Create NginxPlus LB Server with DNS

This workflow enables you to create an HTTP or TCP load balancing server in an existing or new source configuration and automatically register a corresponding DNS record in Infoblox.

  • User Privileges: Ensure that the NGINX device user account configured in AppViewX has superuser (root) privileges to allow full access to the NGINX file system and configuration paths.
  • DNS Integration: Ensure that the DNS provider (Infoblox) and target DNS devices are added and configured in the AppViewX Device Inventory.

To run this workflow:

  1. Go to Menu > ADC > AUTOMATION > Workflow Catalog > View/Run.
  2. Click the Nginx Plus category on the View/Run Workflows page.
  3. On the pop-up window, hover over the Create NginxPlus LB Server with DNS workflow.
    The Run and Schedule buttons are displayed.
  4. Click Run.
    The Request > Create NginxPlus LB Server with DNS :: FormBuilder page is displayed.
  5. Enter or select the required field information in the Device and Load balancing type section.
    Table 1. Device and Load balancing type Section – Field and Description
    Field Description
    *Data Center Displays the list of datacenters of the devices created in the Device Inventory. Select the datacenter of a device from the drop-down list for which this request is to be created. For devices added without a datacenter in the Device Inventory, select None.
    *Device Name Displays the list of devices associated with the selected datacenter. If the datacenter is selected as None, devices created without datacenter details are listed. Select the desired device from the drop-down list.
    *Source Config Option Select this option to choose an existing configuration or create a new source configuration (Existing or New).
    *Nginx Source Path Enter the absolute path of the existing NGINX source configuration file on the server.
    *Load Balancing Type Select the load balancing type:
    • HTTP – (Selecting HTTP enables the DNS record creation capability for the virtual server.)
    • TCP – (DNS record creation is not supported for TCP load balancing.)
    *Load Balancing Method Select a load balancing method from the drop-down list (for example, Round Robin, Least Connections, IP Hash).
    Server Name Enter the server name. This field is applicable when Load Balancing Type is selected as HTTP.
  6. Enter or select the field information in the LB server and UpStream section.
    Table 2. LB Server and UpStream Section – Field and Description
    Field Description
    *LB server Port Enter the port number of the Load Balancing (LB) server.
    *Upstream Server Enter the upstream server pool name.
    Health Check Select a health check option:
    • Active (default)
    • Passive
    *Upstream Server IP and Port Enter the upstream server IP address and port number. The format must be <IP Address>:<port no.>.
    *Weight Enter the weight of the upstream server in numerals.
    *Server Status Select a server status from the drop-down list
    Server Type Select a server type from the drop-down list:
    • Normal (default)
    • Backup
    Fail Timeout Enter the timeout value in seconds.
    Max Fail Enter the maximum number of allowed failed communication attempts.
    Slow Start Enter the slow start value in seconds.
    Upstream Server Grid Click the Add button to add the configured server and upstream details to the Upstream Server Grid.
  7. Enter or select the field information in the DNS section.
    Note: The DNS section is available only when Load Balancing Type is set to HTTP and a virtual server is associated (or Do you want to create a record is enabled). If load balancing type is set to TCP or no virtual server is configured, DNS record creation is disabled.
    Table 3. DNS Section – Field and Description
    Field Description
    *Vendor Select the DNS vendor from the drop-down list (for example, Infoblox or BlueCat). Note: Currently, Infoblox is supported for automated record creation.
    *DNS Device Select the target DNS device configured in Device Inventory.
    *Network View Select the network view associated with the selected DNS device.
    *DNS View Select the DNS view from the drop-down list.
    *Authoritative Zone Select the authoritative zone where the DNS record should be created. Note: The DNS record name is automatically constructed using the format <Server Name>.<Authoritative Zone> (for example, proxyserver1.net) and is mapped to the load balancer server IP address.
  8. Enter or select the field information in the Persistence section.
    Table 4. Persistence Section – Field and Description
    Field Description
    Sticky Cookie Persistence Disabled by default. When enabled, Sticky cookie persistence helps to reconnect the server with the client to the same resource as previous requests.
  9. Enter or select the field information in the SSL section.
    Table 5. SSL Section – Field and Description
    Field Description
    *Do you want to add SSL Select an option to enable SSL certificates:
    • No (default) – Only the client-side connection has an SSL certificate.
    • Yes – Both client and backend server connections use SSL certificates.
  10. Click the Submit button.
    The Confirmation pop-up opens.
    Note:
    • To save the form as a draft to edit later, click Save Draft, and then click OK in the Confirmation pop-up window. The request is saved under Request > My Request.
    • To cancel the request, click Cancel.
  11. Click OK to submit the form.
    The validation starts automatically and reaches the Diff Checker stage.
  12. Compare the updates and click the Execute button.
    The workflow progresses to the Backup Master Config stage.
  13. Click the Submit button.
    The workflow progresses to the NGINX Config Check stage.
  14. Click the Execute button.
    The workflow progresses to the NGINX Config Check Reload stage.
  15. Click the Execute button.
    The workflow progresses to the Remove Backup of Master Config stage.
  16. Click the Submit button.
    The workflow progresses to the DNS Record Creation stage.
  17. Click the Approve button to execute the DNS record creation in Infoblox.
    The DNS record (<Server Name>.<Zone>) is created and mapped to the load balancer IP address.
  18. The workflow execution is completed.
Note: The stages of the request are displayed on the left side of the screen. To view the details of a specific stage, click the respective stage.