Author: Michael Schroeder

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Backup and Restore of ESXi host configurations with PowerCLI

I’m a big fan of PowerCLI one-liners. 🙂

Before performing updates, upgrades or any other maintenance on ESXi hosts, you should backup your ESXi host configuration. Setting up a new ESXi host as replacement is a no-brainer, but rebuilding a lost configuration can be a PITA and might take hours.

In the old times it was necesary to open a SSH shell connection or to use vSphereCLI to issue backup commands to ESXi hosts. Recently I realized that there is a very handy PowerShell commandlet to backup and restore the configuration. Continue reading “Backup and Restore of ESXi host configurations with PowerCLI”

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VCSA and SCP

Using WinSCP with vCenter Server Appliance

Sometimes it’s necesary to exchange files with the vCenter Server Appliance (VCSA). Secure Copy Protocol is the tool of choice to do that job. Besides CLI commands there are handy programs like WinSCP.

While trying to establish a WinSCP connection to VCSA I’ve received communication errors. Whereas SSH connection worked without problems.

The problem is that WinSCP cannot use VCSA’s default shell as communication target. You have to switch default shell first before connecting. To do so, login to VCSA with SSH and activate Bash. Continue reading “VCSA and SCP”

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Runecast Analyzer: new release 1.8

Runecast extends functionality to NSX-V

A new release of Runecast Analyzer is scheduled for June, 26th. Version number 1.8 will come with a bunch of improvements and new features. Most important new feature will be support for the NSX-V platform.  Every important function of vSphere- and vSAN analysis will now be available for NSX-V too.

Feature List

  • The Analyzer now detects NSX issues on VMware NSX-V versions 6.2 – 6.4.x
  • Automated scan and evaluation of the NSX-V Best Practices violations.
  • Automatic NSX-V VMware Security Hardening profile analysis and reporting
  • NSX-V DISA-STIG profile analysis and reporting
  • Automatic discovery of the NSX Managers linked to VMware vCenters
  • Web-console performance improvements for bigger environments (dozens of ESXi hosts).
  • vSphere web console Runecast plugin NSX update with a new issue summary widget.

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