Build License Tiers

All about the Anka Build Cloud license tiers

Anka License Feature Differences

FeatureDevelopFlowBuildSecure
Run Multiple VMsNoYesYesYes
State Snapshot / Suspend VMNoYesYesYes
USB Device SupportNoYesYesYes
Ability to communicate with Anka Build Cloud (Controller & Registry)NoYesYesYes
Runs on all macOS hardware modelsNo (Macbook and iMac only)No (Macbook and iMac only)YesYes

Anka Build License Tier Datasheet

FeatureBasicEnterpriseEnterprise Plus
Core based licensingYesYesYes
Cloud Controller with REST APIsYes(Single instance of Anka controller included)Yes(Single instance of Anka controller included)Yes
Central RegistryYes(Single instance Anka Registry included)YesYes
GitHub ActionYesYesYes
Jenkins PluginYesYesYes
TeamCity PluginYesYesYes
GitLab Runner with custom executorYesYesYes
BuildKite PluginYesYesYes
HA for Controller configuration setupYes (Additional controller/registry instances needed)YesYes
USB Device control through the CLIYesYesYes
USB Device control through Controller APIYesYes
Priority scheduling of VMs through controllerYesYes
Clustering (Grouping) of NodesYesYes
Basic controller authentication (Certificate & Root Superuser Token)YesYes
Multi-user & group authorization with admin panel + OpenID/SSO supportYes
Controller API activity loggingYes
VM full disk encryption for Build VMsYes
Control VM runtime (Networking, Access to host) and functional properties with policiesYes

Enterprise License Features

Node Groups

node groups

This feature allows users to add Anka Virtualization Nodes to groups which can then be used to limit or isolate CI/CD tasks. You can even create fallback groups should the primary group you assign to a Node reach capacity. This is useful when you have multiple projects in your organization and wish to prevent certain projects from using all available VM slots.

Both the Controller UI and API allow creation and control of groups

You can assign a Node to a group in the Controller Nodes UI, API, or even when joining with ankacluster join --groups

Priority Scheduling

When requesting multiple VMs through the API, a priority can be assigned. The lower the priority integer, the higher the urgency:

# Request a VM with the highest priority (default priority is 1000)
curl -X POST "http://anka.controller/api/v1/vm" -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"vmid": "6b135004-0c89-43bb-b892-74796b8d266c", "count": 2, "priority": 1}'

{
  "status": "OK",
  "message": "",
  "body": [
    "c983c3bf-a0c0-43dc-54dc-2fd9f7d62fce",
    "e74dfc0e-dc94-4ca2-575e-3219ac08ffa2"
  ]
}

USB Device Control (Controller API)

USB device control is possible using the Anka Virtualization CLI with a non-Enterprise license. However, this doesn't allow you to control devices using the Controller API. With an Enterprise or higher license, you can attach one or more devices to your Anka VMs by making an API call:

# Claim a device using the location ID
curl -X POST "http://anka.controller/api/v1/vm" -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"vmid": "6b135004-0c89-43bb-b892-74796b8d266c", "count": 2, "usb_device": "336675856"}'

{
  "status": "OK",
  "message": "",
  "body": [
    "c983c3bf-a0c0-43dc-54dc-2fd9f7d62fce",
    "e74dfc0e-dc94-4ca2-575e-3219ac08ffa2"
  ]
}

Event logging and automated pushing

You can enable Event Logging to create a log of actions performed in the controller. The logs are saved under:

  • Mac: /Library/Application\ Support/Veertu/Anka/registry/files/central-logs/
  • Docker (registry container): /mnt/vol/files/central-logs

event logging

Logged EventsType
StartVMapiAction
VMStartedsystemAction
VMFailedToStartsystemAction
TerminateVMapiAction
VMTerminatedsystemAction
DistributeTemplateToNodesapiAction
TemplatePulledsystemAction
DeleteRegistryVmapiAction
ConfigNodeapiAction
DeleteNodeapiAction
NodeUnregisteredsystemAction

You can also specify an endpoint that consumes JSON and the controller will push the events.

Basic controller authentication (Certificate & Root Superuser Token)

Authentication support includes Root token authentication access to the Controller Dashboard and certificate authentication for the following clients: Build nodes, plugins, API access, anka command line access to the registry.

Enterprise Plus License Features

Multi-user & group authorization with admin panel + OpenID/SSO support

Multi-user access authentication and authorization based access to Controller portal dashboard and REST API operations is provided through OpenID/SSO based integration.

VM encryption of Build VMs at REST

Encrypt the build VM template at the time of VM creation and store it in the Anka Registry in an encrypted state. When this VM is used to build on the Anka Build nodes, it will be decrypted.

VM Control through Policy

Manage the Build VMs access to local and remote resources through policies. This includes the ability to control VM access to host shared folders, USB, disk access, networking, and external networking.


Last modified November 10, 2020 : quick fix (ca59a4a) by Nathan Pierce