Tag: Automation

6th September 2015 · Luca Sturlese

To coincide with my new PowerShell Logging Module, I have also updated my PowerCLI Script Template to now use the PSLogging module as opposed to my original PowerShell_Logging function library.

This template is based on my PowerShell Script Template Version 2, but has been modified for use with PowerCLI so that you can easily create scripts and solutions to automate your VMware world!

Below is everything you need to know on the PowerCLI template, as well as the template itself…

Read More “PowerCLI Script Template v2”

6th September 2015 · Luca Sturlese

Sometime back in 2011 when I first started using PowerShell, I developed some standard functions to handle the creating and management of log files for my PowerShell scripts. These functions were stored in a file called Logging_Functions.ps1 and I would simply dot source them into my script to be able to use them.

I posted them on 9to5IT PowerShell: How to easily create log files for your scripts and since then, to my surprise, they have been well received by many people, and hence the post has become quite a popular one. Recently one of the users emailed me and made a suggestion to convert them into a PowerShell Module.

That got me thinking…. so I have made a number of improvements to the PowerShell logging functions and have now made them available as a PowerShell Logging module. Available right here, below….

Read More “PowerShell Logging v2 – Easily create log files”

23rd August 2015 · Luca Sturlese

At some point during your PowerShelling career you will need to test if “something” is found (or not found) within a certain object. I find that I am usually faced with this situation when I am testing if a string “contains” a value or not.

At this point, I am always confused as to which comparison operator to use. From a logical language perspective I always feel like -contains is the way to go, but then I remember that might not be the correct choice.

To put this issue to bed once and for all (at least for myself), here is a summary of when to use -like and when to use -contains.

Read More “PowerShell -Like vs -Contains Comparison Operators”

5th August 2015 · Luca Sturlese

Recently I needed to find if any virtual machines had been deployed or cloned on a particular day (in order to troubleshoot a storage issue).

The Tasks & Events view in the VI client only shows the last few days of events, so if you need to get events from an older date the only way is through PowerCLI.

Here is how to do get a list of events from vCenter Server using PowerCLI…

Read More “Get vCenter Events using PowerCLI”

28th July 2015 · Luca Sturlese

A while back I wrote an article about all of the different Active Directory FSMO roles available, why they are important and on which Domain Controller they should be place in a Windows forest and/or Windows domain.

However, even if you have placed all FSMO roles on the correct DCs, sometimes it is necessary to move them to another server for one reason or another. This article documents how to move Active Directory FSMO roles from one Domain Controller to another.

Read More “Transferring Active Directory FSMO Roles”

26th March 2015 · Luca Sturlese

In October 2014, Citrix released version 7.6 of both XenApp and Provisioning Services. A few weeks after the release, I created a 8 part step-by-step series on how to install and configure Citrix XenApp 7.6. If you missed it you can see it here >> Citrix XenApp 7.6 Install Guide.

At the time I promised that I would make a similar guide for the installation and configuration of Citrix Provisioning Services 7.6. Well here it is….

Read More “Citrix PVS 7.6 Install – Introduction”