How do I get all VMs for a VIserver

[mtv00]

Hi,

I import module vmware.powercli, then issue a Connect-VIServer -server MyVMVIServer.acme.com and after I enter my creds, im connected on port 443.

I can issue a Get-VM myvmbox -Server MyVMVIServer.acme.com -Location somedatacenter and I get info about myvmbox, however is there a way to just give me all the VMs and their properties under a VIServer such as MYVMVIServer the way I can do with Powershell using a filter like 'Get-AdDomainController -Filter *' which will give me everything.

This is a new install of VMWare with NSX which im not really familiar with, so wondering how I can get all VMs returned.

Thanks in advance.

[AdrianTT]

Hi,

If you are only connected to one vCenter/VIServer you can just use Get-VM which will return all machines if no parameters are specified; the cmdlet supports accepts a -Name argument which you can also use for filtering and accepts wildcards;

Eg. Get-VM -Name My*

Will return all VMs with the name that starts with My

For usage of the cmdlet please refer: Get-VM - PowerCLI System.Collections.Hashtable.ModuleName Help Reference

Hope this helps,

Adrian

[LucD]

The Get-VM cmdlet doesn't have a Filter parameter, but with the Name parameter you do filtering.

A few examples (and there others in the Examples of the cmdlet's Help).

# Use the * as a placeholder for any number of characters

Get-VM -Name MyVM*

Get-VM -Name *1

# Use the ? as a placeholder for one character

Get-VM -Name MyVM?

Get-VM -Name My?M

With the Get-View cmdlet you do have a Filter parameter which accepts RegEx expressions, but be aware that this cmdlet returns vSphere objects, where Get-VM returns .Net objects.

The difference between these two is another subject.

Get-View -ViewType VirtualMachine -Filter @{'Name'="\w1$"}

[mtv00]

Thanks for the responses.

I performed the following after a reboot:

1. Import-module Vmware.PowerCLI....I see the right messages

2. Connect-VIServer -Server MyVIServer.com......enter credentials and I see a connection to Port 443 is made

3. Get-VM -Name N*

I get no results even though we have at least 50 machines I can see in the console beginning with N*.

Any suggestions?

[LucD]

First check if the connection is actually there, display the content of $global:defaultviservers.

Is the intended vCenter in the list?

Check if any VMs are returned, just do a Get-VM without any parameter.

[mtv00]

Thanks for the response.

$global:defaultviservers lists out the connection fine, however a Get-VM lists nothing.

If I execute 'Get-VM MyVM -Server MyVMServer -Location therightlocale', what returns is the Name, PowerState, Num CPUs, MemoryGB properties.

So Im stumped here!

[LucD]

Does the account you used to connect have the required permissions to view all locations and VMs.

Could you show a screenshot of the last Get-VM you mentioned?

[mtv00]

but when a do a Get-VM, either with or without the Server specified, I get no output.

[LucD]

What type of object did you pass on the Location parameter?

Is that a Folder, a Cluster...

You might be missing some permissions on parts of the vSphere infrastructure (at least with the account you used for the Connect-VIServer).

Could be that you are only allowed to "see" VMs in a specific Folder, Cluster...

[mtv00]

That location is a DataCenter.

Im thinking it may be permissions related.  Let me go to the folks who set this up and ask the question.  I will post what they say.

[mtv00]

It was a permission issue.   Once I found the right person, permissions were tweaked and now I can see all VMs.

Thanks for responding