Release notes

R4.8 - 25 August 2020

This is a minor release that was focused on adding iSCSI templates support and to improve the admin UI. Here are the highlights:

1. Various bug fixes and stability improvements

   We have added numerous minor bug fixes and stability improvements for CLI and admin UI.

2. iSCSI template support

   The support for iSCSI templates was improved and new oneliner scripts are available to create or update templates. This will improve the time it takes to create new custom templates and to update the existing ones.

3. Improved deployment graph

   The new improved deployment graph loads faster for big deployments and has new parameters that allows to distiguish between tasks executed by the same function.

4. New metadata support

   Servers now support metadata information about location and inventory id.

5. HP Cartrdge improved support

   Supporting HP Cartidges is improved in the backend and in the UI.

6. Support for Debian templates

   Debian templates are supported, we support templates starting with DebianJessie.

7. Check for minimum BMC version

   Checks for minimum BMC versions supported are in effect starting with this release.

R4.6 - 26 October 2020

This is a minor release that was focused on adding new switch drivers and to improve the admin UI. Here are the highlights:

1. Various bug fixes and stability improvements

   We have added numerous minor bug fixes and stability improvements.

2. Independent instances improvements

   The support for independent instance was improved to minimize deploy time and the ability to use a secondary drive was added.

3. Template whitelist support

   We added a whitelist support feature to enable matching templates to server types configuration. This would enable fine control over what template is supported on what server type.

   New templates will be released only for certain types of servers.

4. Homepage updates

   The homepage has been updated to make it easier to spot the infrastructure editor link. It also includes documentation links towards the CLI and the Terraform provider.

R4.5 - 12 August 2020

This is a minor release that was focused on bug fixes and to add basic variable support. Here are the highlights:

1. UI Improvements

   We fixed a range of bugs in the Servers page, Storages page, Storage Templates page, Variables pages, Workflow page and a few more other bugs in the Multi-server enclosures pages.

2. Metalcoud CLI

   We added variables to OS assets and missing shared drive functions. Support for subnets and switches is now possible from the CLI. Also the CLI now has updated yaml format configuration for all commands.

3. Monitoring agent updates

   The new improved monitoring agent will be released, with enhancements for data measurements and SNMP pooling. The new implementation allows better monitoring capabilities and more exact SFLOW measurements.

4. Switch provisioning

   We continued the work on the switch provisioning from the previous release.We improved the switch provisioning layer to always use the caching layer, that would provide improved speed in switch provisioning operations. We also removed reconnects for HP switches which improves deploy time.

5. OS Template API improvement

   The OS template API has now the ability to use variables for templates.

R4.4 - 9 July 2020

This is a minor release that was focused on improving deploy speed and fix bugs. Here are the highlights:

1. Improve deploy speed for Windows

   This new deploy method improves boot times for Windows images and provides the fixes needed to boot the image fast.If the server is already powered up then we also added some time optimisations.

2. DC agent stability fixes and performance optimisations for very high latency networks

   We have introduced performance optimisations in very high latency environments and in environments that have 1000+ VLANs. The system is able to perform well under these special conditions and agents are able to fully manage this kind of environments. We also fixed some stability issues for DC agents triggered by the high latency environments.

3. Workflow UI improvements and improved usage reports

   We improved the Workflow UI interface with correct sort options, adding a Run now button and by adding confirmations for delete and fixing new stage form. We improved the usage reports with fixes for Windows usage.

4. Monitoring agent improvements

   The monitoring agent has a new time series database implementation that will add the ability to display additional details in the monitoring tab and will improve monitoring in general. The monitoring agent implementation was improved and the agent will be able to also add metadata to data.

5. Subnet pools, storage pools and search API

   We added UI and API fixes to subnet pools and enhanced the storage pools create APIs. We also improved the search API functionality for all search APIs in all forms.

R4.1 - 21 April 2020

This is a minor release that was focused on improving usability. Here are the highlights:

1. New instance array create form

   This new form is not just easier to understand for new users but also supports local install better. Moving forward the templates will be depending on the server type selected meaning some templates, especially Windows templates which are hardware dependent will only be available to some server types and this form supports this approach. This will avoid some corner cases where specific hardware are incompatible with certain templates and the user was allowed to proceed with the deploy.

2. New GPU Instances

   We are introducing new GPU instances: the M.4.16.1G and the M.8.32.1G. These feature a NVidia Tesla T4 16GB GPU. They are currently available only to beta customers but if you are interested get in touch with us. We are also able to source NVIDIA GRIDD Drivers which enable many scenarios such as VDI or power workstation.

3. Boot customization support

   We are now introducing a new mechanism that allows users to automate boot processes which can be used to perform custom OS installs such as perform unattended Gentoo deployment on local drives. This is currently possible only via the CLI. See Creating a local install os template for more details.

4. CLI updated

   The CLI, now at 1.5.5 is now fully features and can perform all actions possible via the UI and more.

5. Windows 2019 template available

   This new Windows template is currently only available for M.8.8, M.8.16, M.8.32 (v1), M.4.16.1G, M.8.32.1G server types and only for diskless setups.

R4.0 - 12 March 2020

This is a major release that was focused on improving reliability. Here are the highlights:

1. Support for local install

   We now have very extensive support for local install. Users are now able to select the “install on local disks” option which has a separate set of templates.

2. Support for pre and post deploy workflows

   Users can now attach Anisble tasks to infrastructures which are executed when the infrastructures are updated (deployed). This allows users to perform tasks such as updating loadbalancing configurations upon instance array expand, or install pre-requisite software on nodes when the nodes are deployed.

3. Many bug fixes and improvements

   This release was focused on improving reliability and ease of use and many bugs specially around networking provisioning has been addressed.