Setting OpenStack environment variables

Objective

By setting OpenStack environment variables on your desktop, you can use the OpenStack API to manage your infrastructure.

Requirements

• An OpenStack user account
• OpenStack installed on your system

OVHcloud Control Panel Access

• Direct link: Public Cloud Projects
• Navigation path: Public Cloud > Select your project

Instructions

Step 1: Retrieve the variables

To retrieve your environment variables, you can download the OpenRC file from the OpenStack user account you have created.

In the left-hand menu, click on Users & Roles under Settings. Next, click on the ... to the right of your user, then select Download OpenStack's RC file.

An OpenRC file corresponds to a specific user and zone. You cannot manage multiple zones in the same file.

Step 2: Set the variables

On Linux

• Open a terminal, or connect via the user who will be making the OpenStack API calls.
• Load the file’s contents in the current environment. You will then be prompted to enter the Horizon user password.

admin@remote_host:~$ source openrc.sh
Please enter your OpenStack Password:

As outlined in this guide, the password is only visible once — when it is created.

If you forget your password, you will need to reset it.

If the CLIs are already installed, check if they are working properly:

(env)$ openstack server list
+--------------------------------------+------------+--------+-----------------------------------------------+-----------+--------+
| ID                                   | Name       | Status | Networks                                      | Image     | Flavor |
+--------------------------------------+------------+--------+-----------------------------------------------+-----------+--------+
| 8d7c67c0-38e1-4091-88d5-c14844c1f455 | b2-7-gra11 | ACTIVE | Ext-Net=2001:xxxx:xxx:xxx::xxxx, xx.xxx.xx.xx | Debian 12 | b2-7   |
+--------------------------------------+------------+--------+-----------------------------------------------+-----------+--------+

On Windows

The OpenRC file is not designed to be launched on Windows.

There are two ways of setting environment variables:

• You will need to adapt the file by changing certain commands. The export part can be replaced with set:

set OS_PASSWORD="Your Horizon user password"

• You can set the variables directly via the system settings: Control Panel > System > Advanced System Properties > Environment Variables:

Go further

To learn how to use OpenStack: OpenStack documentation

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