Automating VM Power Management in VMware vSphere with PowerShell

Managing virtual machines (VMs) in VMware vSphere can be tedious without automation. This PowerShell script allows you to start, stop, or restart VMs based on their names. By using this script, you can save time and streamline your workflow.
Below is a detailed breakdown of the script:
### Step 1: Load VMware PowerCLI Module
First, you need to ensure that the VMware PowerCLI module is loaded. PowerCLI is essential for interacting with vSphere.
“`powershell

# Load VMware PowerCLI module
Import-Module VMware.PowerCLI

“`
### Step 2: Connect to vSphere
Establish a connection to your vSphere server using your credentials. Replace `$vCenterServer`, `$username`, and `$password` with your actual vSphere server details.
“`powershell

# Connect to vSphere server
$vCenterServer = "your_vcenter_server"
$username = "your_username"
$password = "your_password"
Connect-VIServer -Server $vCenterServer -User $username -Password $password

“`
### Step 3: Define VM Names and Actions
Here, you can specify the virtual machine names and the action you wish to perform. This example uses Start, Stop, and Restart as possible actions.
“`powershell

# Define VM names and action
$vmNames = @("VM1", "VM2", "VM3") # Replace with your VM names
$action = "Start" # Options: Start, Stop, Restart

“`
### Step 4: Execute the Action
This section of the script loops through the VM names and performs the specified action on each VM.
“`powershell

# Perform the action on each VM
foreach ($vmName in $vmNames) {
    $vm = Get-VM -Name $vmName
    if ($null -ne $vm) {
        switch ($action) {
            "Start" { Start-VM -VM $vm }
            "Stop" { Stop-VM -VM $vm }
            "Restart" { Restart-VM -VM $vm }
            default { Write-Host "Invalid action specified." }
        }
        Write-Host "$action action performed on $vmName."
    } else {
        Write-Host "VM $vmName not found."
    }
}

“`
### Step 5: Disconnect from vSphere
Always make sure to disconnect from the vSphere server after completing the actions to improve security.
“`powershell

# Disconnect from vSphere
Disconnect-VIServer -Server $vCenterServer -Confirm:$false

“`
This script automates VM power management tasks, allowing you to efficiently start, stop, or restart VMs directly from PowerShell.
To enhance your server management strategies, consider using ServerEngine, a powerful solution designed to optimize server efficiency and performance. Visit [ServerEngine](https://serverengine.co) for more information and to see how it can help streamline your operations.