## PowerCLI Reference

# Connect-CisServer

## Synopsis

This cmdlet establishes a connection to a vSphere Automation SDK server.

Syntax

Connect-CisServer [-Server] <String[]> [-User <String>] [-Password <SecureString>] [-Port <Int32>] [-NotDefault] [-Force] [-SaveCredentials] [<CommonParameters>]
Connect-CisServer [-Server] <String[]> [-Port <Int32>] [-NotDefault] [-Force] -SessionSecret <String> [<CommonParameters>]
Connect-CisServer [-Server] <String[]> [-Port <Int32>] -Credential <PSCredential> [-NotDefault] [-Force] [-SaveCredentials] [<CommonParameters>]
Connect-CisServer -Menu [<CommonParameters>]

Related Commands

Online version
Disconnect-CisServer

Detailed Description

This cmdlet establishes a connection to the vSphere Automation SDK server specified by the -Server parameter.
The connect and disconnect operations for a server are using a reference counting mechanism. Every server is identified by its connection string which contains server, user name, and port. If there is already an existing connection to the server for a specific user name and port, a new connection is not established. Instead, the cmdlet returns the object which represents the existing connection. The RefCount property of the object is incremented by one. Note that the returned object is the same as the one previously returned. Therefore, the RefCount of the previously returned object will be updated as well. When a server is disconnected, then its RefCount property is decreased by one. If this number becomes equal to zero, then the server is disconnected.
PowerCLI for vSphere Automation SDK supports a list of default servers. When an operation is performed, if the target servers cannot be determined from the specified parameters, the cmdlet runs against the servers in the default server list. They are kept in a global variable called $DefaultCisServers. It is of an array type and its initial value is an empty array. When you connect to a server, the server is added at the beginning of the array, unless -NotDefault parameter is specified. When you disconnect from a server, the server is removed from the $DefaultCisServers variable. When all servers are removed from the variable its value is an empty array. You can modify the value of the $DefaultCisServers variable manually.

Parameters

Name | Type | Description | Required? | Pipeline Input | Default Value
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Server | String[] | Specifies the IP or DNS addresses of the vSphere Automation SDK servers you want to connect to. | true | false
Credential | PSCredential | Specifies a PSCredential object that contains credentials for authenticating with the server. For more information about the server authentication logic of PowerCLI, run "help about_server_authentication". | true | false
Force | SwitchParameter | Suppresses all user interface prompts during the cmdlet execution. Currently these include 'Multiple default servers' and 'Invalid certificate action'. | false | false
Menu | SwitchParameter | Indicates that you want to select a connection server from a list of recently connected servers. If Menu is set to $true, the cmdlet retrieves a list of the last visited servers and enters a nested command prompt, so that you can select a server from the list. | true | false
NotDefault | SwitchParameter | Specifies that you do not want to save the specified servers as default servers. | false | false
Password | SecureString | Specifies the password you want to use for authenticating with the server. If the Credential parameter is also specified, this parameter is ignored. For more information about the server authentication logic of PowerCLI, run "help about_server_authentication". Note: If the password contains special characters, enclose the entire string in single quotes ('). | false | false
Port | Int32 | Specifies the port on the server you want to use for the connection. | false | false
SaveCredentials | SwitchParameter | Indicates that you want to save the specified credentials in the local credential store. | false | false
SessionSecret | String | Specifies the ID of an existing vSphere Automation SDK session you want to reestablish. | true | false
User | String | Specifies the user name you want to use for authenticating with the server. If the Credential parameter is also specified, this parameter is ignored. For more information about the server authentication logic of PowerCLI, run "help about_server_authentication". Note: If the user name contains special characters, enclose the entire string in single quotes ('). | false | false

Return Type

CisServer

Notes

Examples

-------------- Example 1 --------------

    Connect-CisServer -Server $serverAddress -User $user -Password $pass

Connects to a vSphere Automation SDK server by using the User and Password parameters.

-------------- Example 2 --------------

    $credential = Get-Credential
    Connect-CisServer -Server $serverAddress -Credential $credential

Connects to a vSphere Automation SDK server by using the Credential parameter.

-------------- Example 3 --------------

    $serverConnection = Connect-CisServer -Server $serverAddress -User $user -Password $pass
    Connect-CisServer -Server $serverAddress -SessionSecret $serverConnection.SessionSecret

Connects to a vSphere Automation SDK server by using the SessionSecret parameter.

-------------- Example 4 --------------

    Connect-CisServer -Server $serverAddress -Credential -User $user -Password $pass -SaveCredential

Connects to a vSphere Automation SDK server and stores the credentials in the credential store.

-------------- Example 5 --------------

    Connect-CisServer -Server $serverAddress -User $user

Connects to a vSphere Automation SDK server when a record for the specified user is available in the credential store.

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