Install PSSnapin on a Core Server

[odruard]

Hello,

We have a core server dedicated to all scripts.
We would like to use it to execute our Veeam reporting scripts, then we need the Veeam PSSnapin on this core server.
Is there a way to install the PSSnapin on a core server, then without the console installation ?

I tried to copy all the Veeam.Backup.PowerShell.xxxx files on core server, then I executed the 2 commands here under, however I received an error in French meaning approximately : "System.Reflection.ReflectionTypeLoadException: Unable to load one or several required types". I don't know if some file is missing, if it cannot work this way, or if I forgot some point.

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set-alias installutil $env:windir\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\InstallUtil.exe
installutil "C:\Program Files\Veeam\Backup and Replication\Console\Veeam.Backup.PowerShell.dll"

Thanks for your replies
Olivier Druard

[tdewin]

Seems pretty generic error. Probably it is unable to find some of the dotnet classes because some dlls are missing. I don't have a core installation, but can you not run the "<drive letter>:\Backup\Shell.x64.msi" wizard? Or does it give errors saying that the OS is not supported (didn't test this). I would give it a shot because you can also install the VMware tools in core by running the setup.exe (which shows the GUI)

[veremin]

You cannot install backup server on a machine running Microsoft Windows Server Core. Thus, the similar problems with snap-in installation. Thanks.

[odruard]

Hello,

Yes I can install Shell.x64.msi. However we would like to not install the console.
We were looking for a way to install only Veeam PSSnapin.

With Veeam B&R v8, there were a dedicated msi for PSSnapin.
It has disapeared with v9, and I hoped there were some hidden way to isntall it.
But it does not seem.

Olivier Druard

[veremin]

PowerShell snap-in became a part of backup server and therefore cannot be installed separately any longer. Thanks.

[odruard]

Hello,

I found a workaround to use Veeam PSSnapin on a Windows Core server : Implicit Remoting
Explanation from Microsoft here : https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/lib ... 20181.aspx

On the core server (or on any server where you want to use Veeam PSSnapin but avoid to install console), run this 3 powershell commands (XXXXXXXXX is the name of a server where PSSnapin are installed):

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$Session = New-PSSession -ComputerName XXXXXXXXX
Invoke-Command -ScriptBlock {Add-PSSnapin VeeamPSSnapin} -Session $Session
Import-PSSession -PSSnapin VeeamPSSnapin -Session $Session

Then the Veeam Cmdlets are now available for the duration of the Powershell session.
A Get-Command shows that they are furnished by a temporary module (named here tmp_ytod4d3h.u2m):

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PS C:\> Get-Command *vbr*

CommandType     Name                                               ModuleName
-----------     ----                                               ----------
Function        Add-VBRAzureAccount                                tmp_ytod4d3h.u2m
Function        Add-VBRBackupJob                                   tmp_ytod4d3h.u2m
Function        Add-VBRBackupRepository                            tmp_ytod4d3h.u2m
Function        Add-VBRBackupToTapeJob                             tmp_ytod4d3h.u2m
Function        Add-VBRCloudGateway                                tmp_ytod4d3h.u2m
Function        Add-VBRCloudGatewayCertificate                     tmp_ytod4d3h.u2m
Function        Add-VBRCloudProvider                               tmp_ytod4d3h.u2m
Function        Add-VBRCloudPublicIP                               tmp_ytod4d3h.u2m
Function        Add-VBRCloudSubTenant                              tmp_ytod4d3h.u2m

Of course, I didn't try each command, however my first tests show that it seem to be a good solution.
And it is a standard way to use PowerShell, then it can be used on production servers.

Olivier

[veremin]

Hmm, I have never thought about proxying powershell snap-in or modules, nor have I tried it in a wild, but the premise looks promising. Thanks for sharing this creative workaround; highly appreciated.

[evilaedmin]

Appears to work well, thank you for sharing Olivier!

Hello,

I found a workaround to use Veeam PSSnapin on a Windows Core server : Implicit Remoting
Explanation from Microsoft here : https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/lib ... 20181.aspx

[RaboRemco]

Hmmm, this is a pity. Having to install the entire console makes things messy. Can't Veeam create a separate powershell package? Or even better, make every function, and I mean really every function available via the enterprise manager RESTful API. It still amazes me how half-finished that looks. Even functions available in the EM GUI are not publicly available.