You may use the VMware PowerCLI cmdlet below to power on a VMware virtual machine.
Start-VM -VM SERVER
VMware PowerCLI – Create a Snapshot
You may use the following VMware PowerCLI cmdlet to create a snapshot of a virtual machine (VM) in VMware.
New-Snapshot -VM HOSTNAME -Name “<<>>” -Description “<<>>”
VMware PowerCLI – Exit VMware ESXi Host out of Maintenance Mode
You may use the following VMware PowerCLI script to exit a VMware ESXi host out of maintenance mode.
<# .SYNOPSIS This script will exit a VMware ESXi host out of maintenance mode. .DESCRIPTION This script will exit a VMware ESXi host out of maintenance mode. .EXAMPLE Set-VMHost -VMhost HOST.DOMAIN.COM -State Connected. .AUTHOR Written by Noel Enrique Alvarez on Monday, April 15, 2019. #>
#Request the hostname of the VMware ESXi host
$HOSTNAME = Read-Host “What is the hostname of the VMware ESXi host?”
#Exit the VMware ESXi host out of maintenance mode
Set-VMHost -VMhost $HOSTNAME -State Connected
#End of script
VMware PowerCLI – Place VMware ESXi Host in Maintenance Mode
You may use the following VMware PowerCLI script to place a VMware ESXi host in maintenance mode.
<# .SYNOPSIS This script will place a VMware ESXi host in maintenance mode. .DESCRIPTION This script will place a VMware ESXi host in maintenance mode. .EXAMPLE Set-VMHost -VMhost HOST.DOMAIN.COM -State Maintenance. .AUTHOR Written by Noel Enrique Alvarez on Monday, April 15, 2019. #>
#Request the hostname of the VMware ESXi host
$HOSTNAME = Read-Host “What is the hostname of the VMware ESXi host?”
#Place the VMware ESXi host in maintenance mode
Set-VMHost -VMhost $HOSTNAME -State Maintenance
#End of script
VMware PowerCLI – View Snapshots
You may use the following VMware PowerCLI cmdlets to view all of the snapshots managed by vCenter Server or more specifically a cluster. These are sample commands and further information and documentation may be found here.
Get-VM | Get-Snapshot | Format-List
Get-VM | Get-Snapshot | Format-List VM, Name, SizeGB, Created, Description
Get-VM -Location “CLUSTER01” | Get-Snapshot | Format-List
Get-VM -Location “CLUSTER01”| Get-Snapshot | Format-List VM, Name, SizeGB, Created, Description
VMware vCenter Server 6.0 – Verify the Status of Critical Services Locally
The script below will query the status of the service(s) specified in “C:\Scripts\VMware vCenter Server\Verify_Critical_Services.txt” on the local server. The output of the script will provide the name and status of the service(s) in a formatted list for your viewing. Additionally, it is recommended that the following services be queried as they are critical to the proper functioning of VMware vCenter Server 6.
- VMware VirtualCenter Server (vpxd)
- VMware Inventory Service (invsvc)
- VMware vSphere Web Client (vspherewebclientsvc)
<#
.SYNOPSIS
This script will provide the name and status of the service(s) defined in “C:\Scripts\VMware vCenter Server\Verify_Critical_Services.txt”
.DESCRIPTION
This script will automate the process of providing the status of critical VMware vCenter Server 6 service(s) on the local server
.EXAMPLE
N/A.
.AUTHOR
Written by Noel Enrique Alvarez on Wednesday, November 22, 2017.
#>
#Define the service(s) to query
$Services = Get-Content “C:\Scripts\VMware vCenter Server\Verify_Critical_Services.txt”
#Query the status of the service(s) in “C:\Scripts\VMware vCenter Server\Verify_Critical_Services.txt”
ForEach ($Service in $Services)
{Get-Service $Service |
Format-List -Property Name, Status}
VMware vSphere 6 – Create a Template
VMware includes a great solution, templates, for consistent virtual machine deployments. A template is essentially a master image of a virtual machine that typically includes a guest operating system and applications. Using templates allows you to deploy virtual machines with a consistent configuration. Additionally, below is a step list of steps for creating a template.
- Install the Microsoft Windows 2012 R2 operating system
- Install VMware Tools
- Install Windows Updates
- Run sysprep (C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\sysprep.exe)
- System Cleanup Action: Enter System Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE)
- Generalize
- Shutdown Options: Shutdown
- Right click the virtual machine and select Convert to Template….
VMware vSphere Update Manager 6.0 – Remediating a VMware ESXi 6.0 Host
The following is a step by step guide for remediating (i.e. patching) a VMware ESXi 6.0 host.
- On the home page of the VMware vSphere Client select Hosts and Clusters.
- Select a VMware ESXi 6.0 host from the inventory tree on the left.
- Select the Update Manager tab on the VMware vSphere Client.
- Click Remidiate… in the lower right portion of the Update Manager tab.
- On the Remediation Selection dialog box select the baselines or baseline groups to apply and click Next >.
- On the Patches and Extensions dialog box deselect any patches you would like to exclude then click Next >.
- On the Schedule dialog box enter a Task Name:, Task Description: and Remediation Time: then click Next >.
- On the Host Remediation Options dialog box accept the default settings and click Next >.
- On the Ready to Complete dialog box review the configuration settings and click Finish.
- Review the Recent Tasks pane to verify the host was remediated.
- Verify the host is compliant on the Update Manager tab.
VMware vSphere Update Manager 6.0 – Staging Patches
The following is a step by step guide for staging patches to VMware ESXi 6.0 hosts. This is a useful feature if your VMware ESXi 6.0 hosts are located across lethargic wide area network (WAN) links.
- On the VMware vSphere Client home page select Hosts and Clusters.
- From the inventory list select a VMware ESXi 6.0 host.
- On the content area of the VMware vSphere Client select the Update Manager tab.
- On the Update Manager tab content area click Stage….
- On the Baseline Selection dialog box select the baselines for the patches to be staged and click Next >.
- On the Patch and Extension Exclusion dialog box deselect any patches or extension you would not like to be staged and click Next >.
- On the Ready to Complete dialog box click Finish to being staging the patches.
- View the Recent Tasks pane to verify the patches have been staged.
VMware vSphere Update Manager 6.0 – Scanning a VMware ESXi 6.0 Host
The follow is a step by step guide for performing a VMware vSphere Update Manager 6.0 scan on a VMware ESXi 6.0 host.
- On the home page of the VMware vSphere Web Client select the Hosts and Clusters view.
- On the inventory tree select the VMware ESXi 6.0 host you would like to scan.
- On the content area of the VMware vSphere Web Client select the Monitor tab then select Update Manager.
- On the content area of the Update Manager section click Scan….
- On the Confirm Scan dialog box select both check boxes and click OK.
- On the Recent Tasks pane verify that a Scan entity task completed.
- Review the Update Manager tab to verify if the VMware ESXi 6.0 host is compliant or non-compliant with the attached baseline.
