Schedule Snapshot with PowerCli

[Halukkocaman]

Hi All,

I there any way to use PowerCli to schedule a snapshot? I'm looking to built a script to take user inputs such as Vm name, snapshot name, snapshot date, etc. to schedule a snapshot. I'm hoping to create a simple webpage to take some user inputs and pass it to script. I saw some examples that use PowerShell to create schedule task but they are all about creating a windows scheduled task. I would like to create the task as you would create in vSphere.

Thanks,

Haluk

[LucD]

I did a post on that, see Scheduled Tasks – MethodAction for some background info.

Try like this

###############

# These are the values you should get from your webform

#

$vmName = 'MyVM'

$snapTime = Get-Date "31/10/16 23:00"

$snapName = 'Test'

$snapDescription = 'Scheduled snapshot'

$snapMemory = $false

$snapQuiesce = $true

$emailAddr = '[e-mail]'

###############

$vm = Get-VM -Name $vmName

$si = get-view ServiceInstance

$scheduledTaskManager = Get-View $si.Content.ScheduledTaskManager

$spec = New-Object VMware.Vim.ScheduledTaskSpec

$spec.Name = "Snapshot",$_.VMname -join ' '

$spec.Description = "Take a snapshot of $($vm.Name)"

$spec.Enabled = $true

$spec.Notification = $emailAddr

$spec.Scheduler = New-Object VMware.Vim.OnceTaskScheduler

$spec.Scheduler.runat = $snapTime

$spec.Action = New-Object VMware.Vim.MethodAction

$spec.Action.Name = "CreateSnapshot_Task"

@($snapName,$snapDescription,$snapMemory,$snapQuiesce) | %{

    $arg = New-Object VMware.Vim.MethodActionArgument

    $arg.Value = $_

    $spec.Action.Argument += $arg

}

$scheduledTaskManager.CreateObjectScheduledTask($vm.ExtensionData.MoRef, $spec)

[RajJon]

Hate to bring up an old thread but is there a way to modify this script so that it uses the import-csv function. I would like to have the values be VMName, and Description. I am having a hard time with this one.

[LucD]

You mean something like this?

It assumes a CSV with this layout

VMName,Description

VM1,Test1

VM2,Test2

###############

# These are the values you should get from your webform

#

$snapTime = Get-Date "31/10/16 23:00"

$snapName = 'Test'

$snapDescription = 'Scheduled snapshot'

$snapMemory = $false

$snapQuiesce = $true

$emailAddr = '[e-mail]'

$fileName = 'C:\Temp\snap.csv'

###############

Import-Csv -Path $fileName -UseCulture | %{

    

    $vm = Get-VM -Name $_.VMName

    

    $si = get-view ServiceInstance

    $scheduledTaskManager = Get-View $si.Content.ScheduledTaskManager

    

    $spec = New-Object VMware.Vim.ScheduledTaskSpec

    $spec.Name = "Snapshot",$vm.Name -join ' '

    $spec.Description = $_.Description

    $spec.Enabled = $true

    $spec.Notification = $emailAddr

    

    $spec.Scheduler = New-Object VMware.Vim.OnceTaskScheduler

    $spec.Scheduler.runat = $snapTime

    

    $spec.Action = New-Object VMware.Vim.MethodAction

    $spec.Action.Name = "CreateSnapshot_Task"

    

    @($snapName,$snapDescription,$snapMemory,$snapQuiesce) | %{

        $arg = New-Object VMware.Vim.MethodActionArgument

        $arg.Value = $_

        $spec.Action.Argument += $arg

    }

    

    $scheduledTaskManager.CreateObjectScheduledTask($vm.ExtensionData.MoRef, $spec)

}

[RajJon]

Wow! You sir, are a legend!

[OBXMAN007]

LucD, once again, a work of art.   Took your code, added saved creds - runs great - hello from years ago.  Yes, LucD is a legend.

[DSHAH3]

Hi LucD,

How can I add snaptime column in csv file? I want to make csv file look like: VMname | Snapshot name | description | date | email

*email column is working but not the rest. Please check, thanks! 

Connect-VIServer tormsvdr –User cotadm61 –Password Toronto10

$snapTime = Get-Date "04/17/18 08:00"

$snapName = 'Test'

$snapDescription = 'Scheduled snapshot'

$snapMemory = $true

$snapQuiesce = $false

$fileName = 'C:\TEST\April\snapshotfile.csv'

 

Import-Csv -Path $fileName -UseCulture | %{

    $vm = Get-VM -Name $_.VMName  

    $si = get-view ServiceInstance

    $scheduledTaskManager = Get-View $si.Content.ScheduledTaskManager

    $spec = New-Object VMware.Vim.ScheduledTaskSpec

    $spec.Name = "Snapshot",$vm.Name -join ' '

    $spec.Description = $_.Description

    $spec.Enabled = $true

    $spec.Notification = $_.email

    $spec.Scheduler = New-Object VMware.Vim.OnceTaskScheduler

    $spec.Scheduler.runat = $snapTime

    $spec.Action = New-Object VMware.Vim.MethodAction

    $spec.Action.Name = "CreateSnapshot_Task"

    @($snapName,$snapDescription,$snapMemory,$snapQuiesce) | %{

 

        $arg = New-Object VMware.Vim.MethodActionArgument

 

        $arg.Value = $_

 

        $spec.Action.Argument += $arg

 

    }

    $scheduledTaskManager.CreateObjectScheduledTask($vm.ExtensionData.MoRef, $spec)

}

disconnect-viserver -confirm:$false

$snapTime = Get-Date "04/17/18 08:00"

$snapName = 'Test'

$snapDescription = 'Scheduled snapshot' 

$snapMemory = $true

$snapQuiesce = $false

$fileName = 'C:\snapshotfile.csv'

 

Import-Csv -Path $fileName -UseCulture | %{

    $vm = Get-VM -Name $_.VMName  

    $si = get-view ServiceInstance

    $scheduledTaskManager = Get-View $si.Content.ScheduledTaskManager

    $spec = New-Object VMware.Vim.ScheduledTaskSpec

    $spec.Name = "Snapshot",$vm.Name -join ' '

    $spec.Description = $_.Description

    $spec.Enabled = $true

    $spec.Notification = $_.email

    $spec.Scheduler = New-Object VMware.Vim.OnceTaskScheduler

    $spec.Scheduler.runat = $snapTime

    $spec.Action = New-Object VMware.Vim.MethodAction

    $spec.Action.Name = "CreateSnapshot_Task"

    @($snapName,$snapDescription,$snapMemory,$snapQuiesce) | %{

        $arg = New-Object VMware.Vim.MethodActionArgument

        $arg.Value = $_

        $spec.Action.Argument += $arg

    }

    $scheduledTaskManager.CreateObjectScheduledTask($vm.ExtensionData.MoRef, $spec)

}

[LucD]

All properties in the objects imported from a CSV are strings.

You can convert to a DateTime object with the Get-Date cmdlet.

For example:

$date = '20/04/2018 09:00'

Get-Date $date

You'll have to experiment how Get-Date interprets the string, there are differences.

[prashantpote]

1) Snapshot not created by below script, Let me know if any changes required(Already logged in to vCenter through powercli and my details replaced with xxxxx in below script) :

 

##############################################################################################

 

$snapTime = Get-Date "05/04/19 12:31"

$snapName = 'Test'

$snapDescription = 'Test Scheduled snapshot'

$snapMemory = $true

$snapQuiesce = $false

$emailAddr = '[e-mail]'

$fileName = 'C:\Users\snapshots.csv'

$vcName = 'vcenter6.xxxx.com'

######################################################################

Import-Csv -Path $fileName -UseCulture | %{

    

    $vm = Get-VM -Name $_.VMName

    $si = get-view ServiceInstance

    $scheduledTaskManager = Get-View $si.Content.ScheduledTaskManager

    

    $spec = New-Object VMware.Vim.ScheduledTaskSpec

    $spec.Name = "Snapshot",$vm.Name -join ' '

    $spec.Description = $_.Description

    $spec.Enabled = $true

    $spec.Notification = $emailAddr

    

    $spec.Scheduler = New-Object VMware.Vim.OnceTaskScheduler

    $spec.Scheduler.runat = $snapTime

    

    $spec.Action = New-Object VMware.Vim.MethodAction

    $spec.Action.Name = "CreateSnapshot_Task"

    

    @($snapName,$snapDescription,$snapMemory,$snapQuiesce) | %{

        $arg = New-Object VMware.Vim.MethodActionArgument

        $arg.Value = $_

        $spec.Action.Argument += $arg

    }

    

    $scheduledTaskManager.CreateObjectScheduledTask($vm.ExtensionData.MoRef, $spec)

}

 

===============================================================

Output was :

Type          Value

----          -----

ScheduledTask schedule-201

ScheduledTask schedule-20

 

================================================

 

2) Snapshot not created by script and task generated in vCenter "Created schduled task".

 

3) Giving error when I reran the script for testing :

 

Exception calling "CreateObjectScheduledTask" with "2" argument(s): "The name 'Snapshot TEST1234' already exists."

At C:\Users\ScheduleSnap.ps1:67 char:5

+     $scheduledTaskManager.CreateObjectScheduledTask($vm.ExtensionData ...

+     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    + CategoryInfo          : NotSpecified: (:) [], MethodInvocationException

    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : VimException

 

4) Most important, how to remove or delete created scheduled task from vCenter. ???

[LucD]

1) Script looks ok.

When you see MoRefs being returned it means the ScheduledTasks are created

2) Note that the time you pass to the CreateObjectScheduledTask method is in UTC.
You will have to make sure that you specify a time, when converted to your local time, is in the future.

When the scheduled time is past, the task will not run.

3) You are trying to create a ScheduledTask that already exists with that Name

4) To remove a ScheduledTask, you can do

$taskName = 'Test123'

$si = Get-View ServiceInstance

$scheduledTaskManager = Get-View -Id $si.Content.ScheduledTaskManager

Get-View -Id $scheduledTaskManager.ScheduledTask |

ForEach-Object -Process {

   if ($_.Info.Name -eq $taskName)

   {

   $_.RemoveScheduledTask()

   }

}

[prashantpote]

Removed task successfully. but still confused with Date time as I have tried with using vcenter UTC date time. Script not running(without error without output)

[LucD]

Is there in the Web Client nothing in the Last Run columns?

[daye]

Does this work for connecting to multiple Vcenters, the VMs I am going to take snapshots are cross serveral Vcenters.

 

Thank you,

[LucD]

You will have to know on which vCenter a VM is located.
Then use the Server parameter on the Get-View cmdlet, pointing to that specific vCenter.

You can find the vCenter for a VM with

([Uri]$vm.ExtensionData.Client.ServiceUrl).Host

[satish_rsi]

Hi LucD,

 

The script worked fine until I upgraded my VCSA to 8.0 U2a from 7.x. I'm getting below error while executing the command:

Exception calling "CreateObjectScheduledTask" with "2" argument(s): "A general system error occurred: Error while getting Persistable Token for Session User from TES"
At line:65 char:5
+ $scheduledTaskManager.CreateObjectScheduledTask($vm.ExtensionData ...
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ CategoryInfo : NotSpecified: (:) [], MethodInvocationException

Please help on this as we get lot of snapshot tickets daily.

[LucD]

Never seen that error before I have to admit.
Not sure what this "... from TES" means.

I would suggest opening an SR

[satish_rsi]

Sure LucD...I will let you know what they suggest on this.

[hpkishore]

Hello All,

 

Im new VMware ,and im trying to create a script to take the snapshot for multiple vm`s ( 2000+) for an upgrade for a particular time, but the scripts mentioned in this thread is not working. i have been using the below script ,but its not throwing any error or snapshot is scheduled. So can i have the script to schedule a snapshots? or advise me if im missing anything

 

$snapTime = Get-Date "05/05/24 11:00"
$snapName = 'Test'
$snapDescription = 'Test Scheduled snapshot'
$snapMemory = $true
$snapQuiesce = $false
#$emailAddr = '[e-mail]'
$fileName = 'C:\Users\servers.csv'
$vcName = 'MITR004'
######################################################################
Import-Csv -Path $fileName -UseCulture | %{

$vm = Get-VM -Name $_.VMName
$si = get-view ServiceInstance
$scheduledTaskManager = Get-View $si.Content.ScheduledTaskManager

$spec = New-Object VMware.Vim.ScheduledTaskSpec
$spec.Name = "Snapshot",$vm.Name -join ' '
$spec.Description = $_.Description
$spec.Enabled = $true
$spec.Notification = $emailAddr

$spec.Scheduler = New-Object VMware.Vim.OnceTaskScheduler
$spec.Scheduler.runat = $snapTime

$spec.Action = New-Object VMware.Vim.MethodAction
$spec.Action.Name = "CreateSnapshot_Task"

@($snapName,$snapDescription,$snapMemory,$snapQuiesce) | %{
$arg = New-Object VMware.Vim.MethodActionArgument
$arg.Value = $_
$spec.Action.Argument += $arg
}

$scheduledTaskManager.CreateObjectScheduledTask($vm.ExtensionData.MoRef, $spec)
}

[LucD]

That script works perfectly for me.

[hpkishore]

Are you running using powershell or any other method ? im running powershell from my laptop .

can you please advise how to run it?

[LucD]

You can run it from any PS session, provided you have the PowerCLI modules installed.
How do you run it?
Perhaps a screenshot might help.

[hpkishore]

I use the above script

 

 

and its just connecting to the VC but its not taking any snapshot. and servers.csv just contains the vm name without any heading

 

 

 

[LucD]

The CSV file should have a column name of VMName, and the name of a VM on the next line

VMName
testvm1

 

[hpkishore]

Im getting the below error

 

 

 

 

 

[LucD]

Your Connect-VIServer is not working, check the $vcName variable

[hpkishore]

Im running with the VC name ,but getting the below error

 

 

 

[LucD]

It looks as if there is no VM with the name you entered in the CSV on that vCenter.
What is in the CSV file?
Does a Get-VM return anything when using that name?

[hpkishore]

servers,csv has 2 vm`s with VMName as header

[LucD]

Is there perhaps a blank line in the CSV, at the end?

[hpkishore]

I just validated , all the files and its lines looks good 

[LucD]

Then I'm afraid I can't help you any further

[hpkishore]

Hi

 

Im getting this error , i see the snapshot has been schedule but  i have to run for a single VM at at a time, and then 2nd vm im getting the below error

 

 

 

 

[LucD]

I think the message is clear, that VM is in a funny state.

[hpkishore]

any recommendations to fix ?

[LucD]

Test the creation of the Scheduled Tasks with other VMs.

No clue how you can fix those VMs that are in a funny state

[Pierre Luc St Louis]

Hi satish_rsi,

Did you get a solutions for the error message:

Exception calling "CreateObjectScheduledTask" with "2" argument(s): "A general system error occurred: Error while getting Persistable Token for Session User from TES"

i got the same after upgrading to vcsa 8.0u3. was working fine before.

Thank you

[Pierre Luc St Louis]

I found a workaround. when you connect to your vcenter, use -Credential.

Connect-VIServer -Server $vCenter -Credential (Get-Credential)

something change with vcenter 8. PowerCli 13.3 didnt help either.

[Gianni Fontanini]

This code indeed works, thanks!

There's only a problem when you connect to multiple VIservers (in my case 8).

More often than not it will return me this error:

Exception calling "CreateObjectScheduledTask" with "2" argument(s): "The object has already been deleted or has not been completely created"

At D:\Scripts\ScheduleSnapshot.psm1:160 char:5

+     $scheduledTaskManager.CreateObjectScheduledTask($vm.ExtensionData ...

+     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    + CategoryInfo          : NotSpecified: (:) [], MethodInvocationException

    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : VimException

How can I adjust the code so it automatically finds the right viserver?

Btw. VMware should create some cmdlets for scheduled tasks don't you think?

[LucD]

You will have to use the Server parameter on the cmdlets.

And you will have to pass the name of the vCenter.

###############

# These are the values you should get from your webform

#

$snapTime = Get-Date "31/10/16 23:00"

$snapName = 'Test'

$snapDescription = 'Scheduled snapshot'

$snapMemory = $false

$snapQuiesce = $true

$emailAddr = '[e-mail]'

$fileName = 'C:\Temp\snap.csv'

$vcName = 'MyVC'

###############

Import-Csv -Path $fileName -UseCulture | %{

   

    $vm = Get-VM -Name $_.VMName -Server $vcName

   

    $si = Get-View ServiceInstance -Server $vcName

    $scheduledTaskManager = Get-View $si.Content.ScheduledTaskManager -Server $vcName

   

    $spec = New-Object VMware.Vim.ScheduledTaskSpec

    $spec.Name = "Snapshot",$vm.Name -join ' '

    $spec.Description = $_.Description

    $spec.Enabled = $true

    $spec.Notification = $emailAddr

   

    $spec.Scheduler = New-Object VMware.Vim.OnceTaskScheduler

    $spec.Scheduler.runat = $snapTime

   

    $spec.Action = New-Object VMware.Vim.MethodAction

    $spec.Action.Name = "CreateSnapshot_Task"

   

    @($snapName,$snapDescription,$snapMemory,$snapQuiesce) | %{

        $arg = New-Object VMware.Vim.MethodActionArgument

        $arg.Value = $_

        $spec.Action.Argument += $arg

    }

   

    $scheduledTaskManager.CreateObjectScheduledTask($vm.ExtensionData.MoRef, $spec)

}

[Gianni Fontanini]

Awesome. that works!

to prevent having to use the -Server argument on the Get-VM cmdlet, I changed the code to:

https://pastebin.com/aSPm5jCw

[LucD]

Before you do the Connect-VIServer, you might want to check the DefaultVIServerMode setting with the Get-PowerCLIConfiguration cmdlet.

To make sure it is set to 'multiple'

[Gianni Fontanini]

I am making sure of that :smileyhappy:

$CurrentPowerCLIConfig = Get-PowerCLIConfiguration -Scope Session

    if ($CurrentPowerCLIConfig.DefaultVIServerMode -ne "Multiple") {

        Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -DefaultVIServerMode Multiple -Confirm:$false | Out-Null

    }

[sebskc]

Hi LucD,

Slightly stuck with one thing, below works perfectly but I wish to change from single task execution to reocurring event, once a month.

Doing so, changing "$spec.Scheduler = New-Object VMware.Vim.OnceTaskScheduler" to "$spec.Scheduler = New-Object VMware.Vim.MonthlyByWeekdayTaskScheduler" although, I'm unable to ajdust parameters like offset, day and time.

Any hints please? For example, willing to task occur second Tuesday, every 1 month at 6:00am.

[LucD]

Try like this

$spec = New-Object VMware.Vim.ScheduledTaskSpec

$spec.Scheduler = New-Object VMware.Vim.MonthlyByWeekdayTaskScheduler

$spec.Scheduler.Offset = [VMware.Vim.WeekOfMonth]::second

$spec.Scheduler.Weekday = [VMware.Vim.DayOfWeek]::tuesday

$spec.Scheduler.Hour = 6

[sebskc]

Thanks LucD unfortunately, receiving  below. Definitely doing something wrong, although I'm lost.

Here is full script:

###############

# These are the values you should get from your webform

#

$vmName = 'servername'

$snapTime = Get-Date "10/11/18 23:00"

$snapName = 'Test'

$snapDescription = 'Scheduled snapshot'

$snapMemory = $false

$snapQuiesce = $true

$emailAddr = '[e-mail]'

###############

$vm = Get-VM -Name $vmName

$si = get-view ServiceInstance

$scheduledTaskManager = Get-View $si.Content.ScheduledTaskManager

$spec = New-Object VMware.Vim.ScheduledTaskSpec

$spec.Scheduler = New-Object VMware.Vim.MonthlyByWeekdayTaskScheduler

$spec.Scheduler.Offset = [VMware.Vim.WeekOfMonth]::second

$spec.Scheduler.Weekday = [VMware.Vim.DayOfWeek]::tuesday

$spec.Scheduler.Hour = 6

$spec.Name = "Snapshot",$_.VMname -join ' '

$spec.Description = "Take a snapshot of $($vm.Name)"

$spec.Enabled = $true

$spec.Notification = $emailAddr

$spec.Action = New-Object VMware.Vim.MethodAction

$spec.Action.Name = "CreateSnapshot_Task"

@($snapName,$snapDescription,$snapMemory,$snapQuiesce) | %{

    $arg = New-Object VMware.Vim.MethodActionArgument

    $arg.Value = $_

    $spec.Action.Argument += $arg

}

$scheduledTaskManager.CreateObjectScheduledTask($vm.ExtensionData.MoRef, $spec)

[LucD]

Oops, the Interval property needs to be explicitly set (I assumed it would take the default, which is 1).

Try with this version

###############

# These are the values you should get from your webform

#

$vmName = 'servername'

$snapTime = Get-Date "10/11/18 23:00"

$snapName = 'Test'

$snapDescription = 'Scheduled snapshot'

$snapMemory = $false

$snapQuiesce = $true

$emailAddr = '[e-mail]'

###############

$vm = Get-VM -Name $vmName

$si = get-view ServiceInstance

$scheduledTaskManager = Get-View $si.Content.ScheduledTaskManager

$spec = New-Object VMware.Vim.ScheduledTaskSpec

$spec.Scheduler = New-Object VMware.Vim.MonthlyByWeekdayTaskScheduler

$spec.Scheduler.Offset = [VMware.Vim.WeekOfMonth]::second

$spec.Scheduler.Weekday = [VMware.Vim.DayOfWeek]::tuesday

$spec.Scheduler.Hour = 6

$spec.Scheduler.Interval = 1

$spec.Name = "Snapshot",$_.VMname -join ' '

$spec.Description = "Take a snapshot of $($vm.Name)"

$spec.Enabled = $true

$spec.Notification = $emailAddr

$spec.Action = New-Object VMware.Vim.MethodAction

$spec.Action.Name = "CreateSnapshot_Task"

@($snapName,$snapDescription,$snapMemory,$snapQuiesce) | %{

    $arg = New-Object VMware.Vim.MethodActionArgument

    $arg.Value = $_

    $spec.Action.Argument += $arg

}

$scheduledTaskManager.CreateObjectScheduledTask($vm.ExtensionData.MoRef, $spec)

[sebskc]

Works now perfectly, thank you!

[LauraLeigh]

I am trying to add some user input to the script as follows:

###############

# These are the values you should get from your webform

$Vcenter= Read-Host -Prompt "Which Vcenter is the machine located on?"

$vmName = Read-Host -Prompt "Snapshot of VM"

$date = Read-Host -Prompt "When would you like this to be taken (DD/MM/YY 23:00 Format)"

$Owner = Read-Host -Prompt "Who are you?"

$requester = Read-Host -Prompt "Email Address of Requester"

$SR = Read-Host -Prompt "What is the SR number?"

$snapTime = Get-Date "$date"

$snapName = "Snapshot of $vmName by $owner on $date per SR $SR"

$snapDescription = "Snapshot of $vmName by $owner on $date Per SR $SR"

$snapMemory = $false

$snapQuiesce = $true

$emailAddr = @("[e-mail]", "$requester")

###############

#Add VMWare Snapin & connect to vcenter

Add-PSSnapin VMware.VimAutomation.Core

Connect-VIServer -server $Vcenter

$vm = Get-VM -Name $vmName

$si = get-view ServiceInstance

$scheduledTaskManager = Get-View $si.Content.ScheduledTaskManager

$spec = New-Object VMware.Vim.ScheduledTaskSpec

$spec.Name = "Snapshot",$_.VMname -join ' '

$spec.Description = "Take a snapshot of $($vm.Name)"

$spec.Enabled = $true

$spec.Notification = $emailAddr

$spec.Scheduler = New-Object VMware.Vim.OnceTaskScheduler

$spec.Scheduler.runat = $snapTime

$spec.Action = New-Object VMware.Vim.MethodAction

$spec.Action.Name = "CreateSnapshot_Task"

@($snapName,$snapDescription,$snapMemory,$snapQuiesce) | %{

    $arg = New-Object VMware.Vim.MethodActionArgument

    $arg.Value = $_

    $spec.Action.Argument += $arg

}

$scheduledTaskManager.CreateObjectScheduledTask($vm.ExtensionData.MoRef, $spec)

but I get the following error. I'm pretty new to scripting, so can someone please help me?:

Cannot convert argument "obj", with value: "System.Object[]", for

"CreateObjectScheduledTask" to type "VMware.Vim.ManagedObjectReference": "Cannot convert

the "System.Object[]" value of type "System.Object[]" to type

"VMware.Vim.ManagedObjectReference"."

At \\MyServer\Folder1\Folder2\ScheduleSnapshots.ps1:43 char:1

+ $scheduledTaskManager.CreateObjectScheduledTask($vm.ExtensionData.MoR ...

+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    + CategoryInfo          : NotSpecified: (:) [], MethodException

    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : MethodArgumentConversionInvalidCastArgument

[LucD]

Could it be that Get-VM -Name $vmName returns more than 1 VM?

[LauraLeigh]

no, same error when I take out the variable and enter a single VM name

[LucD]

Are you connected to multiple vSphere Servers?
What is in $global:defaultviservers?

[LauraLeigh]

I killed all of my powershell sessions, Ran the following command:

Disconnect-Viserver -Server * -Force -Confirm:$false

Then ran the script, and I am now getting this error on the last line:

Exception calling "CreateObjectScheduledTask" with "2" argument(s): "A specified

parameter was not correct: "

[LucD]

Did you already try with 1 email address instead of an array?

[LauraLeigh]

Yes, same error was received:

Exception calling "CreateObjectScheduledTask" with "2" argument(s): "A specified

parameter was not correct: "

[LucD]

I have to come back to my original question, are you sure that only 1 VM is returned when you do a Get-VM with that name?
That's for now the only possibility I see.

The error states that it receives an array where it expects a single value.

You could also check by doing a

$spec | Format-Custom -Depth 2

before calling the method.

[LauraLeigh]

Yes I'm sure. The output when adding that line:

class ScheduledTaskSpec

{

  Name = Snapshot

  Description = Take a snapshot of servername

  Enabled = True

  Scheduler =

    class OnceTaskScheduler

    {

      RunAt =

        class DateTime

        {

          Date = 5/4/2019 12:00:00 AM

          Day = 4

          DayOfWeek = Saturday

          DayOfYear = 124

          Hour = 17

          Kind = Unspecified

          Millisecond = 0

          Minute = 30

          Month = 5

          Second = 0

          Ticks = 636925878000000000

          TimeOfDay = 17:30:00

          Year = 2019

          DateTime = Saturday, May 4, 2019 5:30:00 PM

        }

      ActiveTime =

      ExpireTime =

    }

  Action =

    class MethodAction

    {

      Name = CreateSnapshot_Task

      Argument =

        [

          VMware.Vim.MethodActionArgument

          VMware.Vim.MethodActionArgument

        ]

       

    }

  Notification = <[e-mail]>

}

[LucD]

That looks ok.

I just tried your exact code in my test environment, and it creates the scheduled task without an issue.

I'm using PowerCLI 11.2 against a vSphere 6.7 environment.

The error message states that it receives an array where it expects a MoRef.
The only place where that happens is with the 1st parameter to the CreateObjectScheduledTask method, which is the $vm.ExtensionData.MoRef value.

But since you confirmed that $vm only holds a single VM, I have no other explanation where the problem can come from.

[dowlesm]

Since this thread is pretty old you've probably found your answer but I beat my head against this for hours and finally found a reference on the VMWare site that mentioned in order to create a scheduled task you would call the ScheduledTaskManager.CreateScheduledTask method. Online Documentation - VMware vSphere Web Services SDK Programming Guide - VMware {code}. 

Remove the word Object and change the last line to  $scheduledTaskManager.CreateScheduledTask($vm.ExtensionData.MoRef,$spec)

[prashantpote]

No events in vCenter when ran script :(

[LucD]

I find that hard to understand, you showed that you got 2 MoRefs returned.
So at least 2 Scheduled Tasks should be there.