Automating VM Snapshots in VMware vSphere Using PowerShell
In this post, I will share a useful PowerShell script that automates the process of creating snapshots for virtual machines (VMs) in VMware vSphere. Snapshots are vital for backup and recovery, and having an automated solution can save you a lot of time. This script connects to your vSphere server, identifies VMs that are powered on, and creates a snapshot for each VM. Before diving into the script, make sure you have the VMware PowerCLI installed and configured on your system.
Below are the detailed steps followed by the code blocks:
### Step 1: Set up your PowerCLI environment
Before running the script, ensure you have VMware PowerCLI installed. This module allows you to manage vSphere products directly from PowerShell.
“`powershell
# Install PowerCLI if not already installed
Install-Module -Name VMware.PowerCLI -AllowClobber -Force
“`
### Step 2: Connect to your vSphere Server
You need to connect to your vSphere server using the `Connect-VIServer` command. Replace `your_vcenter_server`, `username`, and `password` with your server details.
“`powershell
# Connect to the vSphere server
$server = “your_vcenter_server”
$username = “username”
$password = “password”
Connect-VIServer -Server $server -User $username -Password $password
“`
### Step 3: Get all powered-on virtual machines
The script retrieves a list of all powered-on VMs, which will be used for creating snapshots.
“`powershell
# Get all powered-on VMs
$vmList = Get-VM | Where-Object { $_.PowerState -eq “PoweredOn” }
“`
### Step 4: Create snapshots for each VM
Loop through the list of powered-on VMs and create a snapshot for each.
“`powershell
# Create snapshots for each VM
foreach ($vm in $vmList) {
$snapshotName = “Snapshot_” + (Get-Date -Format “yyyyMMdd_HHmmss”)
New-Snapshot -VM $vm -Name $snapshotName -Description “Automated snapshot created on $($snapshotName)”
Write-Host “Created snapshot $snapshotName for VM $($vm.Name)”
}
“`
### Step 5: Disconnect from the vSphere server
Finally, once the snapshots are created, disconnect from the server to ensure session safety.
“`powershell
# Disconnect from the vSphere server
Disconnect-VIServer -Server $server -Confirm:$false
“`
By implementing the above PowerShell script, you can automate the creation of snapshots for your VMs in VMware vSphere, streamlining your backup processes efficiently.
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