vCLI: Running vCLI Commands

As I want to get deeper into VMware CLI (vCLI) I deciced to make a summary of the vSphere Command-Line Interface Installation and Scripting Guide. Every chapter will be a separate blog post.
This summary is meant for my documentation but feel free to make use of it.

In this blog post: Running vCLI Commands

Authentication order

1. Commandline (–password, –sessionfile, –config)
   Path:
   Linux: /usr/share/doc/vmware-vcli/apps/session
   Windows: c:Program FilesVMwareVMware vSphere CLIPerlappssession

   save_session(.pl) –savesessionfile /tmp/vimsession –server s1 –username user1 –password wachtwoord
   (.pl is used in Windows)

   vicfg-mpath –sessionfile /tm/vimsession –list

2. Enviroment variable
   Linux: export VI_SERVER=[servernaam]
   Windows: set VI_SERVER=[servernaam]
3. Configuartion file
   vicfg-mpath –config [path_to_config_file] –list

   Example:
   VI_SERVER = XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX
   VI_USERNAME = root
   VI_PASSWORD = geheim
   VI_PROTOCOL = https
   VI_PORTNUMBER = 443

4. Current Account (AD)
   vicfg-mpath –server [vc_Server] –passthroughauth –passthroughauthpackage “Kerberos” –vihost [esxhost] –list
5. Prompt the user for a password

Command not available in lockdown mode (because you can only use vcli command at a vCenter server):

• vicfg-snmp
• vifs
• vicfg-user
• vicfg-cfgbackup
• vihostupdate
• vmkfstools
• esxcli
• vicfg-ipsec