I saved a tweet a while back from William Lam about the ability to send keystrokes to a VM via PowerCLI. The first thing that popped into mind is “Automating a nested ESXi installation”. As you could imagine this would be extremely convenient in spinning up a new VMware Lab.
Last weekend was the day for testing this out!
The script works by a function that allows you to specify which keystrokes to send via vCenter Server, directly to the VM. For example, as you type a word, IP address, etc, the script will loop through each character and send them 1-by-1 to the VM. Let’s say you want to set the IP address for your ESXi host, you can simply send 192.168.1.10 and voila, it will appear on the host.
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName MYESXIHOST -StringInput "192.168.1.10"
The script function that William Lam provides is more than awesome in itself, however, I made a few tweaks to add additional functionality. What mods did I make you ask?
The original script is great for single digit characters, however, what if I need to send a function key such as F2 or press the ESC key?
Automating VMware ESXi Installations – Modifications to Original Function
In order to allow for these special keys, I had to change the mandatory -StringInput switch to being optional. I also added another switch called -SpecialKeyInput which includes:
- All functions keys (F1-F12)
- Keyboard TAB, ESC, Backspace, Enter
- Keyboard Up, Down, Left, Right
With the extra modifications being set, it was time to start creating the script line by line. You will find the entire script below. It is important to note that you must do the following before running the script:
- You will need PowerCLI – You can find the install instructions here
- The script requires a minimum of ESXi 6.5
- Set all your variables in the “Set your variables here” section of the script
- There are sleep timers in the script of 5 seconds. I found within my lab some windows took 1-2 seconds to appear after pressing enter
- There are some Pauses in the script which allows you to double check a setting or wait for the install. (Optionally you could remove the PAUSE and set a long Sleep timer such as 5 mins)
- Boot your ESXi VM to the installation screen (see screenshot below)
Automating VMware ESXi with PowerCLI Demonstration
Automating ESXi Installation PowerCLI Script
Before running the script in your lab, please watch the video above so you can see what the whole process looks like and how the script will behave.
NOTE: The Debug output is turned on for all Set-VMKeyStrokes. You can disable Debug Output by changing the switch from -DebugOn $True to -DebugOn $False
GITHUB: The script is also available on my Github page
<#
===========================================================================
Main Script Created by: David Rodriguez
Blog: www.sysadmintutorials.com
Twitter: @systutorials
Set-VMKeystrokes Function
Created by: William Lam
Organization: VMware
Blog: www.virtuallyghetto.com
Twitter: @lamw
===========================================================================
.DESCRIPTION
This Script will Automate your ESXi installation by sending keystrokes
directly to the VM.
.SETTINGS
Scroll down to, "Set your Variables here"
.IMPORTANT
When all your variables are set, you must boot ESXi so that it's waiting
at the installation prompt. Once at the installation prompt, you can
proceed to run this script and watch the magic happen
#>
# Connect to vCenter Server
$VcenterServer = "vmvcenter.vmlab.local" #Vcenter Server that contains the nested esxi host - Replace with your vCenter server address
Connect-VIServer $VcenterServer -ErrorAction Stop #Connect to vCenter Server
# Set your Variables here
$UseVlan = "No" #Use Yes/No here, if you would like to assign a vlan to your esxi host
$VlanID = "" #If using the above option, set VLAN ID here. If not leave blank ""
$VirtualMachine = Get-VM nsx-a-esxi4 #Set your nested ESXi VM Name here
$Ipv4Address = "192.168.1.89" #Set ESXi Host IP Address
$Ipv4Subnet = "255.255.255.0" #Set ESXi Host Subnet Mask
$Ipv4Gateway = "192.168.1.1" #Set ESXi Host Default Gateway
$PrimaryDNS = "192.168.1.101" #Set ESXi Host Primary DNS
$HostName = "nsx-a-esxi4.vmlab.local" #Set ESXi Host Name
$DNSSuffix = "vmlab.local" #Set ESXi DNS suffix
$RootPw = "vmware123!" #Set ESXi Root Password
sleep 5
# Functions
Function Set-VMKeystrokes {
<#
.NOTES
===========================================================================
Created by: William Lam
Organization: VMware
Blog: www.virtuallyghetto.com
Twitter: @lamw
===========================================================================
.DESCRIPTION
This function sends a series of character keystrokse to a particular VM
.PARAMETER VMName
The name of a VM to send keystrokes to
.PARAMETER StringInput
The string of characters to send to VM
.PARAMETER DebugOn
Enable debugging which will output input charcaters and their mappings
.EXAMPLE
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VM -StringInput "root"
.EXAMPLE
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VM -StringInput "root" -ReturnCarriage $true
.EXAMPLE
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VM -StringInput "root" -DebugOn $true
===========================================================================
Modified by: David Rodriguez
Organization: Sysadmintutorials
Blog: www.sysadmintutorials.com
Twitter: @systutorials
===========================================================================
.MODS
Made $StringInput Optional
Added a $SpecialKeyInput - See PARAMETER SpecialKeyInput below
Added description to write-hosts [SCRIPTINPUT] OR [SPECIALKEYINPUT]
.PARAMETER StringInput
The string of single characters to send to the VM
.PARAMETER SpecialKeyInput
All Function Keys i.e. F1 - F12
Keyboard TAB, ESC, BACKSPACE, ENTER
Keyboard Up, Down, Left Right
.EXAMPLE
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VM -SpecialKeyInput "F2"
#>
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory=$true)][String]$VMName,
[Parameter(Mandatory=$false)][String]$StringInput,
[Parameter(Mandatory=$false)][String]$SpecialKeyInput,
[Parameter(Mandatory=$false)][Boolean]$ReturnCarriage,
[Parameter(Mandatory=$false)][Boolean]$DebugOn
)
# Map subset of USB HID keyboard scancodes
# https://gist.github.com/MightyPork/6da26e382a7ad91b5496ee55fdc73db2
$hidCharacterMap = @{
"a"="0x04";
"b"="0x05";
"c"="0x06";
"d"="0x07";
"e"="0x08";
"f"="0x09";
"g"="0x0a";
"h"="0x0b";
"i"="0x0c";
"j"="0x0d";
"k"="0x0e";
"l"="0x0f";
"m"="0x10";
"n"="0x11";
"o"="0x12";
"p"="0x13";
"q"="0x14";
"r"="0x15";
"s"="0x16";
"t"="0x17";
"u"="0x18";
"v"="0x19";
"w"="0x1a";
"x"="0x1b";
"y"="0x1c";
"z"="0x1d";
"1"="0x1e";
"2"="0x1f";
"3"="0x20";
"4"="0x21";
"5"="0x22";
"6"="0x23";
"7"="0x24";
"8"="0x25";
"9"="0x26";
"0"="0x27";
"!"="0x1e";
"@"="0x1f";
"#"="0x20";
"$"="0x21";
"%"="0x22";
"^"="0x23";
"&"="0x24";
"*"="0x25";
"("="0x26";
")"="0x27";
"_"="0x2d";
"+"="0x2e";
"{"="0x2f";
"}"="0x30";
"|"="0x31";
":"="0x33";
"`""="0x34";
"~"="0x35";
"<"="0x36";
">"="0x37";
"?"="0x38";
"-"="0x2d";
"="="0x2e";
"["="0x2f";
"]"="0x30";
"\"="0x31";
"`;"="0x33";
"`'"="0x34";
","="0x36";
"."="0x37";
"/"="0x38";
" "="0x2c";
"F1"="0x3a";
"F2"="0x3b";
"F3"="0x3c";
"F4"="0x3d";
"F5"="0x3e";
"F6"="0x3f";
"F7"="0x40";
"F8"="0x41";
"F9"="0x42";
"F10"="0x43";
"F11"="0x44";
"F12"="0x45";
"TAB"="0x2b";
"KeyUp"="0x52";
"KeyDown"="0x51";
"KeyLeft"="0x50";
"KeyRight"="0x4f";
"KeyESC"="0x29";
"KeyBackSpace"="0x2a";
"KeyEnter"="0x28";
}
$vm = Get-View -ViewType VirtualMachine -Filter @{"Name"="^$($VMName)$"}
# Verify we have a VM or fail
if(!$vm) {
Write-host "Unable to find VM $VMName"
return
}
#Code for -StringInput
if($StringInput)
{
$hidCodesEvents = @()
foreach($character in $StringInput.ToCharArray()) {
# Check to see if we've mapped the character to HID code
if($hidCharacterMap.ContainsKey([string]$character)) {
$hidCode = $hidCharacterMap[[string]$character]
$tmp = New-Object VMware.Vim.UsbScanCodeSpecKeyEvent
# Add leftShift modifer for capital letters and/or special characters
if( ($character -cmatch "[A-Z]") -or ($character -match "[!|@|#|$|%|^|&|(|)|_|+|{|}|||:|~|<|>|?|*]") ) {
$modifer = New-Object Vmware.Vim.UsbScanCodeSpecModifierType
$modifer.LeftShift = $true
$tmp.Modifiers = $modifer
}
# Convert to expected HID code format
$hidCodeHexToInt = [Convert]::ToInt64($hidCode,"16")
$hidCodeValue = ($hidCodeHexToInt -shl 16) -bor 0007
$tmp.UsbHidCode = $hidCodeValue
$hidCodesEvents+=$tmp
if($DebugOn) {
Write-Host "[StringInput] Character: $character -> HIDCode: $hidCode -> HIDCodeValue: $hidCodeValue"
}
} else {
Write-Host "[StringInput] The following character `"$character`" has not been mapped, you will need to manually process this character"
break
}
}
}
#Code for -SpecialKeyInput
if($SpecialKeyInput)
{
if($hidCharacterMap.ContainsKey([string]$SpecialKeyInput))
{
$hidCode = $hidCharacterMap[[string]$SpecialKeyInput]
$tmp = New-Object VMware.Vim.UsbScanCodeSpecKeyEvent
$hidCodeHexToInt = [Convert]::ToInt64($hidCode,"16")
$hidCodeValue = ($hidCodeHexToInt -shl 16) -bor 0007
$tmp.UsbHidCode = $hidCodeValue
$hidCodesEvents+=$tmp
if($DebugOn) {
Write-Host "[SpecialKeyInput] Character: $character -> HIDCode: $hidCode -> HIDCodeValue: $hidCodeValue"
}
} else {
Write-Host "[SpecialKeyInput] The following character `"$character`" has not been mapped, you will need to manually process this character"
break
}
}
# Add return carriage to the end of the string input (useful for logins or executing commands)
if($ReturnCarriage) {
# Convert return carriage to HID code format
$hidCodeHexToInt = [Convert]::ToInt64("0x28","16")
$hidCodeValue = ($hidCodeHexToInt -shl 16) + 7
$tmp = New-Object VMware.Vim.UsbScanCodeSpecKeyEvent
$tmp.UsbHidCode = $hidCodeValue
$hidCodesEvents+=$tmp
}
# Call API to send keystrokes to VM
$spec = New-Object Vmware.Vim.UsbScanCodeSpec
$spec.KeyEvents = $hidCodesEvents
Write-Host "Sending keystrokes to $VMName ...`n"
$results = $vm.PutUsbScanCodes($spec)
}
# From this point forward, the ESXi configuration starts
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyEnter" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Key Enter
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "F11" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Press F11 to accept EULA
Write-Host "Check that you are installing ESXi to local disk, if correct press Enter" -BackgroundColor DarkRed -ForegroundColor White
PAUSE
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyEnter" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Key Enter
Write-Host "Setting US Default for Keyboard Layout" -ForegroundColor Yellow
SLEEP 5
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyEnter" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Key Enter
Write-Host "Setting Root Password for ESXi" -ForegroundColor Yellow
SLEEP 5
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -StringInput "$RootPw" -ReturnCarriage $True -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Root password
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "TAB" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Root password
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -StringInput "$RootPw" -ReturnCarriage $True -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Root password
Write-Host "Beginning the Installation" -ForegroundColor Yellow
SLEEP 5
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "F11" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Begin Installation
Write-Host "Once the install has finished, press Enter to Reboot and Complete Installation" -BackgroundColor DarkGreen -ForegroundColor White
PAUSE
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyEnter" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Key Enter
Write-Host "Once Host has rebooted, Press Enter to Begin ESXi setup" -BackgroundColor DarkRed -ForegroundColor White
PAUSE
#Start ESXi Configuration
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "F2" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - F2 to login
SLEEP 5
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "TAB" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Tab to Password
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -StringInput "$RootPw" -ReturnCarriage $True -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Root password
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyEnter" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Key Enter
SLEEP 15
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyDown" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Key Down to Configure Management Network
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyEnter" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Key Enter
#Use VLAN or Not
If ($UseVlan -eq "Yes")
{
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyDown" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Key Down to VLAN
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -StringInput " " -ReturnCarriage $True -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Enter
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -StringInput "$VlanID" -ReturnCarriage $True -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Enter
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyESC" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - ESC back
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyDown" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Key Down to IPv4 Configuration
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyEnter" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Key Enter
}
ELSE
{
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyDown" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Key Down
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyDown" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Key Down to IPv4 Configuration
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyEnter" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Key Enter
}
#Set IPv4 Configuration
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyDown" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Key Down
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyDown" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Key Down
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -StringInput " " -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Select Disable IPv6
SLEEP 5
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyDown" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Key Down
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyBackSpace" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Remove existing IPv4 Address
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -StringInput "$Ipv4Address" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Enter IPv4 Address
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyDown" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Key Down
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyBackSpace" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Remove existing IPv4 Subnet
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -StringInput "$Ipv4Subnet" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Enter IPv4 Subnet
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyDown" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Key Down
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyBackSpace" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Remove existing IPv4 Default Gateway
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -StringInput "$Ipv4Gateway" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Enter IPv4 Subnet
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyEnter" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Remove existing IPv4 Default Gateway
SLEEP 5
#Disable IPv6
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyDown" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Key Down
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyEnter" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - IPv6 Configuration
SLEEP 5
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyUp" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Key Down
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -StringInput " " -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Select Disable IPv6
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyEnter" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - IPv6 Commit Changes
SLEEP 5
#Set DNS Configuration
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyDown" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Key Down
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyEnter" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - DNS Configuration
SLEEP 5
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -StringInput "$PrimaryDNS" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Primary DNS IP Address
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyDown" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Key Down
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyDown" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Key Down
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyBackSpace" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Remove existing Hostname
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -StringInput "$HostName" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup -Hostname
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyEnter" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - DNS Commit Changes
SLEEP 5
#Set Custom DNS Suffixes
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyDown" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Key Down
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyEnter" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - DNS Commit Changes
SLEEP 5
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -StringInput "$DNSSuffix" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup -Hostname
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyEnter" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - DNS Commit Changes
SLEEP 5
#Complete Setup and Reboot
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -SpecialKeyInput "KeyESC" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - ESC back
SLEEP 5
Set-VMKeystrokes -VMName $VirtualMachine -StringInput "Y" -DebugOn $True #ESXi Setup - Apply Changes and reboot host
Write-Host "Your Host is now Ready!!" -BackgroundColor DarkGreen -ForegroundColor White
The post Automating The Installation Of VMware ESXi With PowerCLI appeared first on SYSADMINTUTORIALS IT TECHNOLOGY BLOG.
