The VMware vCloud Director® Object Storage Extension™ (OSE) plug-in enables seamless access to Cloud4U’s S3 object storage directly from your VMware vCloud Director control panel.
This extension bridges vCloud Director and S3 using the S3 API, allowing users to:
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Create and delete S3 buckets
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Generate S3 connection credentials
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Export vApps from VMware vCloud Director to S3 and import them back
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Create and publish content catalogs
Access Requirement: Users must request activation from their administrator. Once enabled, the Object Storage functionality will appear in the control panel.
Managing Buckets
Navigate to Bucket in the vCloud Director panel to create and manage S3 buckets.
Create a Bucket:
Select Create, enter a unique bucket name, and confirm.
View Buckets:
All available buckets are displayed in the list view.
Upload Files:
Within any bucket, you can upload files directly via the UPLOAD button and browse stored content.
Connection Credentials
To connect external clients (like S3 Browser) to your buckets, you need access credentials.
Create Credentials:
Go to the credentials menu and select CREATE to generate a new Access Key ID and Secret Access Key.
Download and Configure S3 Browser:
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Install S3 Browser
2. Add a new account with the following settings:
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Endpoint:
s3-k41.objstor.cloud4u.com:443 -
Access Key ID: (from your credentials)
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Secret Access Key: (from your credentials)
3. Under Advanced Settings, enable Path Style mode.
Once configured, you can browse buckets and files directly from S3 Browser.
Application Credentials:
Similarly, you can create dedicated credentials for applications that require S3 API access.
vApp Export and Import
You can store vApp templates in S3 for backup, archiving, or migration.
Export vApp to S3:
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Ensure the vApp is powered off.
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Select the vApp, then choose Export to Object Storage.
3. Follow the wizard to specify destination bucket and settings.
4. Up to 10 vApps can be exported simultaneously.
Import vApp from S3:
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In the Object Storage section, locate the exported vApp file.
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Select Restore to vCloud Director and follow the wizard.
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The vApp will be restored in OVF format and available in your inventory.
Catalogs
You can also create and manage content catalogs in S3.
Create a Catalog:
Navigate to Catalogs, select Create, and define the catalog name and settings.
Publish a Catalog:
Once created, catalogs can be published to make them available to other users.
Set Access Permissions:
Define visibility and access levels, making catalogs available to specific users, groups, or publicly as needed.
