Question

How do I make the following script work? Currently I am able to create a new virtual machine in my server. I wish to also load the Windows ISO image and do an unattended installation in the virtual machine. How shall I edit the script to make this work?

# Virtual Center Details
$server_address = "xxxxx"
$username = "xxxxx"
$password = "xxxxx"
$iso = "WINXP_X86_SP3_CD.ISO"

Get-VIServer -Server $server_address -Protocol https -User $username -Password $password

foreach ($vmm in $array)
{
    $vmm = "VirtualMachine"

    New-VM -name $vmm -DiskMB 20000 -memoryMB 2000
    Get-VM $vmm | Get-CDDrive | Set-CDDrive -IsoPath $iso -StartConnected $true -Confirm:$false
    $value = "5000"
    $vm = Get-VM $vmname | Get-View
    $vmConfigSpec = New-Object VMware.Vim.VirtualMachineConfigSpec
    $vmConfigSpec.BootOptions = New-Object VMware.Vim.VirtualMachineBootOptions
    $vmConfigSpec.BootOptions.BootDelay = $value
    $vm.ReconfigVM_Task($vmConfigSpec)

    Start-vm -vm $vmname
}

Answer 1

my issue is with the ISO PATH image. I am getting the error “Invalid datastore format”

You are specifying isopath using IsoPath parameter, which is the datastore path to the ISO, not simply the ISO name. From your code you are not indicating any datastore.

The syntax for a datastore path is:

"[yourdatastore] IsoFolder\$iso"

Example got from PowerCLI reference online:

$cd = New-CDDrive -VM $vm -ISOPath "[sof-20666-esx:storage1] ISO\testISO.iso"
Set-CDDrive -CD $cd -StartConnected -Connected