How to install Flexiant Cloud Orchestrator

Before you start, please check you have done the following:

• Ensured that your install hardware conforms to the requirements for a Hyper-V cluster (VLAN), and is ready for install, with the eth0 (primary network) device connected to your internet facing network.
• Downloaded the ISO and written it onto a DVD or USB device using appropriate software.
• Set the server to boot from DVD or USB as appropriate.
• Registered on our web site (www.flexiant.com) and kept a copy of your username and password to hand.

1. Boot the server and choose your install type

Boot the server you will be using for the install from the DVD or USB memory stick.

This will automatically start a pre-configured Ubuntu Installation, including our software. You should reach a menu like this:

The menu will give you a choice of:

• A standard install of Flexiant Cloud Orchestrator
• An 'expert mode' installation.

2. Choose your language

After selecting standard install, a screen like this will appear

Choose your preferred language. Now you will see a screen like this:

Select the location you are situated in.

3. Choosing your keyboard layout

Now a screen like this will appear: 

If you are using a standard keyboard, select “No” and proceed to the next screen.

Select the Origin of the keyboard.  Once selected you should see a screen similar to this:

Now select the keyboard layout which matches your keyboard.

4. Ensure networking is properly configured

DHCP

If this process fails, you will be asked to specify the internet configuration manually.

Static IP

If you will be statically defining the IP then you can cancel the network detection step or wait for the DHCP check to fail. You will then see a box like this:

Enter the IP address you wish to use here and continue to the next screen.

Enter the Netmask for your subnet and continue to the next screen.

Enter the Gateway for your subnet here and then continue to the next screen.

Enter the name server(s) you wish to use for your install. These should be separated by spaces. Continue on to the next screen.

The final page is to enter your domain name.

5. Wait for the software install

During this you will be asked if you want to make any amendments to the configuration of Postfix, the e-mail service that will run on the platform. If you make any amendments, please ensure you configure these correctly as errors may prevent the platform from sending email notifications.

6. Retrieve your software licence

If you have more than one licence for Flexiant Cloud Orchestrator, you will now be prompted to pick which licence you wish to use for this installation. If you attempt to use a license for a version older than the version you are trying to install the following error will appear.

If you have not already signed a licence agreement in respect of the licence that you chose, you will then be asked to agree to the license for Flexiant Cloud Orchestrator for that particular installation.

If your license is not tied to a specific hypervisor then you will be prompted to select which hypervisor to install as. For information about the various hypervisors, see Hypervisor Support.

Select your preferred hypervisor using the arrow keys and press the Enter key.

7. Provide your username and password

You will then be asked for the initial username and password you wish to use to configure the platform. All Flexiant Cloud Orchestrator usernames are in the form of an e-mail address.

The username / password combination you use will work for all of the Flexiant Cloud Orchestrator control panels.

If you need to, you can log into the server at the UNIX login prompt using the username root and the password you specified.

Enter an email address you wish to use for your initial admin account and continue

Enter a throwaway password for your initial admin account. As this is stored in plaintext we do not recommend using your normal password. Now continue.

Confirm the password you entered previously.

Once you have set the username and password, the install will finish and the server will reboot.

8. Start configuring Flexiant Cloud Orchestrator

Once the server has rebooted, it will perform its final configuration and display a banner. This contains the URLs to login to the various interfaces using your web browser. The URLs are similar to this: https://192.200.0.2:1443/.

You should now log in at the console using the password supplied during installation and run an update of the base operating system. To do this, run the following command: 

aptitude update
run-parts -a stop --regex '^(extility|apache)' /etc/init.d
aptitude full-upgrade
shutdown -r now

At this point Flexiant Cloud Orchestrator is up and running. However, you still need to install and configure the components it will need to manage. For the next steps please see the Hyper-V cluster configuration guide.

Flexiant Cloud Orchestrator contains a remote support service that allows (with your permission) Flexiant staff to login to debug any problems or issues you may have with your install. Instructions for this are available on the Remote Support page.