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~/2013/10/14/script-list-all-vms-with-datastore.md

PowerShell: List All VMs with Datastore

---
author: 
date: 
updated: 
read: 1 min
in:   [ps, scripts]
tags: [powershell, vmware]
---

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Script to list all the VMs that exist within your vCenter Server with their datastore.

Requirements

  • Windows PowerShell with VMware vSphere PowerCLI installed. The script loads the VMware.VimAutomation.Core snap-in, so it needs a PowerCLI release that ships it (5.x era).
  • A vCenter account that can read datacenters, datastores and VMs. Connect-VIServer prompts for credentials.
  • Network access to the vCenter Server.
  • A D:\scripts folder, or change the export path.

Parameters

NameTypeRequiredDescription
vcServerStringYesName or address of the vCenter Server. The script exits with a message if it is missing.
D:\scripts\datastore-output.csvPathNoEdit in the script: where the CSV is written.

Usage

Pass the vCenter Server name and sign in when prompted.

powershell
.\Get-VMDatastore.ps1 -vcServer vcenter.example.com

The results are written to D:\scripts\datastore-output.csv, one row per VM and datastore, with Name, DataStore, VMHost, PowerState, Version and Folder columns.

Script

powershell
<#
.SYNOPSIS
    Lists all VMs in a vCenter Server together with their datastore.
.DESCRIPTION
    Connects to the vCenter Server, walks every datastore in every datacenter and collects the VMs
    stored on it (name, datastore, host, power state, hardware version and folder). The result is
    written to D:\scripts\datastore-output.csv and the session is disconnected.
.PARAMETER vcServer
    Name or address of the vCenter Server. The script exits with a message if it is missing.
.EXAMPLE
    .\Get-VMDatastore.ps1 -vcServer vcenter.example.com
.NOTES
    Author  : Thomas Lasswell (https://www.techcolumnist.com)
    Version : 1.1 (2026-09-20)
    History : 1.0 2013-10-14 Initial version.
              1.1 2026-09-20 Disconnects without a confirmation prompt.
    Requires: VMware PowerCLI with the VMware.VimAutomation.Core snap-in
#>
param(
    [string]$vcServer
)

Clear-Host

if (!$vcServer) {
    Write-Host "No vCenter Server Specified"
    exit
}

Add-PSSnapin VMware.VimAutomation.Core
$host.UI.RawUI.WindowTitle = "PowerShell [PowerCLI Module Loaded]"

Connect-VIServer $vcServer

$aDatastoreVM = Get-Datacenter | Get-Datastore | ForEach-Object {
    $ds = $_.Name
    $_ | Get-VM | Select-Object Name, @{n = 'DataStore'; e = { $ds } }, VMHost, PowerState, Version, Folder
}

$aDatastoreVM | Export-Csv "D:\scripts\datastore-output.csv" -NoTypeInformation -UseCulture
Disconnect-VIServer $vcServer -Confirm:$false

Notes

  • Update 2026-09-20 (v1.1): Disconnect-VIServer now uses -Confirm:$false, so an unattended run no longer stops at a confirmation prompt.