the hosts they need.

  • Ensure that the number of credits consumed by a host accurately reflects the cost of provisioning that host.

Create a host template

This task describes how to create a host template in Performance Center.

  1. Prerequisites

    • To add a host template to Performance Center, you must have added at least one cloud account. For details, see Cloud accounts.

    • When creating host templates, you need to supply the following:

      Location

      Specifies the cloud region from which the template provisions hosts. The instance types and machine images available for the template depend upon the chosen location.
      Instance Type

      Specifies the hardware configuration of hosts created from the template. Instance types are provided by your cloud provider. Familiarize yourself with each of the instance types available from your cloud provider before you start creating host templates.
      Machine Image

      Specifies the software image to use for hosts created from the template. Machine images are managed on the website of your cloud provider. Make sure to upload all required images to your cloud provider before you start creating host templates. Micro Focus also provides a set of predefined images for you to use.

  2. In Performance Center Administration, select Configuration > Cloud.

  3. Select the Host Templates tab, and then click Add Host Template.

  4. In the New Host Template dialog box, enter a name and description that clearly describe the type of host that is provisioned by the template so that testers can provision exactly the hosts they need.

    Performance Center automatically generates and ID for the host template at the time the template is created.

  5. Enter the following details for the new host template:

    UI Element Description
    Cloud Account The cloud account for which the template provisions a host.
    Host Installation

    The installation type of the host.

    The following types are available:

    Unix Load Generator. Indicates that this Unix host is used as a Load Generator for performance tests.

    Windows Standalone LG. Indicates that this Windows host is used as a standalone Load Generator for performance tests.

    Note:

    • Make sure you select the correct installation type for the image. Incorrect settings will cause the performance tests to run incorrectly.

    • Unified Functional Testing and Windows Host options appear in the Host Installation list but are not available for selection.
    Location The region where the hosts are provisioned.
    Image

    The software image used for cloud hosts provisioned from the template. Machine images are managed on the website of your cloud provider, and are accessed automatically when creating host templates.

    Note: If the image value cannot be displayed, verify that you used the correct cloud account number.
    Credits Per Hour

    Number of credits per hour consumed by each host provisioned from this template.

    Note: Credits used and consumed are not representative of the actual cost to your cloud provider.

    Host Purpose

    The testing tools available on the host. For example: Controller, Load generator, Data processor.

    Note: Performance Center supports only Load Generator.
    Instance Type The hardware specs of cloud hosts provisioned from the template. Instance types can be viewed on the website of your cloud provider, and are accessed automatically when creating host templates.
    Created In Project The project in which the host template was created.
    VPC Subnet Id ID of the virtual private cloud (VPC) subnet.
    Host Attributes

    Allows you to specify the system attributes of the host.

    Example: Host memory: High; Host strength: Medium; Installed components: Citrix Client.

  6. Click OK. The host template is created.

    Your new host template can now be used to provision cloud hosts.

Note:  

  • Host templates added from user projects are private and can be used only by the projects that created them.

  • When creating a host template, you can only select cloud accounts that were added in the same project.

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Modify host template details

To modify details for a host template:

  1. In Performance Center Administration, select Configuration > Cloud.

  2. In the Host Templates tab, double-click a host template that you want to edit. The Host Template page opens.

  3. Make any necessary changes and click OK. For details, see Host Template details.

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See also: