VMware/PowerCLI

PowerCLI

VMware PowerCLI - http://www.vmware.com/go/powercli

"VMware vSphere PowerCLI is a powerful command line tool that lets you automate all aspects of vSphere management, including network, storage, VM, guest OS and more. PowerCLI is distributed as a Windows PowerShell snapin, and includes more than 250 PowerShell cmdlets, along with documentation and samples." [1]

          Welcome to the VMware vSphere PowerCLI!

Log in to a vCenter Server or ESX host:              Connect-VIServer
To find out what commands are available, type:       Get-VICommand
To show searchable help for all PowerCLI commands:   Get-PowerCLIHelp
Once you've connected, display all virtual machines: Get-VM
If you need more help, visit the PowerCLI community: Get-PowerCLICommunity

NOTE: VMware PowerCLI requires Windows PowerShell 2.0.

Documentation

VMware APIs and SDKs Documentation - http://www.vmware.com/support/pubs/sdk_pubs.html

VMware vSphere PowerCLI - http://www.vmware.com/support/developer/PowerCLI/index.html

• Release Notes
• Installation Guide
• Administration Guide(Updated 1/13/2011)
• Developer's Guide
• Online Cmdlet Reference

Online Cmdlet Reference - http://www.vmware.com/support/developer/PowerCLI/PowerCLI41U1/html/index.html

Quick Reference Poster

Quick Reference Poster [2]

• http://blogs.vmware.com/vipowershell/files/2012/09/PowerCLI_5_1_Poster.pdf

Help

To show searchable help for all PowerCLI commands:

Get-PowerCLIHelp

To find out what commands are available, type:

Get-VICommand

Help on command:

get-help [command]

Connect

Log in to a vCenter Server or ESX host:              Connect-VIServer

SYNTAX

   Connect-VIServer [[-Server] <String[]>] [-Port <Int32>] [-Protocol <String>
   ] [-Credential <PSCredential>] [-User <String>] [-Password <String>] [-Sess
   ion <String>] [-NotDefault] [-SaveCredentials] [<CommonParameters>]

   Connect-VIServer -Menu [<CommonParameters>]

Connect:

C:\PS> Connect-VIServer -Server 10.23.112.235 -Protocol https -User admin -Password pass
C:\> Connect-VIServer -Server vc
C:\> Connect-VIServer -Server vc -User root -Password Password1

Help:

get-help connect-viserver

Examples:

get-help connect-viserver -examples

VM Management

List VMs

Get-VM: http://www.vmware.com/support/developer/PowerCLI/PowerCLI41U1/html/Get-VM.html

[vSphere PowerCLI] C:\> Get-VM

Name                 PowerState Num CPUs Memory (MB)
----                 ---------- -------- -----------
win245               PoweredOn  1        1024
TESTr2               PoweredOn  1        4096

List all available columns:

get-vm | select *

Select specific columns:

get-vm | select Name,VMHost

Filter by name:

get-vm -name test111
get-vm | select Name | Where-Object {$_.Name -like "*test*"}

List VMDKs associated with VM:

get-vm | where-object {$_.name -like "*test*"} | get-harddisk

Get VMX Path: [3] [4]

get-vm -name test333 | Add-Member -MemberType ScriptProperty -Name 'VMXPath' -Value {$this.extensiondata.config.files.vmpathname} -Passthru -Force | select name,vmxpath
Get-VM -name test333 | Select Name, @{N="VMX";E={$_.Extensiondata.Summary.Config.VmPathName}}

Export VM info to Excel

Get-VM | Select-Object Name,NumCPU,MemoryMB,PowerState,VMHost | Export-CSV VMs.csv -NoTypeInformation

Source: 10 Steps to Kick-Start Your VMware Automation with PowerCLI

List Powered On VMs

Get-VM | Where-Object { $_.PowerState -eq "PoweredOn"  } | Select-Object Name

Source: 10 Steps to Kick-Start Your VMware Automation with PowerCLI

List VMs with Connected CD Drives

Get-VM | Where-Object {$_ | Get-CDDrive |
   Where-Object { $_.ConnectionState.Connected -eq "true"  } } |
   Select-Object Name

Source: 10 Steps to Kick-Start Your VMware Automation with PowerCLI

Remove VM

Remove-VM [-DeletePermanently] -Confirm:$false "[VMNAME]"

Scripting

Comments

# this is a comment

Variables

$var = 1
$var = "test"
echo $var

Write Message

write-host "message"

All Commands

Name
----
Add-PassthroughDevice
Add-VMHost
Add-VmHostNtpServer
Apply-DrsRecommendation
Apply-VMHostProfile
Connect-VIServer
Copy-DatastoreItem
Copy-HardDisk
Copy-VMGuestFile
Disconnect-VIServer
Dismount-Tools
Export-VApp
Export-VMHostProfile
Format-VMHostDiskPartition
Get-AdvancedSetting
Get-AlarmAction
Get-AlarmActionTrigger
Get-AlarmDefinition
Get-Annotation
Get-CDDrive
Get-Cluster
Get-CustomAttribute
Get-Datacenter
Get-Datastore
Get-DrsRecommendation
Get-DrsRule
Get-ErrorReport
Get-EsxCli
Get-EsxTop
Get-FloppyDrive
Get-Folder
Get-HAPrimaryVMHost
Get-HardDisk
Get-Inventory
Get-IScsiHbaTarget
Get-Log
Get-LogType
Get-NetworkAdapter
Get-NicTeamingPolicy
Get-OSCustomizationNicMapping
Get-OSCustomizationSpec
Get-PassthroughDevice
Get-PowerCLIConfiguration
Get-PowerCLIVersion
Get-ResourcePool
Get-ScsiController
Get-ScsiLun
Get-ScsiLunPath
Get-Snapshot
Get-Stat
Get-StatInterval
Get-StatType
Get-Task
Get-Template
Get-UsbDevice
Get-VApp
Get-VICredentialStoreItem
Get-VIEvent
Get-View
Get-VIObjectByVIView
Get-VIPermission
Get-VIPrivilege
Get-VIRole
Get-VirtualPortGroup
Get-VirtualSwitch
Get-VM
Get-VMGuest
Get-VMGuestNetworkInterface
Get-VMGuestRoute
Get-VMHost
Get-VMHostAccount
Get-VMHostAdvancedConfiguration
Get-VMHostAvailableTimeZone
Get-VMHostDiagnosticPartition
Get-VMHostDisk
Get-VMHostDiskPartition
Get-VMHostFirewallDefaultPolicy
Get-VMHostFirewallException
Get-VMHostFirmware
Get-VMHostHba
Get-VMHostModule
Get-VMHostNetwork
Get-VMHostNetworkAdapter
Get-VMHostNtpServer
Get-VMHostPatch
Get-VMHostProfile
Get-VMHostRoute
Get-VMHostService
Get-VMHostSnmp
Get-VMHostStartPolicy
Get-VMHostStorage
Get-VMHostSysLogServer
Get-VMQuestion
Get-VMResourceConfiguration
Get-VMStartPolicy
Import-VApp
Import-VMHostProfile
Install-VMHostPatch
Invoke-VMScript
Mount-Tools
Move-Cluster
Move-Datacenter
Move-Folder
Move-Inventory
Move-ResourcePool
Move-Template
Move-VM
Move-VMHost
New-AdvancedSetting
New-AlarmAction
New-AlarmActionTrigger
New-CDDrive
New-Cluster
New-CustomAttribute
New-CustomField
New-Datacenter
New-Datastore
New-DrsRule
New-FloppyDrive
New-Folder
New-HardDisk
New-IScsiHbaTarget
New-NetworkAdapter
New-OSCustomizationNicMapping
New-OSCustomizationSpec
New-ResourcePool
New-ScsiController
New-Snapshot
New-StatInterval
New-Template
New-VApp
New-VICredentialStoreItem
New-VIPermission
New-VIProperty
New-VIRole
New-VirtualPortGroup
New-VirtualSwitch
New-VM
New-VMGuestRoute
New-VMHostAccount
New-VMHostNetworkAdapter
New-VMHostProfile
New-VMHostRoute
Remove-AdvancedSetting
Remove-AlarmAction
Remove-AlarmActionTrigger
Remove-CDDrive
Remove-Cluster
Remove-CustomAttribute
Remove-CustomField
Remove-Datacenter
Remove-Datastore
Remove-DrsRule
Remove-FloppyDrive
Remove-Folder
Remove-HardDisk
Remove-Inventory
Remove-IScsiHbaTarget
Remove-NetworkAdapter
Remove-OSCustomizationNicMapping
Remove-OSCustomizationSpec
Remove-PassthroughDevice
Remove-ResourcePool
Remove-Snapshot
Remove-StatInterval
Remove-Template
Remove-UsbDevice
Remove-VApp
Remove-VICredentialStoreItem
Remove-VIPermission
Remove-VIProperty
Remove-VIRole
Remove-VirtualPortGroup
Remove-VirtualSwitch
Remove-VM
Remove-VMGuestRoute
Remove-VMHost
Remove-VMHostAccount
Remove-VMHostNetworkAdapter
Remove-VMHostNtpServer
Remove-VMHostProfile
Remove-VMHostRoute
Restart-VM
Restart-VMGuest
Restart-VMHost
Restart-VMHostService
Set-AdvancedSetting
Set-AlarmDefinition
Set-Annotation
Set-CDDrive
Set-Cluster
Set-CustomAttribute
Set-CustomField
Set-Datacenter
Set-Datastore
Set-DrsRule
Set-FloppyDrive
Set-Folder
Set-HardDisk
Set-IScsiHbaTarget
Set-NetworkAdapter
Set-NicTeamingPolicy
Set-OSCustomizationNicMapping
Set-OSCustomizationSpec
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration
Set-ResourcePool
Set-ScsiController
Set-ScsiLun
Set-ScsiLunPath
Set-Snapshot
Set-StatInterval
Set-Template
Set-VApp
Set-VIPermission
Set-VIRole
Set-VirtualPortGroup
Set-VirtualSwitch
Set-VM
Set-VMGuestNetworkInterface
Set-VMHost
Set-VMHostAccount
Set-VMHostAdvancedConfiguration
Set-VMHostDiagnosticPartition
Set-VMHostFirewallDefaultPolicy
Set-VMHostFirewallException
Set-VMHostFirmware
Set-VMHostHba
Set-VMHostModule
Set-VMHostNetwork
Set-VMHostNetworkAdapter
Set-VMHostProfile
Set-VMHostRoute
Set-VMHostService
Set-VMHostSnmp
Set-VMHostStartPolicy
Set-VMHostStorage
Set-VMHostSysLogServer
Set-VMQuestion
Set-VMResourceConfiguration
Set-VMStartPolicy
Shutdown-VMGuest
Start-VApp
Start-VM
Start-VMHost
Start-VMHostService
Stop-Task
Stop-VApp
Stop-VM
Stop-VMHost
Stop-VMHostService
Suspend-VM
Suspend-VMGuest
Suspend-VMHost
Test-VMHostProfileCompliance
Test-VMHostSnmp
Update-Tools
Wait-Task
Wait-Tools

.NET

"VMware vSphere PowerCLI provides a Windows PowerShell interface to the vSphere API. vSphere PowerCLI includes PowerShell Cmdlets (pronounced, “command-lets”) for administering vSphere components. In addition, the vSphere PowerCLI package includes the vSphere SDK for .NET for developers who want to create their own applications." [5]

vSphere SDK for .NET Developer’s Guide http://www.vmware.com/support/developer/PowerCLI/PowerCLI41U1/doc/viwin_devg.pdf

vSphere SDK for .NET Developer’s Guide

See VMware .NET SDK

Host Object

$hostobj = Get-VMHost $host

$hostobj.[tab completion]

Wirey.com » Blog Archive » Patching ESX(i) using PowerCLI - http://wirey.com/2010/03/patching-esxi-using-powercli/

$hostobj | get-view -Property Name,Config.Product | select Name,{$_.Config.Product.Fullname}
#Check current build numbers

 Name                                              $_.Config.Product.Fullname
----                                              --------------------------
216.119.199.245                                   VMware ESXi 4.0.0 build-208167

Move vms:

 $hostobj1 | get-vm | move-vm -destination ($vmhostobj2)

#Reboot the ESX Server host 1
$VMhostObj1 | Restart-VMHost -Confirm:$false
Write-Host "Waiting 2.5 minutes for $host1 to reboot"
Sleep 150

##################################################################
# ROBO Cluster patching script by Rob Upham - r o b @ vmware.com #
# Script assumes a two-node cluster with vMotion but no DRS      #
##################################################################
 
##########################################
# Edit these values to suit your cluster #
# and the patch being applied            #
##########################################
 
$VC = "robo-vc-x64.vmwdemo.com"
$host1 = "esx-robo-1.vmwdemo.com"
$host2 = "esx-robo-2.vmwdemo.com"
$patchpath = "/vmfs/volumes/Template-FC-EMC/Patches/ESXi400-201002001/metadata.zip"
#Patch bundles should be unzipped, placed on shared VMFS or NFS storage and the metadata.zip file referenced above
# e.g. $patchpath = "/vmfs/volumes/NFS-Vol1/Patches/ESXi400-200912001/metadata.zip"
 
########################
# Work gets done below #
########################
 
#Connect to vCenter Server
Write-Host "Connecting to vCenter Server"
Connect-VIServer -Server $VC
 
#Get host objects
$VMHostObj1 = Get-VMHost $Host1
$VMHostObj2 = Get-VMHost $Host2
 
#Check current build numbers
Write-Host "Hosts to be patched are:"
Write-Host "Host1 = $host1"
$VMHostObj1 | get-view -Property Name,Config.Product | select Name,{$_.Config.Product.Fullname}
Write-Host "Host2 = $host2"
$VMHostObj2 | get-view -Property Name,Config.Product | select Name,{$_.Config.Product.Fullname}
 
#Host 1
#Move vms to Host 2 and enable maintenance mode
Write-Host "Moving VMs from $host1 to $host2"
$VMHostObj1 | get-vm | move-vm -destination ($VMHostObj2)
 
Write-Host "$host1 entering maintenance mode"
$VMHostObj1 | set-vmhost –state maintenance
 
#Update host 1
Write-Host "Patching $host1 with patch $patchpath"
$VMHostObj1 | Install-VMHostPatch -HostPath $patchpath
 
#Reboot the ESX Server host 1
$VMhostObj1 | Restart-VMHost -Confirm:$false
Write-Host "Waiting 2.5 minutes for $host1 to reboot"
Sleep 150
 
$VMHostState = (Get-VMHost -Name $host1 -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue).State
While ($VMHostState -eq "NotResponding"){
  Write-Host "ESX Server state is" $VMHostState
  Write-Host "Waiting 20 seconds until ESX Server starts responding"
  sleep 20
  $VMHostState = (Get-VMHost -Name $host1).State
}
Write-Host "Taking ESX Server host out of Maintenance Mode"
$VMHostObj1 | set-vmhost –state connected
Write-Host "Patching $host1 complete"
 
#Host 2
#Move vms to Host 1 and enable maintenance mode
Write-Host "Moving VMs from $host2 to $host1"
$VMHostObj2 | get-vm | move-vm -destination ($VMHostObj1)
 
Write-Host "$host2 entering maintenance mode"
$VMHostObj2 | set-vmhost –state maintenance
 
#Update host 2
Write-Host "Patching $host2 with patch $patchpath"
$VMHostObj2 | Install-VMHostPatch -HostPath $patchpath
 
#Reboot the ESX Server host 2
$VMhostObj2 | Restart-VMHost -Confirm:$false
Write-Host "Waiting 2.5 minutes for $host2 to reboot"
Sleep 150
 
$VMHostState = (Get-VMHost -Name $host2 -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue).State
While ($VMHostState -eq "NotResponding"){
  Write-Host "ESX Server state is" $VMHostState
  Write-Host "Waiting 20 seconds until ESX Server starts responding"
  sleep 20
  $VMHostState = (Get-VMHost -Name $host2).State
}
Write-Host "Taking ESX Server host out of Maintenance Mode"
$VMHostObj2 | set-vmhost –state connected
Write-Host "Patching $host2 complete"
Write-Host "Build numbers are now as follows:"
$VMHostObj1 | get-view -Property Name,Config.Product | select Name,{$_.Config.Product.Fullname}
$VMHostObj2 | get-view -Property Name,Config.Product | select Name,{$_.Config.Product.Fullname}
Write-Host "All patching complete"

vCenter Update Manager PowerCLI

# vCenter Update Manager PowerCLI
# http://communities.vmware.com/community/vmtn/server/vsphere/automationtools/powercli/updatemanager

# VMware vSphere Update Manager PowerCLI Documentation
# http://www.vmware.com/support/developer/ps-libs/vumps/

# VMware vSphere Update Manager PowerCLI Installation and Administration Guide Update Manager PowerCLI 5.1
# http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-51/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-update-manager-powercli-51-inst-admg.pdf

---

Import patches, the hard way:

# VMware Communities: Import host patches into Update Manager
# http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-15885

# VMware Communities: Import host upgrade into Update Manager
# http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-15886

---

$vi_server = connect-viserver -server vum.oeey.com -user root -password Password1

$esx_hosts = $vi_inventory | where-object {$_.name.startswith('vum-esx')}
$esx_hosts = Get-VMHost
$scan_result = $esx_hosts | scan-inventory
# returns false if one of the entities did not scan correctly

$baselines = get-baseline | where-object {$_.name -eq 'fusionio'}

---

# connect to vcenter server
$vi_server
while ($true) {
  $vi_server = connect-viserver -server vum.oeey.com -user root -password Password1
  if ($? -eq $true) { break }
  echo "."
  sleep 10
}

# get hosts
$esx_hosts = Get-VMHost

# verify scan
foreach ($esx in $esx_hosts) {
  $esx | Scan-Inventory
  if ($? -ne $true) {
    # restart esx host
    $esx | restart-vmhost -confirm:$false -force
    sleep 30
    while ($true) {
      sleep 10
      echo "retrying..."
      $esx | Scan-Inventory
      if ($? -eq $true) { break }
    }
  }
}

--- esx server management ---

# restart esx host
$esx_host | restart-vmhost -confirm:$false -force

# get host states (should be: HOSTNAME, Connected, Connected)
Get-VMHost | Select Name, State, ConnectionState

# get esx host IP:  # note: Get-View gets all columns
Get-VMHost | Get-View | Select {$_.Summary.ManagementServerIP }

---

# target entity - in this case a folder
$TARGET = "ESX"

# download patches from repo
$patches = Download-Patch
if ( $? -ne $true ) { echo "No Patches Failure" ; exit 1 }
if ($patches.count > 0) { echo "Patches found" }

# get patches - from patch list
$extentions = Get-Patch -BundleType Extension
if ( $? -ne $true ) { echo "Extension Failure" ; exit 1 }

# create baseline from patches
$baseline = New-PatchBaseline -Static -Name "fusionio" -Extension -IncludePatch $extentions
if ( $? -ne $true ) { echo "Baseline Failure" ; exit 1 }

# attach baseline
Attach-Baseline -Baseline $baseline -Entity $TARGET
if ( $? -ne $true ) { echo "Attach Failure" ; exit 1 }

# scan servers
Scan-Inventory -Entity $TARGET
if ( $? -ne $true ) { echo "Scan Failure" ; exit 1 }

# get compliance
$compliance = Get-Compliance -Entity $TARGET -ComplianceStatus Unknown
if ( $? -ne $true ) { echo "Compliance Failure" ; exit 1 }
if ($compliance.count -gt 0) { echo "Compliance Count Failure" ; exit 1 }

# get all baselines for target, maybe more than one
$baselines = Get-Baseline -Entity $TARGET
if ( $? -ne $true ) { echo "Baseline Get Failure" ; exit 1 }

# remediate hosts
Remediate-Inventory -Entity $TARGET -Baseline $baselines
if ( $? -ne $true ) { echo "Remediate Failure" ; exit 1 }

Sample Scripts

APPLE-1078 - Building Custom Image

Add-EsxSoftwareDepot -DepotUrl http://yum-repo.geo.apple.com/vmw/VMware-ESXi-5.1.0-799733-depot
Add-EsxSoftwareDepot -DepotUrl http://vibsdepot.hp.com/hpq/sep2012/index.xml
Add-EsxSoftwareDepot -DepotUrl http://yum-repo.geo.apple.com/vmw/MLNX-OFED-ESX-1.8.0.1
Add-EsxSoftwareDepot -DepotUrl http://yum-repo.geo.apple.com/vmw/iomemory-vsl-5X-3.1.5.126-offline_bundle-750032
Add-EsxSoftwareDepot -DepotUrl http://yum-repo.geo.apple.com/vmw/Fusion-IO_libvsl-offline-bundle-3.1.5
Add-EsxSoftwareDepot -DepotUrl http://yum-repo.geo.apple.com/vmw/fusionio-cimprovider-esxi5-bundle-3.1.20-119
$op = (Get-EsxImageProfile -Name "ESXi*-standard").Name
echo "Using base image profile: $op"
$pkgs = Get-EsxSoftwarePackage -Newest
$np = New-EsxImageProfile -CloneProfile "$op" -Name "Geo_1_ESXi51_vmw-799733" -Vendor "GeoOps" -SoftwarePackage $pkgs
Export-EsxImageProfile -ImageProfile ($np).Name -ExportToBundle -NoSignatureCheck -FilePath c:\img\Geo_1_ESXi51_vmw-799733.zip
Export-EsxImageProfile -ImageProfile ($np).Name -ExportToIso -NoSignatureCheck -FilePath c:\img\Geo_1_ESXi51_vmw-799733.iso

Issues

PowerShell 1.0 is not supported

Error:

WARNING: You are running PowerShell version 1.0. PowerShell 1.0 is not be
supported by vSphere PowerCLI. Please update you PowerShell to version 2.0

Solution:

• VMware PowerCLI requires Windows PowerShell 2.0.

The term not recognized as a cmdlet

Trying to run the PowerCLI commands from a PowerShell window causes this error:

PS C:\Documents and Settings\kenneth> add-esxsoftwaredepot
The term 'add-esxsoftwaredepot' is not recognized as a cmdlet, function, operable program, or script file. Verify the t
erm and try again.
At line:1 char:20
+ add-esxsoftwaredepot <<<<

Cause:

• Do you have PowerCLI running and are you running from the PowerCLI shell?

Solution:

• Install PowerCLI

---

Cause:

• Running from PowerShell window

Solution:

• Need to initialize the PowerCLI environment

. "C:\Program Files\VMware\Infrastructure\vSphere PowerCLI\Scripts\Initialize-PowerCLIEnvironment.ps1"

Execution is disabled

File C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\Infrastructure\vSphere PowerCLI\Scripts\Init
ialize-PowerCLIEnvironment.ps1 cannot be loaded because the execution of script
s is disabled on this system. Please see "get-help about_signing" for more deta
ils.
At line:1 char:2
+ . <<<<  "C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\Infrastructure\vSphere PowerCLI\Script
s\Initialize-PowerCLIEnvironment.ps1"
    + CategoryInfo          : NotSpecified: (:) [], PSSecurityException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : RuntimeException

Cause:

• When you first installed PowerCLI, it told you:

"The PowerShell execution policy of this computer is not set to "RemoteSigned". This prevents execution of PowerShell scripts on your computer and will result in erros when VMware vSphere PowerCLI is invoked. It is recommended that you set the execution policy to "RemoteSigned" in order to be able to execute scripts. This can be done by invoking the command 'Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned' from a PowerShell prompt. - Do this for me"

Solution:

• Click the 'Do this for me' when you installed PowerCLI.
• Set execution policy with 'Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned'

See current policy:

get-executionpolicy

Set RemoteSigned execution policy:

Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

---

An overview of the policy levels:

Restricted

Individual cmdlets can run, but not saved Powershell scripts. This is the default setting.

AllSigned

Scripts can run, but must have a digital signature even if written on the local computer. Prompts you before running scripts from trusted publishers.

RemoteSigned

Scripts written on the local computer do not need a digital signature, but any script downloaded from outside (email, IM, Internet) must have a signature to execute.

Unrestricted

Any script can run, but scripts downloaded from outside will run with a warning.

To change the Execution Policy to Unrestricted, type the following command in Powershell

   Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted

To change the Execution Policy to RemoteSigned (to run your own scripts), type the following command in Powershell (preferred)

   Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

Source: File cannot be loaded because the execution of scripts is disabled on this system error in PowerShell

fault.RestrictedVersion.summary

fault.RestrictedVersion.summary with ESXi

Stop-VM : 3/8/2011 12:57:40 PM    Stop-VM        fault.RestrictedVersion.summary
At line:1 char:8
+ stop-vm <<<<  -vm win245
    + CategoryInfo          : NotSpecified: (:) [Stop-VM], SecurityError
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : Client20_MoServiceImpl_Invoke_ViError,VMware.VimAutomation.ViCore.Cm
   dlets.Commands.StopVM

Solution:

• ESXi is not licensed to use remote features.

"There are two basic versions of ESXi "free" and "licensed", the scripting toolkits are limited to read-only access for the free version of VMware ESXi. When the host is upgraded to vSphere Essentials, vSphere Essential Plus, vSphere Standard, vSphere Advanced, vSphere Enterprise, or vSphere Enterprise Plus these toolkits have write-access enabled and provide a scriptable method for managing ESXi hosts." [6]