Manage VMM library servers with PowerShell

Export and import VMM library resources

You might want to export library resources, such as hard disk files or ISO files, to a location for manual distribution. In that case, use the Export-LibraryPhysicalResource PowerShell cmdlet, as shown below:

$ThisResource = Get-SCVirtualHardDisk -Name "MyISOFile.ISO"

Export-SCLibraryPhysicalResource -Resource $ThisResource -Path "C:\ISOFiles\" -OverwriteExistingFiles

Note that the Get-SCVirtualHardDisk PowerShell cmdlet gets the reference for the resource you specify, and then the second command actually exports the resource to the location you specify. The -OverwriteExistingFiles parameter ensures you don't receive an error message or prompt if the export command finds a similar resource in the location you specify.

You can also specify a network location to store exported resources, as shown below:

$ThisResource = Get-SCVirtualHardDisk -Name "MyVHDXFile.VHDX"

Export-SCLibraryPhysicalResource -Resource $ThisResource -Path "\\FileServer1\ShareNameHere" -OverwriteExistingFiles

To import a specific resource to a VMM library server, execute the following PowerShell command:

Import-SCLibraryPhysicalResource -SourcePath "C:\ResourceDIR\MyVHDXFile.VHDX" -SharePath \\LibraryServer1\MSSCVMMLibrary\ThisLibraryResourceShare" OverwriteExistingFiles

This command gets the MyVHDXFile.VHDX resource from the C:\ResourceDIR folder and then imports it to a library server in ThisLibraryResourceShare.

Find resources in a VMM library server

There are times when you might want to search for resources in a VMM library server. For example, you might want to check how many ISO files exist in the library share.

Similarly, you might want to check if a specific hard disk file or an ISO file exists in the library share. Below are a few PowerShell commands that use various VMM cmdlets to find a resource in the library share.

To find a specific resource, such as a hard disk file in a library server, execute the following command:

Get-SCVirtualHardDisk | Where { $_.Name -eq "ThisVHDX.VHDX" -and $_.LibraryServer.Name -eq "LibraryServer1.TechTarget.com" }

To find hard disks that match with a given string, use the -like switch, as shown in the command below:

Get-SCVirtualHardDisk | Where { $_.Name -like "Windows*" -and $_.LibraryServer.Name -eq "LibraryServer1.TechTarget.com" }

To list all the virtual hard disk files associated with a VMM template, execute the following command:

Get-SCVMTemplate | Where { $_.Name -eq "ThisTemplateName"} | Get-SCVirtualHardDisk

List VMM templates

Apart from storing hard disk files, ISO files and drivers, library servers also store VMM and service templates. If you want to get a list of the VMM templates stored in a library server, execute the PowerShell command below:

Get-SCVMTemplate -All -VMServer "ThisVMServer.TechTarget.com"

To export the list in a CSV file, use Export-CSV at the end of the command:

Get-SCVMTemplate -All -VMServer "ThisVMServer.TechTarget.com" | Export-CSV C:\Temp\AllSCVMTemplates.CSV

If you are looking for a specific VMM template in a library server, execute the following command:

Get-SCVMTemplate -VMServer "ThisVMServer.TechTarget.com" | Where { $_.Name -eq "Windows Server 2016 Template" }

To list all the VMM templates that match a given string, execute the PowerShell command below:

Get-SCVMTemplate -VMServer "ThisVMServer.TechTarget.com" | Where { $_.Name -like "Windows 10*" }

Check for dependent resources in VMM library servers

In addition to storing independent objects, a library server also stores dependent objects. For example, a virtual hard disk that is associated with a VM template is called a dependent resource.

To list or see if a particular object has any dependency, execute the Get-SCDepedentLibraryResource PowerShell cmdlet, as shown in the command below:

$ThisVHD = Get-SCVirtualHardDisk | Where { $_.Name -eq "Windows2016" }

Get-SCDepedentLibraryResource -LibraryResource $ThisVHD

The first command gets the VHD file named Windows2016 from a library server and stores it in the $ThisVHD variable. The second command shows whether the VHD file is associated with a VM template or VM.

Be sure to check for dependency before removing a resource stored in a library server.