VMworld 2016: Getting Started with PowerShell and PowerCLI for Your VMware Enviornment

1. Getting Started with PowerShell and PowerCLI for Your VMware
Environment
Kyle Ruddy, VMware, Inc
Chris Wahl, Rubrik
INF8038
#INF8038

2. • This presentation may contain product features that are currently under development.
• This overview of new technology represents no commitment from VMware to deliver these
features in any generally available product.
• Features are subject to change, and must not be included in contracts, purchase orders, or
sales agreements of any kind.
• Technical feasibility and market demand will affect final delivery.
• Pricing and packaging for any new technologies or features discussed or presented have not
been determined.
Disclaimer
CONFIDENTIAL 2

3. Who is Kyle Ruddy?
Writer
GitHub
Podcast
Twitter
@ ThatCouldBeAProblem.com
@ github.com/kmruddy
@ vBrownBag.com
@kmruddy
Senior Technical Marketing Engineer, VMware

4. Who is @ChrisWahl?
Writer
Host
Instructor
Evangelist
Microsoft
VMware
@ WahlNetwork.com
@ DatanautsPodcast.com
@ Pluralsight.com
@ Rubrik.com
MVP (PowerShell)
VCDX (DCV & NV)

5. 5
Agenda
• What are PowerShell and PowerCLI?
• The Lingo Dictionary
• Setup and Configuration
• Starting to Code
• Writing Logic Statements

6. What are PowerShell and PowerCLI?
6

7. 7
“Windows PowerShell is a task automation
and configuration management
framework from Microsoft, consisting of a
command-line shell and associated scripting
language built on the .NET Framework.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_PowerShell

8. 8
PowerShell
• A simple and straight-forward path to automation
– Already installed on all modern Windows Operating Systems
– Integrated and rich help system
• Alpha build available for Linux and MacOS
– https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell

9. 9
PowerShell
• Modular and object-oriented
– The best of a programming language melded with a scripting
language
– True portability of code via modules (and snap-ins)

10. 10
VMware vSphere PowerCLI
• VMware’s command-line and scripting tool built on
Windows PowerShell
• Features more than 500 cmdlets for managing and
automating vSphere, vCloud, and Horizon environments
• One of the most robust and complete PowerShell
deployments in the world

11. The Lingo Dictionary

12. 12
What is a Module?
• Set of related Windows PowerShell functionalities,
grouped together as a convenient unit
• Usually saved in a single directory
• Example Locations:
– DocumentsWindowsPowerShellModules
– Program FilesWindowsPowerShellModules
– Windowssystem32WindowsPowerShellv1.0Modules

13. 13
What is a Module?
• No installation required
– Just plop it into a path recognized by $env:PSModulePath

14. 14
What is a Module Manifest?
• PSD1 extension
• Describes how the module was constructed
• Identifies functions / cmdlets / variables / aliases to
export
• DSC resources
• PowerShell Gallery data

15. 15

16. Module Manifests
16

17. 17
What is a snap-in?
• For our intents and purposes …
• Precursor to Modules
– Must be written in .NET
– Must be available as an Assembly
– Installed (not copied)
– Puts keys in the registry
• Try to avoid them!

18. 18
What is a Function?
• List of Windows PowerShell statements that has a name
that you assign
• Can be called by name
– Define a function named “Get-SquarePants”
• Load it in a module or dot source it
– Dot sourcing = . .Get-SquarePants.ps1
– Now you can type Get-SquarePants and it will execute

19. 19
Function – Descriptive Details
<#
.SYNOPSIS
<Overview of script>
.DESCRIPTION
<Brief description of script>
.PARAMETER <Parameter_Name>
<Brief description of parameter input required. Repeat this attribute if required>
.INPUTS
<Inputs if any, otherwise state None>
.OUTPUTS
<Outputs if any, otherwise state None - example: Log file stored in C:WindowsTemp<name>.log>
.NOTES
Version: 1.0
Author: <Name>
Creation Date: <Date>
Purpose/Change: Initial script development
.EXAMPLE
<Example goes here. Repeat this attribute for more than one example>
#>

20. 20
Function – The Meat and Potatoes
Function <FunctionName>{
Param()
Begin{
Do this stuff first
}
Process{
Do this stuff as much as desired
}
End{
Do this stuff last
}
}

21. 21
What is a Script?
• A much less fancy version of a function
– Just the “Do this stuff as much as desired” part
• Cannot be called by name like a function can
• Handy for ad-hoc work
• Suggestion!
– Focus on writing functions, not scripts
– Use scripts in the ISE for testing code snipets

22. Setup and Configuration

23. 23
Setting up PowerShell
• Native to all modern Windows deployments
• Latest version is 5.0
– Use $PSVersionTable to see what you’re running

24. 24
Update using Windows Management Framework 5.0
• https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=50395

25.  Console
 The command line interface
 Microsoft.PowerShell_profile.ps1
 ISE
 Integrated Scripting Environment
 Microsoft.PowerShellISE_profile.ps1
 Console + ISE
 profile.ps1
Profiles make life easier and happier
Set up your profile

26.  Current User:
%USERPROFILE%DocumentsWindowsPowerShell
 All Users:
%WINDIR%System32WindowsPowerShellv1.0
Profiles make life easier and happier
Drop in your profile

27. Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass
Set-Location C:DropboxCode
if ($psISE)
{
Start-Steroids
Clear-Host
Write-Host 'BEAST MODE (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻'
}
Write yourself fun messages
Self motivation for the win!

28. Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass
Set-Location C:DropboxCode
if ($psISE)
{
Start-Steroids
Clear-Host
Write-Host 'BEAST MODE (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻'
}
Write yourself fun messages
Self motivation for the win!

29. 29
Where do I get PowerCLI from?
Start at: vmware.com/go/powercli

30. 30
What version of PowerShell and PowerCLI do I want?
• PowerShell
– Version 5 recommended
– Version 3 minimum
• PowerCLI
– Newest version is always recommended
• Prerequisites
– .NET Framework 4.5.x

31. 31
How do I install PowerCLI? What about updates?
• Download the newest version of VMware vSphere
PowerCLI
• Execute the downloaded PowerCLI installer file
• If upgrading:
– Acknowledge an earlier version of PowerCLI exists, click OK

32. 32
How do I install PowerCLI? What about updates?
• On the Welcome page, click Next.
• Accept the license agreement terms, click Next.
• On the Custom Setup page:
– Select the PowerCLI components you want to install.
– (Optional) To change the default install location for VMware
vSphere PowerCLI, click Change and select a different
Destination Folder.
– Click Next.

33. 33
How do I install PowerCLI? What about updates?
• On the Ready to Install the Program page,
click Install to proceed with the installation.
• Click Finish to complete the installation process.

34. 34
Initialization of PowerCLI
• Shortcuts vs native PowerShell console
• PCLI Initialization script

35. 35
Flings
• PowerActions:
– https://labs.vmware.com/flings/poweractions-for-vsphere-web-
client
• Onyx
– https://labs.vmware.com/flings/onyx-for-the-web-client

36. Starting to Code

37. 37
Identify safe cmdlets and begin pulling data from vSphere
• Safe = Does not modify data

38. 38
Safe vs Non-safe cmdlets
• Suggest starting with cmdlets that pull or display data
– These are “Safe” in that they are unable to modify data
• This is helpful for learning the PowerShell syntax
– Never ending journey 

39. 39
WhatIf and Confirm
• Extra safeguards for you to use!
• Whatif
– Shows you what WOULD happen without actually modifying data
– Switch
• Confirm
– Asks you to confirm before any changes are made
– Boolean ($true or $false)

40. 40
WhatIf and Confirm

41. 41
Common Verbs
• Cmdlets use properly formatted verbs
– Use Get-Verb to see the available options
• Most features follow a very simple pattern
– Get = Gather data
– Set = Change data
– New = Create data
– Remove = Delete data

42. Writing Logic Statements

43. 43
Sample Use Case
• Cluster configuration
– What values are currently configured?
– Let’s change a few of them to match our desired state
• DRS Settings
– HA is Enabled
– DRS Automation Level is Fully Automated

44. 44
Gather the Data
# Variables
$cluster = 'Demo'
# Gather Cluster Data
$clusterConfig = Get-Cluster -Name $cluster

45. 45
Results are Stored as Objects

46. 46
Decision Making Process
• Add logic to test these values!
if ($clusterConfig.DrsAutomationLevel -ne
'FullyAutomated')
{
Write-Warning -Message 'DRS Automation Level is wrong!'
}

47. 47
Decision Making Process
• Add logic to test these values!
if ($clusterConfig.DrsAutomationLevel -ne
'FullyAutomated')
{
Write-Warning -Message 'DRS Automation Level is wrong!'
Set-Cluster -DrsAutomationLevel FullyAutomated
}

48. 48
Reference Links
• The Complete Guide to PowerShell Punctuation
– https://www.simple-talk.com/sysadmin/powershell/the-complete-
guide-to-powershell-punctuation/
• PowerCLI 6.3 R1 Reference Poster
– http://vmware.com/go/posters

49. Thank you!
Kyle Ruddy – Tech Marketing Ninja, VMware
Chris Wahl – Technical Evangelist, Rubrik