Troubleshooting PowerCLI Script for VM Creation from CSV File

[NeedToKnowBasis]

I am using a modified script I found on the internet to attempt the automated creation of multiple VMs from a CSV file. I currently am experiencing trouble having the script pull the VM names from the 'name' column from within the CSV file.

The script I am working off of looks like this:

    # Specify vCenter Server, vCenter Server username and vCenter Server user password
     write-host “Please specify vCenter Server and enter credentials” -foreground green
     $vc = read-Host "Connect to which vCenter Server?"
     write-host “Connecting to vCenter Server $vc” -foreground green
    
     $CSVPath = "$ScriptRoot\PROD_VMRequestTEST.xlsx.csv"   
   
     Connect-VIServer -Server $vc
   
     $CSVFile = Import-Csv -Path $CSVPath
   
     Import-Csv -Path $CSVPath
   
     $VM_Name = "$CSVFile.name"
    #
     # Specify number of VMs you want to create
     #$vm_count = “500“
    #
     # Specify number of VM CPUs
     $numcpu = “$CSVFile.numcpu“
    #
     # Specify number of VM GB RAM
     $MBram = “$CSVFile.memorygb“
    #
     # Specify VM disk size (in MB)
     #$MBguestdisk = “4096“
    #
     # Specify VM disk type, available options are Thin, Thick, EagerZeroedThick
     #$Typeguestdisk =”Thin“
    #
     # Specify VM guest OS
     #$guestOS = “winNetStandardGuest“
    #
     # Specify vCenter Server datastore
     #$ds = “VCDX56-DS01“
    #
     # Specify vCenter Server Virtual Machine & Templates folder
     $Folder = “Discovered virtual machine”
    #
    # Specify the vSphere Cluster
    $Cluster = “vSphere 5.5 RND“
    #
     # Specify the VM name to the left of the – sign
     #$VM_prefix = ““
    #
     # End of user input parameters
     #_______________________________________________________
     #
     1..$vm_count | foreach {
      $ESXi=Get-Cluster $Cluster | Get-VMHost -state connected | Get-Random
     write-host “Creation of VM $VM_name initiated”  -foreground green
     New-VM -Name $VM_Name -VMHost $ESXi <#-NumCPU $numcpu -MemoryMB $MBram -DiskMB $MBguestdisk -DiskStorageFormat $Typeguestdisk -Datastore $ds -GuestId $guestOS#> -Location $Folder
     write-host “Power On of the  VM $VM_name initiated”  -foreground green
     Start-VM -VM $VM_name -confirm:$false -RunAsync
     }

The CSV headers I am attempting to have the CSV file read from are formatted as:

  name vlan numcpu memorygb

I have the sections pertaining to the remaining columns commented out currently while I troubleshoot the current issue with the VM names being read from the CSV file.

The VMs are currently being created as "    .name" ((blank space).name) in vCenter and I would like to determine if this is a formatting issue or if my script is missing any information relating to this.

Thank you for any information you may provide

[LucD · Accepted solution]

The logic of that script is not clear to me.

You are reading (imnporting) the specifications from a CSV file -> ok

Then you extract from that imported data, the Name property -> ok

But then you are trying to create $vm_count (not initialised) times a VM, and as the name of that VM you give the complete array of names from the CSV that was imported earlier.

If I interpret it correctly, what you are trying to do, could be done as

The Import-Csv will read the CSV file and send each row as an object.

We loop (% alias for ForEach-Object) through all these rows.

A row object is represented as $_ inside the loop, so we can refer to a property of that row with the standard notation, i.e. $_.Name.

# Specify vCenter Server, vCenter Server username and vCenter Server user password

Write-Host 'Please specify vCenter Server and enter credentials' -foreground green

$vc = Read-Host 'Connect to which vCenter Server?'

Write-Host “Connecting to vCenter Server $vc” -ForegroundColor green

Connect-VIServer -Server $vc

$CSVPath = "$ScriptRoot\PROD_VMRequestTEST.xlsx.csv"  

# Specify the vSphere Cluster

$Cluster = 'vSphere 5.5 RND'

$esx = Get-Cluster $Cluster | Get-VMHost -State connected

Import-Csv -Path $CSVPath | %{

  Write-Host “Creation of VM $_.Name initiated”  -ForegroundColor green

  New-VM -Name $_.Name -VMHost ($esx | Get-Random)

  Write-Host “Power On of the  VM $_.name initiated”  -ForegroundColor green

  Start-VM -VM $_.Name -confirm:$false -RunAsync

}