Automate PowerCLI Scripts via the Windows Server 2012 Task Scheduler

PowerCLI

I want to automatically run a PowerCLI script every morning.

Note-  This assumes….

  1. The script loads the Snapin-
    Add-PSsnapin VMware.VimAutomation.Core
  2. The script has the vCenter specified
    Connect-VIServer “vc-fqdn”
  3. The service account has local access on the windows 2012 server to run a scheduled task.
  4. The server account is part of a vCenter role that has permission to read/make any changes.

Start / Run /  taskschd.msc

  1. Right click on “Task Scheduler Library” on the left hand side.
  2. Click “Create Task”
  1. Fill in the name of the task.  Ex.  Daily Snapshot Email
  2. Fill in the description.  Ex.  Created/revised date and your name/email.
  3. Click “Change user or Group” to pick the service account.
  4. Check the box “Run whether user is logged on or not”.
  1. Pick time and then days.
    Ex.  I wanted this to run during the work week at 5am
    (local time on the windows server I am creating this task on)
  2. I set “Stop task if it runs longer than” 3 hours.
    (Note – I have yet to see this work)
  1. Program/Script is the path and file name to PowerShell
    C:WindowsSystem32WindowsPowerShellv1.0powershell.exe
  2. Add arguments
    -noprofile -NonInteractive -executionpolicy bypass -file
  3. Start in
    d:scripts  (location on the server where your .ps1 file is)

I did not change any settings since this is running on a server that is on 24/7/365 and not a laptop.

I set “Stop the task if it runs longer than” 4 hours.  Again, I have yet to see this stop the task and end the powershell process.