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Infrastructure as Code: Automating Nutanix and Dell PowerFlex with Ansible and Terraform

Paul Bryant

Introduction

The modern data center is in a constant state of flux. Business agility, cloud-like automation, and reliable operations are now mandatory, not optional. As organizations scale and diversify, manual provisioning and configuration become bottlenecks. This is where Infrastructure as Code (IaC) takes center stage, delivering automation, repeatability, and consistency across hybrid environments.

In this article, we dive deep into how IT architects and admins can automate Nutanix and Dell PowerFlex deployments using Ansible and Terraform. We will cover real-world scenarios, show you exactly how to build your first playbooks and templates, and explain how governance and security are handled in an automated world.

The Rise of Infrastructure as Code (IaC)

IaC represents a fundamental shift in how infrastructure is managed. Instead of manually clicking through GUIs or entering shell commands, you now declare your desired state in code. Tools like Ansible and Terraform interpret these declarations and automate the provisioning, scaling, and lifecycle management of your systems.

Benefits include:

Both Nutanix and Dell PowerFlex have embraced IaC. Nutanix offers robust APIs and official Ansible and Terraform integrations, while PowerFlex provides REST APIs, a strong Ansible collection, and community Terraform providers.

Platform Automation Support

Nutanix

Dell PowerFlex

Key Takeaway: You can automate almost everything in both platforms, whether you prefer a declarative (Terraform) or procedural (Ansible) style.

Building Your First Playbook/Template

Let’s walk through a simple end-to-end automation: provisioning a new VM with attached storage on Nutanix, then automating PowerFlex storage with Ansible and Terraform.

1. Terraform Example: Deploy a Nutanix VM

Provider Configuration

provider "nutanix" {
  username = var.nutanix_username
  password = var.nutanix_password
  endpoint = var.nutanix_endpoint
  insecure = true
}

Create a VM Template

resource "nutanix_virtual_machine" "web_server" {
  name       = "web-server-01"
  memory_mb  = 4096
  num_vcpus_per_socket = 2
  num_sockets          = 1

  disk_list {
    data_source_reference {
      kind = "image"
      uuid = var.vm_image_uuid
    }
    disk_size_mib = 32768
  }

  nic_list {
    subnet_uuid = var.subnet_uuid
  }
}

How to Use:

2. Ansible Example: PowerFlex Storage Automation

Install the PowerFlex Collection

ansible-galaxy collection install dell.dellemc_powerflex

Playbook: Provision a Storage Volume

- name: Create PowerFlex Volume
  hosts: localhost
  collections:
    - dell.dellemc_powerflex
  tasks:
    - name: Create a volume
      powerflex_volume:
        gateway_host: "{{ powerflex_host }}"
        gateway_user: "{{ powerflex_user }}"
        gateway_password: "{{ powerflex_pass }}"
        name: "prod-db-volume"
        size: 100 # GB
        storage_pool: "pool1"
        state: present

How to Use:

3. Combined Lifecycle Management

Both tools support scaling, updating, and destroying resources by simply updating your code and re-running your automation. You can use variables, modules, and templates for greater flexibility.

Reusable Code Patterns

Modular Templates

Example Terraform Module Structure:

modules/
  nutanix_vm/
    main.tf
    variables.tf
    outputs.tf

Call modules in your root config:

module "db_vm" {
  source     = "./modules/nutanix_vm"
  vm_name    = "db01"
  memory_mb  = 8192
  ...
}

Example Ansible Role Structure:

roles/
  powerflex_provision/
    tasks/
      main.yml
    defaults/
      main.yml

Call roles in your playbook:

- hosts: localhost
  roles:
    - powerflex_provision

Parameterization

Real-World Use Case: Automated New Site Deployment

Suppose your organization is launching a new branch office. Instead of days of manual setup, you trigger a CI/CD pipeline. Your IaC code:

  1. Provisions Nutanix clusters, storage, and VMs using Terraform modules
  2. Deploys PowerFlex storage pools, volumes, and protection policies via Ansible playbooks
  3. Configures networking, security rules, and monitoring integrations

With everything versioned, repeatable, and audited, you minimize errors and speed up delivery. If a rollback is needed, code and automation make it simple.

Governance and Security

Policy-as-Code

Compliance Checks

Example: Terraform Sentinel Policy Snippet

import "tfplan/v2" as tfplan

main = rule {
  all tfplan.resource_changes as _, rc {
    rc.type is "nutanix_virtual_machine" and
    rc.change.after.memory_mb >= 2048
  }
}

This policy blocks any VM creation with less than 2GB RAM, ensuring compliance.

Conclusion

By adopting Infrastructure as Code with Ansible and Terraform, Nutanix and PowerFlex environments become faster to deploy, easier to govern, and more reliable. Architects and admins can now deliver infrastructure that is consistent, auditable, and secure—whether on-premises or across hybrid clouds. Manual effort drops. Repeatability, compliance, and operational excellence soar.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the opinions of Dell, Nutanix, or any affiliated organization. Always refer to the official Dell and Nutanix documentation before production deployment.

 

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