VMware Communities : All Content - vSphere Command-Line Interface

Discovery of virtual machines thro esxtop scripts

lamw — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:39:23 GMT

esxtop is primarily used for monitoring and collection of data for all system resources: CPU, memory, disk and network.

If you're using vCLI hence the forum you're posting in ... you have quite a few choices if you just want to "list" all the VMs for a given host:

1) /usr/bin/vmware-cmd
2) vminfo.pl
3) listVMByFolder.pl
4) getAllVMGuestHostname.pl
5) listVMsInResourcePool.pl

or any other variation as you can write your own vSphere SDK for Perl scripts against the vSphere API: Getting Started with vSphere SDKs

=========================================================================
William Lam
VMware vExpert 2009
VMware ESX/ESXi scripts and resources at: http://engineering.ucsb.edu/~duonglt/vmware/
Twitter: @lamw
vGhetto Script Repository
Getting Started with the vMA (tips/tricks)
Getting Started with the vSphere SDK for Perl
VMware Code Central - Scripts/Sample code for Developers and Administrators
VMware Developer Comuunity

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Browse Snapshots Via CLI

sstremmel — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:22:08 GMT

Thanks. I think that did it. The CLI that I had installed previously dropped so many scripts in so many places that I couldn't find anything unless I knew it's name.

attaching existing virtual disks ( *.vmdk) to a running vm with CLI

lamw — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:48:21 GMT

Take a look at this script: vmdkManagement.pl

Cloning Guest Hosts via Automation

lamw — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:08:56 GMT

You can still use vmclone.pl for vCenter 2.5 and ESX(i) 3.5uX

Here are the VI Perl Toolkit utilities http://www.vmware.com/support/developer/viperltoolkit/viperl15/doc/perl_toolkit_utilities_idx.html

=========================================================================
William Lam
VMware vExpert 2009
VMware ESX/ESXi scripts and resources at: http://engineering.ucsb.edu/~duonglt/vmware/
vGhetto Script Repository
VMware Code Central - Scripts/Sample code for Developers and Administrators
VMware Developer Comuunity
Getting Started with the vMA (tips/tricks)
Getting Started with the vSphere SDK for Perl
Twitter: @lamw

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execution policy for community extensions

houghtp — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:48:15 GMT

sorry realised i need to unblock the script file.

How can i copy vm to local PC with cli?

lamw — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:39:59 GMT

As you know you can export a VM using the vSphere Client, if you're trying to use vifs, then you'll wan to query all files under the VM you're trying to export which can be done using one of the vSphere SDK for Perl Utilities and then just download each file to your local system, there is no 'copy all' function. You probably also know that your VM must either be offline or have a snapshot so you can backup the disks.

Regarding converting, you can accomplish this using the free VMware Converter which can convert from various formats including from WS->ESX and ESX->WS (Converter has a CLI but not sure how well it works and not sure if its part of the free version)

=========================================================================
William Lam
VMware vExpert 2009
VMware ESX/ESXi scripts and resources at: http://engineering.ucsb.edu/~duonglt/vmware/
vGhetto Script Repository
VMware Code Central - Scripts/Sample code for Developers and Administrators
VMware Developer Comuunity
Getting Started with the vMA (tips/tricks)
Getting Started with the vSphere SDK for Perl
Twitter: @lamw

If you find this information useful, please award points for "correct" or "helpful".

Require vSphere CLI to start my SNMP

lamw — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:33:58 GMT

Please use the download link found here: http://www.vmware.com/support/developer/vcli/

Don't use any other random links, I've gotten word from VMware that the downloads are back to normal and I've just verified just now.

=========================================================================
William Lam
VMware vExpert 2009
VMware ESX/ESXi scripts and resources at: http://engineering.ucsb.edu/~duonglt/vmware/
vGhetto Script Repository
VMware Code Central - Scripts/Sample code for Developers and Administrators
VMware Developer Comuunity
Twitter: @lamw

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Need VSphere CLI installer

Karmst — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:53:38 GMT

Thank you for taking care of this. I appreciate it very much.

Sincerely,

Kevin M. Armstrong
Acclaim PC Services
Kevin.Armstrong@acclaimpc.com
Phone: (614) 389 - 1010
Fax: (614) 504 - 0123

NEW! - Acclaim Remote Support

Confidentiality Notice
This transmission and the documents accompanying it may contain confidential information belonging to the sender, which is protected by privacy rights. The information is intended only for the use of the individual named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying or distribution, or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents of this information is unauthorized and strictly prohibited. If you have received this transmission in error, please immediately notify me by return e-mail and delete this transmission and all accompanying documents.

Download Errors " Invalid Download Group "- vCLI Download Problems

heyitspablo — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:06:03 GMT

Folks,

We are having problems with our download site for vCLI 4.0. I have reported and escalated problems to our IT for resolution. Hoping this is resolved soon.
Thanks for your patience

Pablo

SEC_E_INVALID_HANDLE error in InitializeClient() while trying to do LoginBySSPI()

lamw — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 22:34:18 GMT

The PowerCLI forum is located at: vSphere PowerCLI

The forum you're currently posting in is vCLI

=========================================================================
William Lam
VMware vExpert 2009
VMware ESX/ESXi scripts and resources at: http://engineering.ucsb.edu/~duonglt/vmware/
vGhetto Script Repository
VMware Code Central - Scripts/Sample code for Developers and Administrators
VMware Developer Comuunity
Twitter: @lamw

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vdiskcreate.pl PROBLEM

ii00907 — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:15:31 GMT

Very very Thanks.

Your script is exceptional.

I hope that in future you can be useful as thou you were for me.

Thanks again
By

Ivan

Problem vmreconfig.pl

ii00907 — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:33:13 GMT

Many thanks,
are very precise and detailed

rdmCreate.pl Problem

lamw — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:21:13 GMT

Please take a look at the solution here: Re: vdiskcreate.pl PROBLEM

Consider closing this thread out, since you do have multiple threads about the same question spawning in a few places.

=========================================================================
William Lam
VMware vExpert 2009
VMware ESX/ESXi scripts and resources at: http://engineering.ucsb.edu/~duonglt/vmware/
vGhetto Script Repository
VMware Code Central - Scripts/Sample code for Developers and Administrators
VMware Developer Comuunity
Twitter: @lamw

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New version of vifs.pl

filip.hasa — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:38:19 GMT

Any way, utilizing Vsphere CLI, to verify md5 checksum values of files within a datastore?

lamw — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:15:10 GMT

vifs.pl just provides a very basic view, you can retrieve additional information, take a look at this script: listDatastoreFiles.pl

Regarding verifying an upload and md5 or any type of verification, I'm not aware of any. The method it's probably is using is CopyDatastoreFile_Task which will just let you know if it uploaded successfully or if it faults.

=========================================================================
William Lam
VMware vExpert 2009
VMware ESX/ESXi scripts and resources at: http://engineering.ucsb.edu/~duonglt/vmware/
vGhetto Script Repository
VMware Code Central - Scripts/Sample code for Developers and Administrators
VMware Developer Comuunity
Twitter: @lamw

If you find this information useful, please award points for "correct" or "helpful".

error message popped up when installing vSphere Client

TobiasKracht — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:55:15 GMT

No, all versions of .NET Framework are backward compatible. Uninstall all versions of Java#, and run installation again.

StarWind Software R&D

list files of datastore for virtual machine

filip.hasa — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 22:38:51 GMT

Please see this: new vifs.pl

Here it similar solution but only for list directory.http://networkadminkb.com/kb/Knowledge%20Base/VMWare/Unable%20to%20list%20Folders%20of%20Datastores%20in%20VIFS.pl%20Script.aspx

Thank you for interest

Do you think anybody can be interest for script which can export one vmdk and vmx file?

Instructions on how to install vCLI 32bit/64bit on Ubuntu 9.04

lamw — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 02:17:59 GMT

Apparently VMware vCLI does not support Ubuntu 9.04 out of the box per Re: Installing vCLI on Ubuntu Server 9.04, but thanks to eparthuisot, it's actually only two packages that you need to install to get the latest version of vCLI installed on your minimal Ubunutu server.

Setup:
Ubuntu server 9.04 (32bit or 64bit)
VMware-vSphere-CLI-4.0.0-161974.i386.tar (32bit installer)
VMware-vSphere-CLI-4.0.0-161974.x86_64.tar (64bit installer)
libxml-libxml-perl
libclass-methodmaker-perl

Instructions:

0. Verify version of Ubuntu:

primp@ubuntu-test:~$ lsb_release -a
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description:    Ubuntu 9.04
Release:        9.04
Codename:       jaunty

Steps for installing on Ubuntu Server 9.04 32bit:

1. Download vCLI from VMware's site and upload via scp or other means to your Ubuntu system

2. Download and install libxml-libxml-perl and libclass-methodmaker-perl and libcrypt-ssleay-perl

primp@ubuntu-test:~$ sudo apt-get install libxml-libxml-perl
[sudo] password for primp:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following extra packages will be installed:
  libxml-libxml-common-perl libxml-namespacesupport-perl libxml-sax-expat-perl libxml-sax-perl
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  libxml-libxml-common-perl libxml-libxml-perl libxml-namespacesupport-perl libxml-sax-expat-perl libxml-sax-perl
0 upgraded, 5 newly installed, 0 to remove and 51 not upgraded.
Need to get 523kB of archives.
After this operation, 2064kB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]? y
.......

primp@ubuntu-test:~$ sudo apt-get install libclass-methodmaker-perl
.......

primp@ubuntu-test:~$ sudo apt-install libcrypt-ssleay-perl 
.......

Note: If you're doing this as a regular user, you may need to use sudo or switch over to root to perform these elevated operations

3. Extract vCLI tar file

primp@ubuntu-test:~$ tar -zxvf VMware-vSphere-CLI-4.0.0-161974.i386.tar.gz
.......

4. Install vCLI

primp@ubuntu-test:~$ cd vmware-vsphere-cli-distrib/

primp@ubuntu-test:~/vmware-vsphere-cli-distrib$ sudo ./vmware-install.pl
Creating a new vSphere CLI installer database using the tar4 format.

Installing vSphere CLI.

Installing version 161974 of vSphere CLI


You must read and accept the vSphere CLI End User License Agreement to
continue.
Press enter to display it.

......
<stick with the defaults>
......

Please wait while copying vSphere CLI files...

The installation of vSphere CLI 4.0.0 build-161974 for Linux completed
successfully. You can decide to remove this software from your system at any
time by invoking the following command:
"/usr/bin/vmware-uninstall-vSphere-CLI.pl".

This installer has successfully installed both vSphere CLI and the vSphere SDK
for Perl.

Enjoy,

5. Verify vCLI

primp@ubuntu-test-32bit:~$ esxcfg-nas -l --server himalaya.primp-industries.com --username root
Enter password:

dlgCore-NFS-bigboi.VM-Backups is /exports/XXXXXX from A.B.C.D mounted

Steps for installing on Ubuntu Server 9.04 64bit:

1. Download vCLI from VMware's site and upload via scp or other means to your Ubuntu system

2. Download and install libxml-libxml-perl and libclass-methodmaker-perl

primp@ubuntu-test:~$ sudo apt-get install libxml-libxml-perl
[sudo] password for primp:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following extra packages will be installed:
  libxml-libxml-common-perl libxml-namespacesupport-perl libxml-sax-expat-perl libxml-sax-perl
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  libxml-libxml-common-perl libxml-libxml-perl libxml-namespacesupport-perl libxml-sax-expat-perl libxml-sax-perl
0 upgraded, 5 newly installed, 0 to remove and 51 not upgraded.
Need to get 523kB of archives.
After this operation, 2064kB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]? y
.......

primp@ubuntu-test:~$ sudo apt-get install libclass-methodmaker-perl
.......

Note: If you're doing this as a regular user, you may need to use sudo or switch over to root to perform these elevated operations

3. Extract vCLI tar file

primp@ubuntu-test:~$ tar -zxvf VMware-vSphere-CLI-4.0.0-161974.x86_64.tar
.......

4. Install vCLI

primp@ubuntu-test:~$ cd vmware-vsphere-cli-distrib/

primp@ubuntu-test:~/vmware-vsphere-cli-distrib$ sudo ./vmware-install.pl
Creating a new vSphere CLI installer database using the tar4 format.

Installing vSphere CLI.

Installing version 161974 of vSphere CLI


You must read and accept the vSphere CLI End User License Agreement to
continue.
Press enter to display it.

......
<stick with the defaults>
......

Please wait while copying vSphere CLI files...

The installation of vSphere CLI 4.0.0 build-161974 for Linux completed
successfully. You can decide to remove this software from your system at any
time by invoking the following command:
"/usr/bin/vmware-uninstall-vSphere-CLI.pl".

This installer has successfully installed both vSphere CLI and the vSphere SDK
for Perl.

Enjoy,

5. Verify vCLI

primp@ubuntu-test-64bit:~$ esxcfg-nas -l --server himalaya.primp-industries.com --username root
Enter password:

dlgCore-NFS-bigboi.VM-Backups is /exports/XXXXXX from A.B.C.D mounted

and now you're on your way to using vCLI on Ubuntu!

Changes to the ESX Service Console for ESX 4.0

jbruelasdgo — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 01:06:18 GMT

very good documentation!

Jose B Ruelas

http://aservir.wordpress.com

Installing SDK & CLI as regular user

lamw — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:08:49 GMT

no that I'm aware of.

=========================================================================
William Lam
VMware vExpert 2009
VMware ESX/ESXi scripts and resources at: http://engineering.ucsb.edu/~duonglt/vmware/
vGhetto Script Repository
VMware Code Central - Scripts/Sample code for Developers and Administrators
VMware Developer Comuunity
Twitter: @lamw

If you find this information useful, please award points for "correct" or "helpful".

Installing vCLI on Ubuntu Server 9.04

lamw — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:45:12 GMT

Not sure why you're having such a hard time, it works perfectly fine for me actually.

You may also need this:

sudo apt-install libcrypt-ssleay-perl

primp@ubuntu-test-32bit:~$ lsb_release -a
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description:    Ubuntu 9.04
Release:        9.04
Codename:       jaunty

primp@ubuntu-test-32bit:~$ esxcfg-nas -l --server himalaya.primp-industries.com --username root
Enter password:

dlgCore-NFS-bigboi.VM-Backups is /exports/XXXXXX from A.B.C.D mounted

I would recommend trying the exact packages I have and don't do any additional.

Good Luck

=========================================================================
William Lam
VMware vExpert 2009
VMware ESX/ESXi scripts and resources at: http://engineering.ucsb.edu/~duonglt/vmware/
vGhetto Script Repository
VMware Code Central - Scripts/Sample code for Developers and Administrators
VMware Developer Comuunity
Twitter: @lamw

If you find this information useful, please award points for "correct" or "helpful".

Add rdm with command line

ii00907 — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:56:23 GMT

Hi,

I would hook a rdmp a VM using the command line.

As a first step I created via the command rdmp

vmkfstools -z /vmfs/devices/disks/vml.123456... /Path/VMname.vmdk

As a second step I tried with the command

*_vmware-vim-cmd vmsvc/device.diskaddexisting VMI
But does not return any error and no hooks the new rdmp

Then I wanted to try using the command vmreconfig.pl, but the only syntax

_. / vmreconfig.pl - url _https://ESX_HOST/sdk/vimService_ -username USER -password PASSWORD _

I returned the following error

Error: Server version unavailable at 'https: / / 172.23.42.211/sdk/vimService.wsdl'

I also found this script ( Add-Delete-HD-vSphere-annotated.ps1) but I do not know quite how to use it

Can you kindly help me?
I do not know what to do.

Automating VM clone/Snapshot/Restore using Vsphere CLI

lamw — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 21:43:02 GMT

Duplicated thread, please refer here: Re: Automating VM clone/Snapshot/Restore using Vsphere CLI

=========================================================================
William Lam
VMware vExpert 2009
VMware ESX/ESXi scripts and resources at: http://engineering.ucsb.edu/~duonglt/vmware/
vGhetto Script Repository
VMware Code Central - Scripts/Sample code for Developers and Administrators
VMware Developer Comuunity
Twitter: @lamw

If you find this information useful, please award points for "correct" or "helpful".

Automating VM clone/Snapshot/Restore using Vsphere CLI

lamw — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 21:42:36 GMT

First off, what version of ESX(i) are you using? It's a little hard to read your post, please reformat it so it's more readable.

If you have vCenter, you can take a look at vmclone.pl and snapshotmanager.pl to clone and perform snapshot of your VMs as part of the vSphere SDK for Perl.

If you would like to extract the VM's MAC Address, take a look at this Perl script: getAllVMMacs.pl, you can easily modify this script to extract the IP Address as well. Remember for this information within the VM, you'll need to ensure you have VMware Tools installed else you will not be able to retrieve this information.

=========================================================================
William Lam
VMware vExpert 2009
VMware ESX/ESXi scripts and resources at: http://engineering.ucsb.edu/~duonglt/vmware/
vGhetto Script Repository
VMware Code Central - Scripts/Sample code for Developers and Administrators
VMware Developer Comuunity
Twitter: @lamw

If you find this information useful, please award points for "correct" or "helpful".

Automatic exit of maintenance mode after ESXi startup

lamw — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:01:08 GMT

np. Don't forget to award 'helpful' or 'correct' points

Yes it makes all the difference, since by default a host will not shutdown/reboot without going into maintenance mode first, of course this can be overwritten but by default it does not. Even though the script power's off all VMs, it will not shutdown/reboot w/o going into maintenance mode first, and that's where you could use force = 1 which just says, okay go for it.

=========================================================================
William Lam
VMware vExpert 2009
VMware ESX/ESXi scripts and resources at: http://engineering.ucsb.edu/~duonglt/vmware/
vGhetto Script Repository
VMware Code Central - Scripts/Sample code for Developers and Administrators
VMware Developer Comuunity
Twitter: @lamw

If you find this information useful, please award points for "correct" or "helpful".

My login script: create a "stateful" vCLI experience.

c_shanklin — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 23:19:01 GMT

If anyone tried this script and found it not working, I've updated it to reflect a change that was made between vCLI RC and vCLI GA.

=====
Carter Shanklin
Read the PowerCLI Blog
Follow me on Twitter

Error connecting

lamw — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 04:49:37 GMT

Correct, within the ESXi unsupported Busybox console there is not a vmware-cmd.

You do however have the option of using vim-cmd which is similar to vmware-vim-cmd found on the classic ESX Service Console.

Here is an example, say you're looking for a specific VM, call it ghettoVCB4i-test-vm-backup

First, you'll need to retrieve it's VmId:

~ # vim-cmd vmsvc/getallvms | grep ghettoVCB4i-test-vm-backup | awk '{print $1'}
16

You'll then take that VmId as unique identifier for that VM and query it's current power state:

~ # vim-cmd vmsvc/power.getstate 16
Retrieved runtime info
Powered off

You can have Powered on, Powered off or Suspended.

It's trivial to automate this through a quick shell script and the key is vim-cmd vmsvc/getallvms which provides you a list of all registered VMs on a given ESXi host.

Good Luck

=========================================================================
William Lam
VMware vExpert 2009
VMware ESX/ESXi scripts and resources at: http://engineering.ucsb.edu/~duonglt/vmware/
vGhetto Script Repository
VMware Code Central - Scripts/Sample code for Developers and Administrators
http://twitter.com/lamw

If you find this information useful, please award points for "correct" or "helpful".

If you need any sample code to get started, make a request here!

navadavuluri — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:09:30 GMT

Need a sample code, then submit your request here: CodeCentral Sample Code Request Box

We assure you that all the requests will be processed promptly.

For more information on how this works: Learn about Sample Code Request Box and CodeCentral Feedback

Welcome to our vSphere CLI Community

heyitspablo — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:28:23 GMT

Linda we have a live webinar coming up on the Ecoshell initiative presented by Scott H...

http://communities.vmware.com/blogs/DeveloperCenter/2009/07/22/announcing-the-vmware-coffee-talk-live-webinars-first-wed-of-the-month-900-am-1000-am-pst

Changes to the ESX Service Console for ESX 4.0

heyitspablo — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 23:25:20 GMT

Anyone else having problems posting to the vCLI community ?

heyitspablo — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 23:24:21 GMT

We think we fixed the problem with access to this community,,can anyone verify ?

thanks