vRA 7.x Snapshotting using PowerCLI Script
Recently, I was looking for a scripted method for cold snapshotting of vRA in enterprise deployment. First, I wanted to confirm the shutdown order. VMware’s product documentation is quite limited regarding this topic, but it describes the right shutdown order. Looking further I found a better explanation here, where the documentation talks about vRA backup order. Of course, I wanted to check the proper starting procedure as well. I found it quickly here.
Well equipped with all information needed, I decided to write a script. Usually I use PowerCLI for tasks related to VMware software. I was sure that someone had the same idea before me so in order not to reinvent the wheel I started to check what Google will find.
I found a few elegant approaches, but one was the most interesting and inspiring.
Distributed vRealize Automation 7.x Orchestrated Shutdown, Snapshot and Startup using PowerCLI
Razz made it the way that I found I could use in my environment. I adjusted the script to my needs and it worked quite well. Of course, there is a lot to polish, but it works for me.
I decided to share Razz’s script adjusted by me. Maybe it will help someone with their administration tasks related to vRA.
$vCSA = ""
$snapName = ""
$snapDescription = ""
$log = ""
# vRA components
$proxy = @()
$worker = @()
$activeMgr = ""
$passiveMgr = @()
$primaryWeb = ""
$secondaryWeb = @()
$masterVRA = ""
$replicaVRA = @()
$dbServers = @()
$vRB = ""
$vRO = @()
$allVMs = @()
# Log file
$log = "coldvRASnapshots.log"
function shutdownVMandWait($vms,$log) {
foreach ($vmName in $vms) {
try {
$vm = Get-VM -Name $vmName -ErrorAction Stop
foreach ($o in $vm) {
if (($o.PowerState) -eq "PoweredOn") {
$v = Shutdown-VMGuest -VM $o -Confirm:$false
Write-Host "Shutdown VM: '$($v.VM)' was issued"
Add-Content -Path $log -Value "$($v)"
} else {
Write-Host "VM '$($vmName)' is not powered on!"
}
}
} catch {
Write-Host "VM '$($vmName)' not found!"
}
}
foreach ($vmName in $vms) {
try {
$vm = Get-VM -Name $vmName -ErrorAction Stop
while($vm.PowerState -eq 'PoweredOn') {
sleep 5
Write-Host "VM '$($vmName)' is still on..."
$vm = Get-VM -Name $vmName
}
Write-Host "VM '$($vmName)' is off!"
} catch {
Write-Host "VM '$($vmName)' not found!"
}
}
}
function snapshotVM($vms,$snapName,$snapDescription,$log) {
foreach ($vmName in $vms) {
try {
$vm = Get-VM -Name $vmName -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
Write-Host "VM '$($vmName)' not found!"
Add-Content -Path $log -Value "VM '$($vmName)' not found!"
}
try {
foreach ($o in $vm) {
New-Snapshot -VM $o -Name $snapName -Description $snapDescription -ErrorAction Stop
}
} catch {
Write-Host "Could not snapshot '$($vmName)' !"
Add-Content -Path $log -Value "Could not snapshot '$($vmName)' !"
}
}
}
function startupVM($vms,$log) {
foreach ($vmName in $vms) {
try {
$vm = Get-VM -Name $vmName -ErrorAction Stop
foreach ($o in $vm) {
if (($o.PowerState) -eq "PoweredOff") {
Start-VM -VM $o -Confirm:$false -RunAsync
} else {
Write-Host "VM '$($vmName)' is not powered off!"
}
}
} catch {
Write-Host "VM '$($vmName)' not found!"
}
}
}
# vCenter Server FQDN
$vCSA = Read-Host -Prompt "Enter vCenter's FQDN"
# Connect vCenter Server
$creds = Get-Credential
Connect-VIServer $vCSA -Credential $creds -ErrorAction Stop
# Get VM names
$proxy = @(((Read-host -Prompt "Enter comma separated names of Proxy Agent VMs").Split(",")).Trim())
$worker = @(((Read-host -Prompt "Enter comma separated names of DEM worker VMs").Split(",")).Trim())
$activeMgr = Read-host -Prompt "First, check which VM is a Primary Manager and then enter its name"
$passiveMgr = @(((Read-host -Prompt "Enter comma separated names of Secondary Manager VMs").Split(",")).Trim())
$primaryWeb = Read-host -Prompt "First, check which VM is a Primary Web Server and then enter its name"
$secondaryWeb = @(((Read-host -Prompt "Enter comma separated names of Secondary Web VMs").Split(",")).Trim())
$masterVRA = Read-host -Prompt "Enter a name of Master vRA Node VM"
$replicaVRA = @(((Read-host -Prompt "Enter comma separated names of Replica vRA Node VMs").Split(",")).Trim())
$dbServers = @(((Read-host -Prompt "Shutdown MSSQL AlwaysOn Cluster first, than enter comma separated names of DB Cluster Node VMs").Split(",")).Trim())
<# ### Uncomment all commented block of code if you have vRB or the external vRO instances in your environment
$vRB = Read-host -Prompt "Enter a name of vRB VM"
$vRO = @(((Read-host -Prompt "Enter comma separated names of external vRO VMs").Split(",")).Trim())
#>
$allVMs = @($proxy, $worker, $passiveMgr, $activeMgr, $secondaryWeb, $primaryWeb, $replicaVRA, $masterVRA, $dbServers)
# Snapshot definition
$snapName = Read-Host -Prompt "Enter Snapshot Name"
$snapDescription = Read-Host -Prompt "Enter Snapshot Description"
# Shutting down vRA VMs
foreach ($vmName in $allVMs) {
foreach ($vm in $vmName) {
if ($vm) {
Write-Host "### Shutting down " + $vm
shutdownVMandWait -vms $vm -log $log
} else {
Write-Host "VM '$($vm)' doesn't exist!"
}
}
}
# Snapshotting vRA VMs
foreach ($vmName in $allVMs) {
foreach ($vm in $vmName) {
if ($vm) {
Write-Host "### Taking snapshot of " + $vm
snapshotVM -vms $vm -snapName $snapName -snapDescription $snapDescription -log $log
} else {
Write-Host "VM '$($vm)' doesn't exist!"
}
}
}
# Starting vRA VMs
<#
Write-Host "### Starting vROs"
startupVM -vms $vRO -log $log
Write-Host "### Starting vRB"
startupVM -vms $vRB -log $log
#>
Write-Host "### Starting DB Servers"
startupVM -vms $dbServers -log $log
Write-Host " Sleeping 5 minutes until db is up"
Start-Sleep -s 300
Write-Host "### Starting primary VRA"
startupVM -vms $masterVRA -log $log
Write-Host " Sleeping 5 minutes until Licensing service is registered"
Start-Sleep -s 300
Write-Host "### Starting secondary VRA"
startupVM -vms $replicaVRA -log $log
Write-Host " Sleeping 15 minutes until ALL services are registered"
Start-Sleep -s 900
Write-Host "### Starting Web"
startupVM -vms $primaryWeb -log $log
startupVM -vms $secondaryWeb -log $log
Write-Host " Sleeping 5 minutes until services are up"
Start-Sleep -s 300
Write-Host "### Starting Primary manager"
startupVM -vms $activeMgr -log $log
Write-Host " Sleeping 3 minutes until manager is up"
Start-Sleep -s 180
Write-Host "### Starting Secondary manager"
startupVM -vms $passiveMgr -log $log
Write-Host " Sleeping 3 minutes until manager is up"
Start-Sleep -s 180
Write-Host "### Starting DEM workers"
startupVM -vms $worker -log $log
Write-Host "### Starting Proxy Agents"
startupVM -vms $proxy -log $log
Write-Host "### All components have been started"
# Disconnect vCenter
Disconnect-VIServer -Server $vCSA -Confirm:$false