Session Description: When launching a new Instance on Apache CloudStack, users can set a UserData script to be executed by cloud-init during the boot process. The ‘CloudStack Managed UserData’ feature extends this functionality allowing one to automate the installation of packages, update the instance’s OS, and configure applications during instance deployment. Managed UserData enables users to register and manage their own UserData script(s) as a CloudStack resource. It can be associated with a CloudStack Template/ISO, or when a new Instance is being deployed. Speaker Bio: Harikrishna works at ShapeBlue as a software engineer and is also engaged in active development of new features and capabilities for the Apache CloudStack project. He has been working on CloudStack since 2012 and is a committer to the project. --------------------------------------------- On Friday 18th August, the Apache CloudStack India User Group 2023 took place in Bangalore, seeing CloudStack enthusiasts, experts, and industry leaders from across the country, discuss the open-source project. The meetup served as a vibrant platform to delve into the depths of Apache CloudStack, share insights, and forge new connections.

1. CloudStack Managed User Data

2. Introduction
• Harikrishna Patnala from Hyderabad, India
• Software Development Engineer at ShapeBlue
• Committer in Apache CloudStack since 8 years
• Born and brought up in CloudStack
• Previously worked at Accelerite and Citrix

3. Agenda
• Introduction to userdata
• How userdata is provisioned to VM
• Userdata as first class resource in CloudStack
• Override policies of userdata
• Demo
• Q&A

4. User Data
• Any data that can be passed to VM
• Used for cloud-init scripts
• Helps in managing VM

5. User Data in CloudStack
• User Data can be passed while deploying VM
• Stored in Virtual Router
• VM reads User Data from Virtual Router during or after VM boot

6. User Data as first class resource
• User Data can be registered/saved in CloudStack
• Registered User Data can be sent during VM deployment
• Registered User Data can be linked to template/ISO

7. Override policies
• Registered User Data can be linked to template/ISO
• Admin can define policy with which user gets control on the userdata
linked to the template
• Policies are “Allow Override”, “Deny Override”, “Append”

8. DEMO