Programmatic Access and Automation

In a Nutshell

Experienced users can create Application Credentials (tokens) to enable CLI or programmatic access. Automation tools like Ansible or Terraform can be used to streamline instance deployment and configuration.

How can I create an application credential?

Create Application Credential

Application credential/ token allow to gain and control access to the Project. Therefore, respective privileges as members of the project are required.

Token create:

1. Dashboard -> Indenty -> Application Credentials
2. Create Application Credentials
3. Fill out the opened form with name, secret and expiration date.
4. Create Application Credentials
5. Download openrc file
6. Save file. E. g. as my_token.sh
7. Save the secret protected.
   

Optional: In my_token.sh replace the line export OS_APPLICATION_CREDENTIAL_SECRET=******************** by

echo "Passphrase: "
read  -sr os_credential_secret_input
export OS_APPLICATION_CREDENTIAL_SECRET="$os_credential_secret_input"

Test Token

Source your credential file my_token.sh

 source my_token.sh 

Run the following command. You should see your credential ID.

curl \

-s \

-H "Content-Type: application/json" \

-d '{ "auth": { "identity": { "methods": ["application_credential"], "application_credential": { "id": "'${OS_APPLICATION_CREDENTIAL_ID}'", "secret": "'${OS_APPLICATION_CREDENTIAL_SECRET}'" }}}}' \

"${OS_AUTH_URL}/auth/tokens" \

| jq .token.application_credential 

If the curl command is not available, install the corresponding package with your package manager.

How can I connect to the bwCloud-OS via CLI/OpenStack client?

The following describes how to connect using the python-openstackclient.

There are two ways to do that:

Via Tokens (recommended)

1. Log in to the dashboard.
2. Create a Token as described here. Save this file on your device (for example as my_creds.sh).
3. Now run the following commands in a terminal:

# source ./my_creds.sh
# openstack server list

Via Login-Password

1. Log in to the dashboard.
2. In the upper right corner, you will find the **OpenStack RC File** option, which provides you with a file containing your bwCloud credentials / access parameters. Save this file on your device (for example as my_creds.sh).
3. Now run the following commands in a terminal:

# source ./my_creds.sh
# openstack server list

You should now see all your servers.

Prepare an Instance via Ansible

To control and customize your default instance, you can use automated methods.

• Create an access token/application credential as defined below.

• Tried and tested methods for automation are listed below. Use the Ansible template specified there. Follow the steps described there.

Method	Usage
Terraform	This tool can be used to create an instance or a defined infrastructure.
Ansible	Create roles or tasks for all customizations that you make in an instance. For an easier start, you can use our template.