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Lessons Learned from Setting up vRA 8.1: API Endpoints and Variable References

As an Automation Consultant, I recently had the opportunity to set up vRealize Automation (vRA) 8.1 for a client. While going through the Guided Setup, I encountered two issues that I would like to share with the community. These issues may seem minor, but they can cause frustration and delay the setup process. In this blog post, I will discuss the importance of using the correct API endpoint URL and how to reference variables in vRA 8.1.

API Endpoint URL: A Tale of Two URLs

When setting up vRA 8.1, you may encounter a part where the Guided Setup suggests using <https://github.com//> to access your repository. However, this is not the correct URL to use. Instead, you should use <https://api.github.com//> to access your repository. The difference may seem minor, but using the wrong URL can cause errors and delays in the setup process.

To access your repository, you should also create a personal access token instead of using your password for the GitHub API. You can find more information on how to create a personal access token in the vRA 8.1 documentation.

Variable References: A Manual Fix

Another issue I encountered was with variable references. When creating a variable through the Endpoint page, it did not auto-populate the field. To manually reference the variable, you can use the format ${var.} – where is the name of your variable (without the ).

This may seem like a minor issue, but it can cause frustration and delay the setup process. To avoid this issue, make sure to carefully review the Guided Setup Variable creation and referencing documentation.

Conclusion: Simplification and Bundling for Improved Business Value

In conclusion, setting up vRA 8.1 can be a complex process, but by understanding the correct API endpoint URL and how to reference variables, you can avoid common issues and delays. Additionally, Aria Automation provides the capability to deploy on-demand network objects when combined with NSX-T, which can help bring more opportunities to show improved business value.

As an Automation Consultant, I am always interested in exploring new automation/devops related technologies and tools. If you have any questions or would like to discuss more about vRA 8.1 or Aria Automation, please feel free to reach out to me.