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VMware vSphere 5.0 Evaluation Guide –
Volume One
vSphere PowerCLI by Example
Introduction
vSphere PowerCLI is a snap-in (add-on) to Microsoft Windows PowerShell, a command-line scripting
environment designed for Windows. It leverages the .NET object model, and was designed as an administrative
language with system administrators in mind, because it provides administrators with easy-to-learn
management and automation capabilities. vSphere PowerCLI adds over 200 cmdlets (commands) to native
PowerShell commands, enabling the management of the vSphere environment.
Prerequisites
vSphere PowerCLI is typically installed on a vSphere administrator's Microsoft Windows–based desktop system.
In order to support the installation of vSphere PowerCLI to a desktop system, the following prerequisite software
packages must be present:
• Windows .NET Framework 3.5
• Windows PowerShell (V2 recommended)
Windows PowerShell V2 is integrated with Windows 7 and Windows 2008 R2. Previous operating systems, such
as Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 2008 (not R2), and Windows 2003, are compatible with Windows
PowerShell. This must be first downloaded and installed from the following Web site:
http://support.microsoft.
com/kb/968929
Install vSphere PowerCLI
After checking that all prerequisites are installed, you must set the execution policy of PowerShell to enable it to
run scripts. By default, PowerShell is installed in secure mode, which will disable the running of scripts within
PowerShell. To change the execution policy, start a PowerShell session with administrator privileges, as follows:
Figure 77. Starting PowerShell Session
T E C H N I C A L W H I T E P A P E R / 6 2
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