New-Folder ERROR: The operation is not supported on the object, FullyQualifiedErrorId : Client20_InventoryServiceImpl_NewFolder_ViError

[Longhawk]

I'am trying to use the vSphere PowerCLI Cmdlets following vSphere PowerCLI Administration Guide on page17. When I Got the inventory root folder and create a new folder called MainFolder in it, I encountered the following problems:

[vSphere PowerCLI] C:\> $mainFolder = Get-Folder -NoRecursion | New-Folder -Name MainFolder

New-Folder : 2011-4-6 14:38:42    New-Folder        The operation is not supported on the object.

+ $mainFolder = Get-Folder -NoRecursion | New-Folder <<<<  -Name MainFolder

    + CategoryInfo          : NotSpecified: (:) [New-Folder], NotSupported

    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : Client20_InventoryServiceImpl_NewFolder_ViError,VMware.VimAutomation.ViCore.Cmdlets.Commands.NewFolder

I also tryed some Cmdlets, the result as follow:

[vSphere PowerCLI] C:\> get-folder -NoRecursion

Name                           Id

----                           --

ha-folder-root                 Folder-ha-folder-root

[vSphere PowerCLI] C:\> New-Folder -Location (Get-Folder vm) -Name MainFolder

New-Folder : 2011-4-6 14:34:39    New-Folder        The operation is not supported on the object.

+ New-Folder <<<<  -Location (Get-Folder vm) -Name MainFolder

    + CategoryInfo          : NotSpecified: (:) [New-Folder], NotSupported

    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : Client20_InventoryServiceImpl_NewFolder_ViError,VMware.VimAutomation.ViCore.Cmdlets.Commands.NewFolder

Can anyone give me some suggestions to solve this problem?

Thanks

[LucD]

Are you by any chance connected to a free ESXi server ?

On such a free ESXi server (no write access) you can't change anything with PowerCLI.

[Longhawk]

Thank you very much. Yes, I used a free ESXi server. But ESXi server seems to be free. VMware vSphere Hypervisor is the easiest way to get started with virtualization—and it’s free. (See the web page:http://www.vmware.com/products/vsphere-hypervisor/overview.html)

[LucD]

Yes, it's free but there are some limitations.

See the FAQ. It says "Note that the free VMware vSphere Hypervisor does not allow any configuration changes through the vCLI". The same is true for PowerCLI.

As the FAQ also says, you have to use the vSphere Client to configure the free ESXi, I'm afraid.

[Longhawk]

Thank you very much!  After reading your answer, I understand. VMware vSphere Hypervisor is the free edition of the vSphere production line, and it does not allow any configuration changes through the vCLI.