vmware – copy networking port groups to another host

You might be able to do this via “host profiles” but if you do not have the licensing for it, this is the alternative. Very handy if you have over 50 or so port groups. It can be re-run to add to additional hosts as needed.

Install powercli, run the following to obtain your current list of virtual port groups off existing host;

Get-VirtualPortGroup -VirtualSwitch vSwitch0 -VMHost esx-01

Grab the output and place into CSV file or copy straght into Excel…

Following the formatting of the following “esx_switching-generic.csv” import the required data from aboves output. Note : the top line is the headers and should always be at the top of the CSV file.



Place this file in a location that is called by this script —

#This script is designed to allow you to configure switches on multiple hosts by
#importing information from a prepopulated .csv file. vMotion switch created based
#on Mike Laverick's posting http://www.rtfm-ed.co.uk/?p=1514
#!!!!!!!Values passed for Type are Case sensitive since comparisons are being made.!!!!!!!

$getinfo = Import-Csv "D:\esx_switching-generic.csv" #need to input locatin of .CSV file

#Connect-VIServer -Server #Need to input appropriate vCenter Server

$getinfo | % {
$gethost = Get-VMHost -Name $_.HostName
$SwitchName = $_.SwitchName
$PortGroup = $_.PortGroupName
$Nic = $_.NIC
$IP = $_.IP
$Subnet = $_.Subnet
$kernelGW = $_.KernelGW

If ($Type -eq "Switch") {

#Gets Switch object based on the value for SwitchName (required for several cmd-lets that do not accept Strings)
#'If' statement is used since a vMotion type does not already have a switch configured which will throw up an error.
If ($Type -ne "vMotion") {

#Add additional NIC to vSwitch to create a Team
If ($Type -eq "Team"){
$getswitch | Set-VirtualSwitch -Nic $Nic

#Add Portgroup to existing switch with VLAN
IF ($Type -eq "Portgroup") {
$getswitch | New-VirtualPortGroup $PortGroup -VLanId $VLAN

#Creates vMotion switch and configures vmkernel gateway (located under DNS and Routing in configuration tab)
IF ($Type -eq "vMotion") {


$vmhostnetwork = get-vmhostnetwork $gethost
set-vmhostnetwork -network $vmhostnetwork -vmkernelgateway $kernelGW