Many IT organizations use Microsoft PowerShell to automate and accelerate data center management tasks.The Cisco UCS PowerTool module for PowerShell provides users a comprehensive list of cmdlets to manage all components of Cisco UCS.  Users can use these cmdlets to write PowerShell scripts to simplify, speed up, and error proof UCS management and deployment.

New to scripting on UCS? Check out this Google + Hangout (Tips and tricks for managing Cisco UCS with PowerShell and Microsoft Systems Center) or this video on Microsoft's Channel 9: Manage Cisco UCS with System Center 2012 and PowerShell

The UCS Power Scripting Contest has been open since March 27^thand a number of great scripts have been submitted. It is getting close to the deadline for submission. You have until May 11^thto get them posted!

Here is what's been happening since April 25^th.

NetApp Storage True-Up

Matt Oswalt of the Keeping it Classless blog submitted a showing the integration of the NetApp PowerShell and UCS toolkits. It iterates through every service profile in a UCS domain creating NetApp initiator groups for each one. It then puts each service profile's vHBA's WWPNs in the respective initiator groups. It can run whether or not the various LUNs or IGROUPs exist -it will "true up" the configuration as necessary. Matt's in the running for the "Best Cross PowerShell Module Integration" intermediate prize.

UCS Build

Submitted by Eric Sarakaitis, this is another
script that shows how to use PowerShell to build out a UCS domain. You
should also check out Eric's blog VMwareAdmins.

UCS Bandwidth Check

Cisco's Vallard Benincosa script queries a
chassis and grabs the statistics then shows the results in Mbps. A small sample is shown below. You should also check out his Vallard's Tech Notes blog.

If you missed the first or second contest update, there were scripts submitted for: renaming Hyper-V NICs, inventory and fault collection to SQL, UCS Health Check, multiple versions of a new UCS domain config, email UCS faults, backup a UCS domain, linking UCS Manager with LDAP, connecting/disconnecting many UCS Managers with UCS Central, get serial numbers, Fibre Channel zoning for Brocade or MDS, access KVM across multiple UCS domains, and finding a UCS blade.

Maybe you could use them in your environment? To review these scripts and participate in the contest, head over to the Cisco Communities.

We will announce the finalists at Microsoft TechEd 2014 on May 14^thand announce the grand prize winner at Cisco Live 2014 during a DevNET Zone event on May 20^th. You don't have to submit scripts to participate!You are encouraged to review, comment, and share best practices. Use the Twitter hashtag#CiscoScripts to share.

We'd again like to thank all of our distinguished PowerShell judges: Jeffrey Snover, Rob Willis, Don Jones, Hal Rottenberg, & Thomas Maurer.