Skip to content

LaunchIT

LaunchIT is an application that allows LC users to provision LC cloud resources for themselves automatically. The application -- LaunchIT -- can be accessed in the CZ, RZ and SCF (iSRD). To reach LaunchIT visit

After signing into LaunchIT with your LC username and appropriate pin+token, you can view available resources in the Catalog and your already-provisioned resources via your Dashboard.

After creating these resources, you will have access the metadata of the resources you've created from LaunchIT, such as authentication credentials for databases you may have created. This metadata is available by going to your Dashboard -> your project -> your resource. For example, your project might be called cz-<username> and your resource might be a mongoDB instance.

For more info on LaunchIT, please see this announcement.

LaunchIT Features

Creating a PDS Instance

LaunchIT allows users to create a new PDS instance from several curated options. These options currently include MariaDB, MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, RabbitMQ, and Redis. A Fireworks + MongoDB option is coming soon. To use this feature, go to the catalog page to select which option you would like to launch. Additionally, you can also launch a new instance using the dropdown from a workspace page.

Viewing PDS Instance Configuration

LaunchIT allows users to view and copy the connection configuration for a PDS instance. Individual fields are displayed directly on the instance dashboard. Additionally, there are some buttons representing pre-formatted configuration files just below that main table of values. Clicking on one of those buttons will display a text box containing that configuration file for users to copy. All instances offer the configuration format of JSON or YAML as a quick means of copying over all the contents. Some instance types, like MariaDB offer additional configuration like a ".my.cnf" type of configuration. These instance type specific configuration files often contain specific configuration for PDS and the LC environment. If there is a specific configuration format you would like to see on LaunchIT or if you have recommendations on elements to add to existing configuration formats, feel free reach out via email at lit-help@llnl.gov.

Deleting a PDS Instance

LaunchIT allows users to delete previously created PDS instances. To use this feature, go to the instance-specific page and select the "delete" button at the bottom of the page. This will delete all data stored by the instance and cannot be undone.

PDS Instance Password Reset

LaunchIT allows users to reset or change the password for their PDS instances. This is useful in cases that a password is accidentally exposed, for example uploading a configuration file to gitlab. It is also a security best practice to periodically update these passwords. To use this feature, select the "password reset" button near the bottom of an instance dashboard.

Creating a New Workspace

LaunchIT allows users to create additional workspaces. These workspaces can be used for collaboration by adding users and adjusting permissions on these workspaces. Users can create a maximum of 10 workspaces but there is no limit on how many workspaces a user can be added to. To use this feature, select the "create a new workspace" button at the top of the workspaces dashboard.

Deleting a Workspace

LaunchIT allows users to delete a previously existing workspace. There must not be any instances in the workspace to use this feature, so users must first delete all instances in a workspace prior to using this feature. To use this feature, select the "delete workspace" button at the bottom of the specific workspace dashboard.

User Workspace Permissions

LaunchIT allows users to add and remove permissions for other users for workspaces. This feature allows collaboration and group access to workspaces and instances. There are three permissions levels that can be granted, "View", "Edit", and "Admin".

  • View: The view permission allows a user to see the workspaces and view any instances within the workspace. A user with view access can see the status of the instance and any non-secret connection details like the hostname. A user with view permissions cannot see secret connection details like passwords or access the workspaces permissions. Users with view permissions also cannot create nor delete instances.

  • Edit: The edit permission gives all of the same access as the view permission. In addition, users with the edit permission will also be able to create and delete instances as well as view secrets. Users with edit permission will not be able to access the workspace permissions.

  • Admin: The admin permission gives all of the same access as the edit permission. In addition, users with the admin permission will be able to access the workspace permissions to add and remove other users to the group workspace.

To access the workspace permissions, select the icon in the permissions column of the workspace you want to edit permissions for. Additionally, you can select the the "permissions" button at the top of a specific workspace dashboard. Note that other users cannot be added to a personal workspace.

Exceptions

So far, LaunchIT allows users to request persistent data services such as database and message broker services. If you would like to request object storage, please send the LC Hotline an updated version of the "Object storage request template" below.

Object storage request template:

I require object storage for my use of <AiiDA>, a <workflow tool>, in support of my work in <WCI>. My programmatic supervisor is <Joe Smith - smith0>. Could you please set me up on these PDS?

Zone: <CZ>     
LC Username: <janeh>
Estimate of data scale: <Tens of GB>

Thank you!
<Jane>