To help you get started with VMware PowerCLI , this documentation provides a set of sample scripts that illustrate basic and advanced tasks in vSphere administration.
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Connecting to a vCenter Server System You can connect to a vCenter Server system with PowerCLI no matter if you're using the default VMware vCenter Single Sign-On identity service, or an external identity provider.
Create vSphere Inventory Objects By using PowerCLI cmdlets, you can automate creating different inventory objects on vSphere.
vCenter Server and Host Management This section provides sample scripts for PowerCLI with basic and advanced tasks in vCenter Server and host management.
Compute Cluster Administration This section provides sample scripts for PowerCLI with basic and advanced tasks in compute cluster administration.
Virtual Machine Administration This section provides sample scripts for PowerCLI with basic and advanced tasks in virtual machine administration.
vSphere vApp Administration This section provides sample scripts for PowerCLI with basic and advanced tasks in vSphere vApp administration.
Using Tags The vSphere Tag Service supports the definition of tags that you can associate with different types of vSphere objects, such as virtual machines, resource pools, datastores, and distributed switches. You can use PowerCLI to create and manage tags and tag categories, and to retrieve specified groups of objects.
Using Content Libraries Use content libraries with PowerCLI to store and distribute various forms of content within your vSphere environment. Content libraries function as container entities within vSphere, allowing you to save and distribute items such as OVF and OVA packages, virtual machine templates, vApp templates, and various file types.
vSphere Networking This section provides sample scripts for PowerCLI with basic and advanced tasks in vSphere Networking.
vSphere Storage This section provides sample scripts for PowerCLI with basic and advanced tasks in vSphere Storage.
Managing Certificates You can use VMware PowerCLI to manage certificates for both vCenter Server and ESXi no matter if you are using Hybrid, Subordinate CA, or Full Custom Mode.
Using Get-View Use Get-View to access vSphere Management API view objects with PowerCLI .
Creating Custom Properties You can use PowerCLI to create custom properties for different PowerCLI object types. Then, you can use the custom properties to retrieve objects based on specified criteria.
Using the PowerCLI Inventory Provider Use the PowerCLI Inventory Provider to interact with the VMware vSphere inventory through a file system interface, so that it is easier to navigate, manipulate, and automate tasks.
Using the PowerCLI Datastore Provider Use the PowerCLI Datastore Provider to access the contents of one or more datastores through a file system interface, so that it is easier to navigate, manipulate, and automate tasks.
Managing vSphere Update Manager with VMware PowerCLI This section provides sample scripts for PowerCLI with basic and advanced tasks in vSphere Update Manager administration.
Managing vSphere Lifecycle Manager with VMware PowerCLI This section provides sample scripts for PowerCLI with basic and advanced tasks in vSphere Lifecycle Manager administration.
vSphere Monitoring and Performance You can monitor your virtual environment with PowerCLI to locate the source of current and potential issues. Some monitoring and performance tools you can use with PowerCLI are the vCenter Server alarms, and the esxtop functionality. You can also use PowerCLI to retrieve valuable statistics about your virtual infrastructure.