Add a MultiCloud Image to a ServerTemplate
Objective
To add a new MultiCloud Image to a HEAD ServerTemplate.
Table of Contents
Prerequisites
- 'designer' user role privileges
Overview
A ServerTemplate is cloud-agnostic. However, the reason why a ServerTemplate can be used to create and launch servers across multiple clouds is because of its list of MultiCloud Images (MCIs). You can only create a server for a cloud if one of the ServerTemplate's MCIs has a valid reference to an actual image that's available in that cloud.
If you are using ServerTemplates published by RightScale, you'll notice that they are often published with multiple MCIs. However, you may need to add new MCIs or update existing ones if new revisions are available. This document explains how to add a new MCI to a ServerTemplate. If you want to update the revision of an MCI, see Update the revision of a MultiCloud Image in a ServerTemplate.
Why should I add a new MultiCloud Image to a ServerTemplate?
There are several reasons why you may want to add a new MCI.
- Add cloud support. If you want to use the ServerTemplate in a cloud that it currently does not support, you can add a new MCI that supports that particular cloud. For example, RightScale could announce support for a new cloud infrastructure and release a set of new MCIs that support that cloud. In such cases, you could simply add those new MCIs to your ServerTemplate. Of course, you will need to test your ServerTemplate in those clouds to make sure that it's compatible.
- RightScale or another publisher releases newer versions of MCIs that you would like a ServerTemplate to use. If the MCIs are of a different lineage, you will need to manually add them. However, if they are simply newer revisions of existing MCIs, you can follow the Update the revision of a MultiCloud Image in a ServerTemplate tutorial.
What are the ramifications of adding a new MultiCloud to a ServerTemplate?
If you add a new MultiCloud Image, you are introducing new functionality that may or may not be supported. Be sure to test each iteration of an MCI to ensure that the ServerTemplate can successfully be used with any of the new MCIs. As long as the scripts and inputs of the ServerTemplate are not cloud-specific, you may be able to add cloud support to a ServerTemplate by simply adding new MCIs.
It's important to remember that a ServerTemplate imported from the MultiCloud Marketplace was originally published with a set of MultiCloud Images. The publisher of the ServerTemplate is responsible for supporting their asset as long as it has not been modified. However, if you decide to modify the ServerTemplate and introduce new functionality such as adding a new MultiCloud Image, you accept full responsibility for those changes. Any compatibility issues and bugs that are caused by any of your changes to the ServerTemplate are your responsibility.
Steps
- Navigate to an editable HEAD version of a ServerTemplate. You can only add a new MCI to a previously committed ServerTemplate because it's static.
- Click on the Images tab to see the list of MultiCloud Images that the ServerTemplate is currently using.
- To add a new MCI, click the Add MultiCloud Image button. You will see a responsibility disclaimer about adding a new MCI to a ServerTemplate.
- Use the "MultiCloud Image Selector" to find the MCI that you want to add to the ServerTemplate. You can only add one MCI at a time.
Note: If an MCI has a committed revision, the most recent revision will be displayed. If no revision exists, the HEAD version will be displayed. - Select an MCI and click Select.
- The new MCI will now be listed under the Images tab. To use a different revision of the selected MCI (if available), click the Edit icon next to the MCI to change its revision.
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