Mastering VMware vSphere™ 4

14.4. Using Shell Scripts with VMware ESX

VMware ESX leverages a 64-bit Linux-based Service Console. This Service Console has the ability to run user-created shell scripts to automate tasks that are host-specific. The fact that ESX shell scripts are host-specific is, in my opinion, the biggest weakness of shell scripts. Many of the tasks that you need to perform as a vSphere administrator are not host-specific. With the introduction of the vNetwork Distributed Switch, VMware has removed one key task—configuring vSwitches and port groups—that was host-specific. Similarly, the introduction of host profiles allows for ESX host configuration to be automated via host profiles instead of shell scripts. As a result of these changes within vSphere compared ...