PowerCLI Script to Change DNS Servers and Domain

[bpoush]

Hello

Very new to PowerCLI, I am trying to create a script that will change the DNS Servers and Domain name of my ESXi servers. I have found I need to update the Vmware.Vim.HostDnsConfig to update these settings. I have created the following script and receive the following error.

$config = New-Object VMware.Vim.HostDnsConfig
$config.domainName = "new.domain.com"
$config.address = New-Object System.String[] (2)
$config.address[0] = "10.69.69.80"
$config.address[1] = "10.69.70.80"

$_this = Get-View -Id 'HostNetworkSystem-networkSystem'

$_this.UpdateDnsConfig($config)

You cannot call a method on a null-valued expression.

At line:1 char:23

+ $_this.UpdateDnsConfig <<<< ($config)

    + CategoryInfo          : InvalidOperation: (UpdateDnsConfig:String) [], RuntimeException

    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : InvokeMethodOnNull

I guessed from the error message that I need a value in the hostname, only I don't need to change the hostname. So I create a variable to pull the hostname and place it in the $config.Hostname line but still received an error because the variable is pulling more information that I need.

$hostname = Get-VMHost | Select Name

$config.Hostname=$hostname

When I insert the above code I an error.

Exception calling "UpdateDnsConfig" with "1" argument(s): "An error occurred during host configuration."
At line:1 char:23
+ $_this.UpdateDnsConfig <<<< ($config)
    + CategoryInfo          : NotSpecified: (:) [], MethodInvocationException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : DotNetMethodException

When I look at the $config I see the following.

Dhcp             : False
VirtualNicDevice :
HostName         : @{Name=ESXI01}
DomainName       : new.domain.com
Address          : {10.69.69.80, 10.69.70.80}
SearchDomain     :
DynamicType      :
DynamicProperty  :

Of course the @{Name=ESXI01} will not work. Can anyone explain how to pull a hostname in a variable and pass it to the Config.Hostname?

[AureusStone]

You should be able to do this easily by using the "set-vmhostnetwork" command.

I don't think you can just write to VMWare.Vim.HostDnsConfig.

[bpoush]

Thank You, I looked up this command and with a little trial and error found the correct syntax.

Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostNetwork | Set-VMHostNetwork -DomainName new.domain.com

[George Silvas]

Please try it:

$VMhosts = Get-VMhost #Prompt for Primary and Alternate DNS Servers
$dnspri = read-host "Enter Primary DNS";
$dnsalt = read-host "Enter Alternate DNS";
 
# Prompt for Domain
$domainname = read-host "Enter Domain Name"
 
#Prompt for NTP Servers
#$ntpone = read-host "Enter NTP Server One"
#$ntptwo = read-host "Enter NTP Server Two"
 
$esxHosts = get-VMHost
 
foreach ($esx in $esxHosts) {
 
   Write-Host "Configuring DNS and Domain Name on $esx" -ForegroundColor Green
   Get-VMHostNetwork -VMHost $esx | Set-VMHostNetwork -DomainName $domainname -DNSAddress $dnspri , $dnsalt -Confirm:$false
 
    
   #Write-Host "Configuring NTP Servers on $esx" -ForegroundColor Green
   #Add-VMHostNTPServer -NtpServer $ntpone , $ntptwo -VMHost $esx -Confirm:$false
 
  
   #Write-Host "Configuring NTP Client Policy on $esx" -ForegroundColor Green
   #Get-VMHostService -VMHost $esx | where{$_.Key -eq "ntpd"} | Set-VMHostService -policy "on" -Confirm:$false
 
   #Write-Host "Restarting NTP Client on $esx" -ForegroundColor Green
   #Get-VMHostService -VMHost $esx | where{$_.Key -eq "ntpd"} | Restart-VMHostService -Confirm:$false
 
}
Write-Host "Done!" -ForegroundColor Green