Introduction
In this article, we will explore how to use PowerShell to manage a list of virtual machines, resize their hard disks, and allocate new disk space. We will be using the Windows PowerShell ISE and PowerCLI module. No prior experience with PowerShell is required, but a basic understanding of virtualization concepts is assumed.
Prerequisites
- A Windows-based host with PowerCLI installed.
- Access to a vCenter Server or ESXi host.
- A list of virtual machines to be modified.
Connecting to vCenter Server or ESXi Host
Before we can manage virtual machines, we need to connect to the vCenter Server or ESXi host using PowerCLI. To do this, open PowerShell ISE and run the following command:
Connect-VIServer -Server -User -Password Replace
Getting a List of Virtual Machines
To get a list of virtual machines, run the following command:
$VMs = Get-VMThis command retrieves all virtual machines from the connected vCenter Server or ESXi host.
Iterating Through the List of Virtual Machines
Now that we have a list of virtual machines, we can iterate through it to perform tasks on each one. In this example, we will resize their hard disks and allocate new disk space.
Resizing Hard Disks and Allocating New Disk Space
To resize a virtual machine's hard disk and allocate new disk space, use the following PowerCLI commands:
$VM = Get-VM
$Disk = $VM | Get-HardDisk | Where-Object {$_.Label -eq ""}
$NewSizeGB =
$Disk | Set-HardDisk -Size GB -Confirm:$false
$VM | Start-VM Replace
These commands first retrieve the virtual machine and its hard disks, then select the hard disk to be modified based on its label. The Set-HardDisk command is used to resize the hard disk and allocate new disk space. Finally, the Start-VM command is used to start the virtual machine so that the changes can take effect.
Putting It All Together
To iterate through the list of virtual machines and perform the resize and allocate new disk space tasks, use the following PowerCLI script:
Connect-VIServer -Server -User -Password
$VMs = Get-VM
Foreach ($VM in $VMs) {
$Disk = $VM | Get-HardDisk | Where-Object {$_.Label -eq ""}
$NewSizeGB =
$Disk | Set-HardDisk -Size GB -Confirm:$false
$VM | Start-VM
}
Disconnect-VIServer Replace
Summary
In this article, we explored how to use PowerShell to manage a list of virtual machines, resize their hard disks, and allocate new disk space using the Windows PowerShell ISE and PowerCLI module. We covered the prerequisites, connecting to a vCenter Server or ESXi host, getting a list of virtual machines, iterating through the list, and resizing hard disks and allocating new disk space.