Auto-delete snapshots via script

[Noctis0791]

Hi Guys,

I would like to configure a script in Windows Task Scheduler to automatically delete VM snapshot(s) older than 3 days. I copied the script here (credits to the folks who posted it). Then, I configured the task by following this great post. So I got this script (see attached) and I have these settings on the task that I've created (see attached zip containing the images).

Program/script: C:\WINDOWS\system32\windowspowershell\v1.0\powershell.exe

Add arguments (optional): -PSConsoleFile "C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\Infrastructure\vSphere PowerCLI\vim.psc1" "& "C:\auto_delete.psc1""

Now, I'm not sure what could be wrong as the task seems to be being held up as I have check the running tasks. I even tried running the task manually and the same thing happens. It just created instance that wont finish (see attached). Can you let me know guys what I could be missing here to get this working properly?

Thanks advanced!

Arnel

[SARAVANAN_O]

are u checked the logs in host

[Noctis0791]

Hi SARAVANAN_O,

Thanks for your reply. May I know, which specific log file should I check from the HOST? I'm kind of a newbie here so I really don't know which log to check.

[AlladiS]

Hi,

Did you try ton run the PowerCli Script manually ?

Also I noticed incorrect parameter in remove-snapshot cmdlet

Remove-Snapshot

  Confirm:$false

Correct one is ( "-" is missing before Confirm).

Remove-Snapshot

-Confirm:$false

Please check

[Noctis0791]

Hi AlladiS,

Thanks for pointing that out. I have added the missing "-" in the script now. However, it appears that the its still not deleting the snaps older than 3 days. I also tried running the script manually but nothing happens as well. Although, in the history Im seeing this below successful message,  Any other thought what I might be missing here?

Task Scheduler successfully finished "{9673be4f-4129-4ed0-a060-da392719b564}" instance of the "\Auto-delete snapshot" task for user "Domain\agent02".

Thank you very much for your help guys!

Arnel

[dlepinski]

This is the script I'm working with. Install PowerCLI on a server, save this script as a PowerShell script, and create a scheduled task.

Add-PSSnapin VMware.VimAutomation.Core

Connect-VIServer -Server YourvCenterServerName

Get-VM  | `

  Get-Snapshot |  `

  Where-Object { $_.Created -lt (Get-Date).AddDays(-0) } | `

  Remove-Snapshot -Confirm:$False -Whatif

As is, this will delete ALL snapshots in your environment that are older than X days (0 in the case above). I'm trying to figure out how to make it only delete snapshots in a certain resource pool.

This is a suggestion I found from someone on the boards, but it is still deleting snapshots in all resource pools. It's supposed to exclude rp1 and rp2.

Add-PSSnapin VMware.VimAutomation.Core

Connect-VIServer -Server YourvCenterServerName

Get-ResourcePool | Where {"rp1","rp2" -notcontains $_.Name} | `

  Get-VM | `

  Get-Snapshot |  `

  Where-Object { $_.Created -lt (Get-Date).AddDays(-0) } | `

  Remove-Snapshot -Confirm:$False -Whatif

Anyone have any ideas of what I'm doing wrong, or how I could exclude certain resource pools?

(For testing, I added -Whatif and made the days -0. So you'll want to remove/change those as needed.)

[darkzealot]

Add-PSSnapin VMware.VimAutomation.Core
Connect-VIServer -Server YourvCenterServerName
Get-ResourcePool | Where {"rp1","rp2" -notcontains $_.Name} | `
  Get-VM | `
  Get-Snapshot |  `
  Where-Object { $_.Created -lt (Get-Date).AddDays(-0) } | `
  Remove-Snapshot -Confirm:$False -Whatif

Anyone have any ideas of what I'm doing wrong, or how I could exclude certain resource pools?

(For testing, I added -Whatif and made the days -0. So you'll want to remove/change those as needed.)

Sorry for the super late reply but I wanted to answer this anyways in case someone else see's this. After one look at this you should have noticed the problem in the Where "rp1", "rp2" line...

Add-PSSnapin VMware.VimAutomation.Core

Connect-VIServer -Server YourvCenterServerName

  Get-ResourcePool | Where {$_.Name -notlike "*rp1*" -and $_.Name -notlike "*rp2*"}

  Get-VM | `

  Get-Snapshot |  `

  Where-Object { $_.Created -lt (Get-Date).AddDays(-0) } | `

  Remove-Snapshot -Confirm:$False -Whatif

The path that you suggested does not work in my system, can we save the files in any folder other than Program Files? I am getting Printer Not Activated Error Code 20