ManuallyCreateLinkedClonesInvSphere.ps1

# Script to deploy linked clones

# List of custom attributes which you're wanting to copy from the template or parent to the newly created machine
# (Machines deployed from templates no longer inherit CAs in vSphere 4.0)
# These help us track provenance, and provide information to the user
$arrStrAttributesToCopy = @(
"AD Object Location",
"Customisation",
"Infrastructure Consultant",
"Logon Administrator Name",
"Logon Administrator Password",
"Logon User Name",
"Logon User Password",
"Mobilisation Consultant",
"Project",
"Role",
)

# Name of the Custom Attribute on the parent which contains the name of the customisation to use
$CustomFieldName = "Customisation"

  Function DeployLinkedClone ($strSourceVM, $intToBeDeployed, $intStartDeployingAtNumber, $CustomFieldName){
  # Bases the name of the machine on the second part of the string split by spaces. This assumes that the template follows the standard naming convention of "Tmpl [Name] x.x"
  $strMachinePrefix = ($strSourceVM.split(' ')[1])
  $objVM = Get-VM $strSourceVM
  $viewVM = $objVM | Get-View
  $objCustomization = Get-OSCustomizationSpec ($objVM.CustomFields.Item($CustomFieldName))
  # Ensure that the machines does not have a non persistent HD
  If ($objVM | Get-HardDisk | Where-Object {$_.Persistence -like "IndependentNonPersistent"}){
  Write-Host $objTemplate has a non-persistent HD!
  }
  # If the customisation, as specified in the parent's custom attribute does not exist, then quit.
  If (!$objCustomization){
    Write-Host Customisation ($objVM.CustomFields.Item($CustomFieldName)) not found. Exiting.
    Break
  }
  $i = 1
  Do {
  # Convert the single digit integer (i.e., "1") into a double digit (i.e., "01")
  $strMachineNumber = ("{0:0#}" -f $intStartDeployingAtNumber)
  # Concatenate the machine name prefix (from the template name) with the double-digit integer, which is incrememted on each loop
  $strMachineBeingDeployed = $strMachinePrefix+$strMachineNumber
  # Check that the machine doesn't already exist
  If ((Get-VM -Name $strMachineBeingDeployed -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue)){
    Write-Host "Machine $strMachineBeingDeployed already exists!"
    Break
  }
  # Let the user know what's going on
  Write-Host ""
  Write-Host "Deploying new linked-clone " -NoNewline
  Write-Host $strMachineBeingDeployed -ForegroundColor Blue -NoNewline
  Write-Host ", from template " -NoNewline
  Write-Host $strSourceVM -ForegroundColor Blue -NoNewline
  Write-Host ", using customisation " -NoNewline
  Write-Host $objCustomization -ForegroundColor Blue -NoNewline
  Write-Host ", on the same Host as the parent" -NoNewline
  Write-Host ""
  # Create the new machine using all these variables
  $objFolder = $viewVM.parent
  $specClone = New-Object Vmware.Vim.VirtualMachineCloneSpec
  # Get the most recent snapshot attached to the machine
  $specClone.Snapshot = $viewVM.Snapshot.CurrentSnapshot
  # Create an object to represent the location of the clone
  $specClone.Location = New-Object Vmware.Vim.VirtualMachineRelocateSpec
  # This is the move-type that specifies the new disk backing (which is the bit that makes a linked clone)
  $specClone.Location.DiskMoveType = "createNewChildDiskBacking"
  # Run the task with the specified parameters
  $task = $viewVM.CloneVM_Task($objFolder, $strMachineBeingDeployed, $specClone)
  Get-VIObjectByVIView $task | Wait-Task | Out-Null
  # Get the object for the machine which was just deployed
  $objTargetVM = Get-VM $strMachineBeingDeployed
  # Apply the customisation specification to the newly created clone
  Set-VM -VM $objTargetVM -OSCustomizationSpec $objCustomization -Confirm:$false
  # Start the clone
  Start-VM -VM $objTargetVM
  # Get the view (needed for writing custom attributes)
  $viewTarget = $objTargetVM | Get-View
  # Loop through each of the custom attributes which are to be copied
  ForEach ($arrStrAttributeToCopy in $arrStrAttributesToCopy){
    # Read the attribute from the source template
    $objAttribute = $objVM.CustomFields.Item($arrStrAttributeToCopy)
    # Apply the attribute to the machine object
    $viewTarget.setCustomValue($arrStrAttributeToCopy,$objAttribute)
  }
  # Set the "Template" custom attribute to the parent templates
  $arrStrAttributeToCopy = "Template"
  $viewTarget.setCustomValue($arrStrAttributeToCopy,$strSourceTemplate)
  # Increment the number used for naming the machines
  $intStartDeployingAtNumber ++
  # Increment the number used to count the number of machines deployed
  $i ++
  }
  # Continue to loop while the number of machines deployed is less than the number required
  While ($i -le $intToBeDeployed)
}

# Get the current time (for timing how long the script took to run)
$dteStart = Get-Date

# Name of source VM, should be persistent, should have a snapshot and the customisation specified in the nominated custom attribute
$strSourceVM = "Tmpl Capture 1.0"
# Number to be deployed
$intToBeDeployed = 25
# Number to start deploying from
$intStartDeployingAtNumber = 1
DeployLinkedClone $strSourceVM $intToBeDeployed $intStartDeployingAtNumber $CustomFieldName

# Name of source VM, should be persistent, should have a snapshot and the customisation specified in the nominated custom attribute
$strSourceVM = "Tmpl Packaging 1.0"
# Number to be deployed
$intToBeDeployed = 25
# Number to start deploying from
$intStartDeployingAtNumber = 1
DeployLinkedClone $strSourceVM $intToBeDeployed $intStartDeployingAtNumber $CustomFieldName

# Name of source VM, should be persistent, should have a snapshot and the customisation specified in the nominated custom attribute
$strSourceVM = "Tmpl Verification 1.0"
# Number to be deployed
$intToBeDeployed = 25
# Number to start deploying from
$intStartDeployingAtNumber = 1
DeployLinkedClone $strSourceVM $intToBeDeployed $intStartDeployingAtNumber $CustomFieldName

$dteEnd = Get-Date
$dteDiff = New-TimeSpan $dteStart $dteEnd
$timeTaken = [math]::round($dteDiff.totalMinutes, 2)
Write-Host ""
Write-Host "It took" $timeTaken "minutes for these machines to deploy"

# End of script