The VMM Scripting Guide is now available in the download center. The Virtual Machine Manager Scripting Guide explains how to create Microsoft Windows PowerShell scripts that execute Virtual Machine Manger 2007 commands, and provides more thatn 100 pages of useful sample scripts, including:
For example, the SummarizeVMMInformation.ps1 script displays a summary or information about your VMM environment.
The following sections describe each set of commands that make up the SummarizeVMMInformation.ps1 script.
The first set of commands in SummarizeVMMInformation.ps1 performs the following tasks:
1. Retrieves today's date from the system and stores the date in variable $SummaryDate.
2. Connects to the Virtual Machine Manager server, VMMServer1, in the Contoso.com domain, retrieves the server object from the Virtual Machine Manager database, and stores the server object in variable $VMMServer.
3. Retrieves, from the Virtual Machine Manager database, the Virtual Machine Manager host objects as an array and stores the host objects in variable $VMHosts.
4. Retrieves, from the Virtual Machine Manager database, all virtual machine objects and uses the pipeline operator (|) and where statement to select only objects for virtual machines that are not stored in the library. The command stores these virtual machine objects in variable $HostedVMs.
5. Displays the following summary information about your Virtual Machine Manager server and its hosts and virtual machines:
· Today's date.
· The name of the Virtual Machine Manager server.
· Whether this is an evaluation version of the Virtual Machine Manager software.
· The placement goal (the two possible values are LoadBalance or Consolidate) that Virtual Machine Manager uses to select the most suitable host on which to deploy a virtual machine. LoadBalance refers to load balancing among hosts, which minimizes the processing load on any one host. Consolidate refers to resource maximization on individual hosts, which consolidates multiple low-utilization workloads on a single host.
· The number of hosts added to this Virtual Machine Manager server.
· The number of virtual machines deployed on any host.
· The average number of virtual machines per host.
####################################################################
# Summary of Virtual Machine Manager Server
$SummaryDate = Get-Date
# Substitute the name of your VMM server and domain in this command:
$VMMServer = Get-VMMServer -ComputerName "VMMServer1.Contoso.com"
$VMHosts = @(Get-VMHost)
$HostedVMs = @(Get-VM | where {$_.Status -ne "Stored"})
Write-Host "`nVIRTUAL MACHINE MANAGER SERVER" -ForegroundColor Yellow
Write-Host "Summary Date :", $SummaryDate
Write-Host "VMM Server Name :", $VMMServer.Name
Write-Host "Evaluation Version :", $VMMServer.IsEvaluationVersion
Write-Host "Placement Goal :", $VMMServer.PlacementGoal
Write-Host "Total Hosts :", $VMHosts.Count
Write-Host "Hosted VMs :", $HostedVMs.Count
if ($VMHosts.Count -ne 0)
{
Write-Host "VMs per Host :", ($HostedVMs.Count / $VMHosts.Count)
}
The next set of commands performs the following tasks:
1. Retrieves, from the Virtual Machine Manager database, self-service policy objects as an array and stores the policy objects in variable $SelfServicePolicies. A self-service policy allows a user or members of a group to create and manage their own virtual machines through the Virtual Machine Manager self-service feature. Self-service users manage their virtual machines through a Web site called the Self-Service Portal.
2. Displays the following summary information about virtual machines that are available to self-service users, using the pipeline operator (|) and where statement to filter virtual machine objects based on specific criteria:
· The total number of self-service policies.
· The total number of virtual machines that are available for self-service users.
· The number of virtual machines that are assigned to self-service users and are currently deployed on a host server.
· The total number of virtual machines that are assigned to self-service users and that are currently stored in the Virtual Machine Manager library. These virtual machines are unavailable to self-service users unless the self-service policy that governs these machines includes the permission that allows users to store their virtual machines in the library. The store permission also enables users to deploy a stored virtual machine on a host server (unless the quota-points setting blocks the deployment of additional virtual machines).
# Summary of Self-Service
####################################################################$Se$SelfServicePolicies = @(Get-SelfServicePolicy)
$VMs = @(Get-VM)
Write-Host "`nSELF-SERVICE" -ForegroundColor Yellow
Write-Host "Self Service Policies :", $SelfServicePolicies.Count
Write-Host "Total Self-Service VMs :", @($VMs | where {$_.SelfServicePolicy -ne $null}).Count
Write-Host "Hosted Self-Service VMs :", @($VMs | where {$_.SelfServicePolicy -ne $null} | where {$_.Status -ne "Stored"}).Count
Write-Host "Stored Self-Service VMs :", @($VMs | where {$_.SelfServicePolicy -ne $null} | where {$_.Status -eq "Stored"}).Count
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Is it just me, or is it getting crowded in here? According to this story:
"Customers can download "Oracle VM" for free starting on Wednesday, the company said. Oracle will sell service contracts for the product ranging from $499 to $999 per year."
According to www.oracle.com/virtualization: "Oracle is the only software vendor that combines the benefits of server clustering and server virtualization technologies to deliver integrated clustering, virtualization, storage, and management for Grid Computing."
According to this MSN article:
"No matter what field you’re in or position you hold, the ability to communicate clearly, concisely and credibly in writing is a required and important skill for advancement in any organization."
1. Take a break before trying to proofread. Give your tired eyes and brain a rest.
2. Find a proofreading buddy, and check each other’s work. It’s easier to proof other people's writing than to do your own.
3. Proofread on paper (not on the screen)....easier on the eyes.
4. Proof text backward. That stops the tendency to skip words as you read and miss some of the errors.
5. Look things up when you're not 100 percent certain (e.g., fewer or less, comma or colon). Don't guess."
Another thing that works: paste your e-mail into Powerpoint. If your main issue/ask does not fit on one slide that is readable in hard-copy that you put at your feet (from 5-6 feet in other words) - go back boil it down. Refine it until it is easily readable and clearly understandable printed on one slide, from 5-6 feet away. Sorta like writing the newspaper headline to the content. Put extra detail in links that the reader can follow if they want to drill down.
The most important commodity a writer deals in is:
reader attention.
Don't waste it :-)
Chris Wolf published an article on scripting backup of VMs here (vsbackup.vbs), based on Jeff Trumbull's VB backup script. His vsbackup.vbs script is shown in the code here:
Set objShell = CreateObject ("WScript.Shell") 'Load current date (formatted as mm-dd-yyyy) 'into variable strToday strTime = Month(Now) & "-" & Day(Now) & "-" & Year(Now) &_ "_" & hour(now) & "-" & minute(now) ' Backup target folder or UNC path strBackupDir = "E:\Backup\VS\" & strTime & "\" 'Drive containing Virtual Machines strVMdrive = "D:" 'VM folder path strVMfolder = "VS" 'available drive letter used to mount shadow copy strTempDrive = "X:" 'Prepare shadow copy commands sExCmd = "CreateVSS.cmd" Set oFileSys = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") if oFileSys.FileExists(sExCmd) then oFileSys.DeleteFile(sExCmd) set oExCmd = oFileSys.CreateTextFile(sExCmd, CopyOverwrite) 'create backup folder Set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") Set objFolder = objFSO.CreateFolder(strBackupDir) ' Create Shadow copy of VM drive oExCmd.WriteLine "vshadow.exe -script=setvar1.cmd -p " &_ strVMdrive oExCmd.WriteLine "call setvar1.cmd" oExCmd.WriteLine "vshadow.exe -el=%SHADOW_ID_1%," &_ strTempDrive oExCmd.Close Result = objShell.run(sExCmd,vbMinimized, TRUE) 'Copy the virtual machine files from the shadow copy strSource = strTempDrive & "\" & strVMfolder objFSO.CopyFolder strSource , strBackupDir, TRUE ' Delete created shadow copy instance if oFileSys.FileExists(sExCmd) then oFileSys.DeleteFile(sExCmd) set oExCmd = oFileSys.CreateTextFile(sExCmd, CopyOverwrite) oExCmd.WriteLine "Echo y | vshadow.exe -da" oExCmd.Close Result = objShell.run(sExCmd,vbMinimized, TRUE) 'Backup complete! wscript.echo("Backup complete!")
In the VMM Scripting Guide, you will find a Windows PowerShell script that'll backup your VMM server.
If you do not know whether the Virtual Machine Manager database is stored locally or on a remote server running SQL Server 2005, use the following procedure.
To determine whether the VMM database is stored locally or remotely
1. Open the Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to the following subkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2007 Server\Settings\Sql
3. View the value for OnRemoteServer:
· If OnRemoteServer is set to 0, the database is on the local Virtual Machine Manager server.
· If OnRemoteServer is set to 1, the database is on a remote server running the SQL Server service.
You can use the BackupLocalVMM.ps1 script to back up the Virtual Machine Manager database if the database is stored locally on the Virtual Machine Manager server.
The first command in the script connects to VMMServer1 in the Contoso.com domain, retrieves the server object from the Virtual Machine Manager database, and stores the server object in variable $VMMServer:
The second command in the script uses the Backup-VMMServer cmdlet to back up the Virtual Machine Manager database stored on VMMServer1 to C:\VMMBackups on VMMServer1:
Backup-VMMServer –Path "C:\VMMBackups" -VMMServer $VMMServer
The destination path (C:\VMMBackups in the following example) must be on a server that stores the Virtual Machine Manager database. The server must be running SQL Server 2005 or SQL Server 2005 Express Edition SP1. The following example assumes that SQL Server is installed on VMMServer1 rather than on a remote server.
Copy the following complete version of BackupLocalVMM.ps1 into a Notepad file, and save it as BackupLocalVMM.ps1.
# Filename: BackupLocalVMM.ps1
# Description: Backs up the VMM database when the database
# is stored locally on the VMM server.
# DISCLAIMER:
# Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. This
# script is made available to you without any express, implied or
# statutory warranty, not even the implied warranty of
# merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, or the
# warranty of title or non-infringement. The entire risk of the
# use or the results from the use of this script remains with you.
# Substitute your backup folder path and name for C:\VMMBackups:
Thanks to chenley, who notes on his blog and in his webcast (Deploying Remote Programs with Windows Server 2008 Terminal Services) that you can get $100 of TN+ sub using the code: TMSAM03
This subscription also includes 2 free support calls to the Microsoft Help Desk (generally valued at more than $200 each), and a host of other monthly benefits that are included in the monthly newsletter.
The TechNet Pus Direct subscription is valid for 1 year from the date of purchase and can be renewed at a percentage of the initial cost if you want the subscription to continue.
Click the yellow shopping cart link for United States and Canda.
Use this coupon code and to get $100 off the $349 price. TMSAM03
You already knew that *IT Pros have their own "Channel 9" now, right? It is out on the Edge.
Check out Matt's Windows Server 2008 Terminal Services Overview.
Actually, the Edge is not C9, and it is not Facebook for IT, but it IS the place IT Pros can build to be their Microsoft-sponsored community.
Join up. See you on the edge...
New in the SCVMM library today:
Planning a Virtual Machine Manager 2007 Deployment
Installing and Configuring Virtual Machine Manager 2007
Tutorial: Getting Started Creating Virtual Machines
and Operations
You already knew about
Virtual Machine Manager Scripting Guide
Windows PowerShell Virtual Machine Manager Cmdlet Reference
right?
Note a couple of new troubleshooters as well...
Troubleshooting "Not Responding" Status for a Host
Troubleshooting Virtual Machine Statuses
Troubleshooting Database Issues in VMM
Great new interview over on the Edge with Kyril Faenov, the general program manager of HPC: http://edge.technet.com/Media/An-interview-with-Kyril-Faenov-on-High-Performance-Computing-HPC--Windows-Compute-Cluster-Server/.
Check out this site for follow up: http://windowshpc.net
You can deploy Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) in an environment that has either a Fibre Channel or an iSCSI storage area network (SAN) and perform SAN transfers within VMM; however, your system must be properly configured as described in this topic in the SCVMM TechNet Library.
If you are using an iSCSI SAN, you must install the Microsoft iSCSI Software Initiator Version 2.02 on each computer that will serve as a source or a destination location for your SAN transfers. You can download this software from the Microsoft Download Center (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=88000).
When used with Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1, VMM supports Quick Migration. The migration wizard will also automatically detect SAN infrastructure and will enable the IT administrator to choose to migrate VMs over SAN. When used with a SAN infrastructure, the length of the service interruption using Quick migration will depend only on the size of the Virtual Machine's memory, as that will determine the time it takes to pause the Virtual Machine for migrtion.
For October 1997: top 10 most-visited pages on the TechCenter (including the Library) were:
o System Center Virtual Machine Manager TechCenter (home page)
o Evaluate System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2007
o Evaluate System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2007 today (download page)
o System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2007 HowTo Videos
o Virtual Machine Manager System Requirements
o System Center Virtual Machine Manager Downloads
o System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2007 (top-node page of the Library)
o Virtual Machine Manager FAQ (technical FAQ)
o Virtual Machine Manager System Requirements -- Single Computer
o System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2007 Product Overview
More FAQs:
A new version of the Linux Additions for Virtual Server is now available from the Microsoft Download Center via the following webpage:
These new Additions add support for some updated distributions of Linux (details on the webpage above) and are designed to work with Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1 which is available at
Our first month's metrics about visitors to the VMM Technical Library worried the PTB, so they asked me to cruft up an alternate nav scheme. Here's a list of what I anticipate will the top-most-visited areas of the library...
...notice the self-fulfulling part of the equation?
Press CTRL+F on a troubleshooting page, and then enter your error number or text to search for the possible cause and solution.