This article explains new PowerCLI script to enable/disable appinfo feature at cluster/datacenter/host level.

In VMware Tools 11.0.0, we have introduced a new plugin named 'appinfo' that will run periodically inside the guest, collects information about various applications and publishes to the vSphere management platform. In most cases, collecting this information is acceptable. But in few environments, vSphere administrators may not want to publish this information from each guest. The only way to disable this feature is to interactively login to each guest and disable the feature. In ESXi 7.0 U1, we have provided an ability to enable/disable this appinfo feature for all the VMs at a specific host level. We are also providing a powerCLI script that can be used to enable/disable the appinfo feature for all the VMs managed across a specific cluster/datacenter/host in the vSphere environment.

VMware Tools 11.x

This is a new feature added in ESXi 7.0 U1. Using the powerCLI script, users can configure the appinfo feature only for the hosts atleast ESXi 7.0 U1

Sample usage of the new PowerCLI script:

Usage help for new powercli script: Download KB_81033_configure_AppInfo.ps1 from the attachments:

Configure-AppInfo.ps1 [-ConfigAction] <string> -Server <string> -User <string> -Password <string> [-Cluster <string>] [-Datacenter <string>] [-HostName <string>] [-Enable <string>] [<CommonParameters>]

Examples:

To retrieve the appinfo state for all the hosts at a datacenter level, run the command:

./Configure-AppInfo.ps1 -Server <IP address> -User '[email protected]' -Password '<password>' -Datacenter stanguturi -ConfigAction get

To retrive the appinfo state for all the hosts at a cluster level, run the command:

./Configure-AppInfo.ps1 -Server <IP address> -User '[email protected]' -Password '<password>' -Cluster cluster -
ConfigAction get

To retrieve the appinfo state for a specific host, run the command:

./Configure-AppInfo.ps1 -Server <IP address> -User '[email protected]' -Password '<password>' -HostName <IP address> -ConfigAction get

To enable the appinfo state for all hosts at a datacenter level, run the command

./Configure-AppInfo.ps1 -Server <IP address> -User '[email protected]' -Password '<password>' -Datacenter stanguturi -ConfigAction set -Enable True

To disable the appinfo state for all hosts at a datacenter level, run the command:

./Configure-AppInfo.ps1 -Server <IP address> -User '[email protected]' -Password '<password>' -Datacenter stanguturi -ConfigAction set -Enable False

To enable the appinfo state for all hosts at a cluster level, run the command:

./Configure-AppInfo.ps1 -Server <IP address> -User '[email protected]' -Password '<password>' -Cluster cluster -ConfigAction set -Enable True

To disable the appinfo state for all hosts at a cluster level, run the command:

./Configure-AppInfo.ps1 -Server <IP address> -User '[email protected]' -Password '<password>' -Cluster cluster -ConfigAction set -Enable False

To enable the appinfo state for a specific host, run the command:

./Configure-AppInfo.ps1 -Server <IP address> -User '[email protected]' -Password '<password>' -HostName <IP address> -ConfigAction set -Enable True

To disable the appinfo state for a specific host, run the command:

./Configure-AppInfo.ps1 -Server <IP address> -User '[email protected]' -Password '<password>' -HostName <IP address> -ConfigAction set -Enable False