Apps

Apps in Loft are a way for admins to package applications and scripts in consumable packages. These Apps can then be deployed into clusters, spaces, or virtual clusters. This section is about using Apps in conjunction with virtual clusters, to read more about Apps in general, please see the full Apps section.

Virtual clusters combined with Apps are a great way to create repeatable, pre-packaged development, testing, or even production environments. Once an App has been created in the Loft instance, it can be installed into any virtual cluster -- either at time of creation, or into existing virtual clusters. This gives administrators the capability to create fully populated development, test, or even production, environments in a single easy to manage package!

Virtual Cluster Templates

Virtual cluster templates can take this combination of virtual clusters and apps to the next level, by creating simple, reusable, version-able templates that define a reproducible environment!

During Virtual Cluster Creation

1. Select the Projects field on the left menu bar.
2. From the project drop-down menu, select the project you'd like to create the virtual cluster in.
3. Click the Virtual Clusters option on the project pane.
4. Click the button on the right side of the page.
5. [Optional] select the cluster in which to create the virtual cluster.
6. Click the to continue.
7. Click the Apps configuration tab.
   
   Note:the apps defined in this section of the template configuration are apps to be deployed *in* the virtual cluster!
8. From the drop down menu Please select an App... select an App that you would like to be included as part of the template. You can select as many Apps as you would like here by simply selecting another App from the drop down menu. If you accidentally add one, or add one you do not want, click the trash icon next to the Apps name to remove it from the template.
9. For each App you added to the template, you can configure the default namespace, and any App parameters supplied by the App. For helm Apps you can also configure the helm release-name.
10. Finish configuring anything else you'd like on your virtual cluster, then click the button.

On Existing Virtual Cluster

1. Select the Projects field on the left menu bar.
2. Select the project containing the virtual cluster that you'd like to install the App in from the Project drop down menu.
3. From the Projects sub-menu, select the Virtual Clusters option.
4. Find the virtual cluster you would like to deploy an App to in the list of virtual clusters and click on that virtual cluster cluster.
5. In the Virtual Cluster Management view, click the button.
6. Select the App you would like to install from the App thumbnails, or, if there are no recommend Apps, click the and find the desired App in the Select an App drop down menu.
7. Enter any other required parameters for your App -- this may vary depending on the type of App and whether or not the App creator has specified parameters.
8. Click the button.

Virtual Cluster Templates

If you are creating a virtual cluster from a template, you will need to configure the App in the virtual cluster template itself!