Start-VMFailover

Starts failover on a virtual machine.

Syntax

Start-VMFailover
     [-CimSession <CimSession[]>]
     [-ComputerName <String[]>]
     [-Credential <PSCredential[]>]
     [-VMName] <String[]>
     [-Prepare]
     [-AsJob]
     [-Passthru]
     [-WhatIf]
     [-Confirm]
     [<CommonParameters>]
Start-VMFailover
     [-CimSession <CimSession[]>]
     [-ComputerName <String[]>]
     [-Credential <PSCredential[]>]
     [-VMName] <String[]>
     [-AsTest]
     [-AsJob]
     [-Passthru]
     [-WhatIf]
     [-Confirm]
     [<CommonParameters>]
Start-VMFailover
     [-VM] <VirtualMachine[]>
     [-Prepare]
     [-AsJob]
     [-Passthru]
     [-WhatIf]
     [-Confirm]
     [<CommonParameters>]
Start-VMFailover
     [-VM] <VirtualMachine[]>
     [-AsTest]
     [-AsJob]
     [-Passthru]
     [-WhatIf]
     [-Confirm]
     [<CommonParameters>]
Start-VMFailover
     [-VMRecoverySnapshot] <VMSnapshot>
     [-AsJob]
     [-Passthru]
     [-WhatIf]
     [-Confirm]
     [<CommonParameters>]
Start-VMFailover
     [-VMRecoverySnapshot] <VMSnapshot>
     [-AsTest]
     [-AsJob]
     [-Passthru]
     [-WhatIf]
     [-Confirm]
     [<CommonParameters>]

Description

The Start-VMFailover cmdlet can be used for the following tasks:

  • Fail over a Replica virtual machine to a chosen recovery point.
  • Start a planned failover on a primary virtual machine.
  • Create a test virtual machine on a Replica virtual machine.

Examples

Example 1

PS C:\> Get-VMSnapshot VM01 -Name Snapshot01 | Start-VMFailover

This example starts failover of a virtual machine named VM01 with recovery point Snapshot01.

Note: Recovery points are stored as snapshots. To get a list of all snapshots, use the Get-VMSnapshot cmdlet.

Example 2

PS C:\> Start-VMFailover VM01 -AsTest

This example starts a test failover of a virtual machine named VM01.

Example 3

PS C:\> Get-VMSnapshot VM01 -Name Snapshot01 | Start-VMFailover -AsTest

Starts a test failover of a virtual machine named VM01 with recovery point Snapshot01.

Example 4

PS C:\> Start-VMFailover -Prepare -VMName VM01  -computername MyPrimary.contoso.com
PS C:\> Start-VMFailover -VMName VM01 -computername MyReplica.contoso.com
PS C:\> Set-VMReplication -Reverse -VMName VM01 -computername MyReplica.contoso.com
PS C:\> Start-VM -VMName VM01 -computername MyReplica.contoso.com

This example shows the cmdlets you use to perform a planned failover. The first command prepares for the planned failover of a primary virtual machine named VM01 by replicating any pending changes. The second command fails over the Replica virtual machine. The third command switches the Replica virtual machine to a primary virtual machine. The fourth command starts the virtual machine that has been switched from a Replica virtual machine to a primary virtual machine.

Parameters

-AsJob

Runs the cmdlet as a background job.

Type:SwitchParameter
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-AsTest

Creates a test virtual machine using the chosen recovery point. You can use a test virtual machine to validate a Replica virtual machine. To stop a test failover, use the Stop-VMFailover cmdlet.

Type:SwitchParameter
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:True
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-CimSession

Runs the cmdlet in a remote session or on a remote computer. Enter a computer name or a session object, such as the output of a New-CimSession or Get-CimSession cmdlet. The default is the current session on the local computer.

Type:CimSession[]
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-ComputerName

Specifies one or more Hyper-V hosts on which failover is to be started. NetBIOS names, IP addresses, and fully qualified domain names are allowable. The default is the local computer. Use localhost or a dot (.) to specify the local computer explicitly.

Type:String[]
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Confirm

Prompts you for confirmation before running the cmdlet.

Type:SwitchParameter
Aliases:cf
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Credential

Specifies one or more user accounts that have permission to perform this action. The default is the current user.

Type:PSCredential[]
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Passthru

Specifies that a virtual machine object is to be passed through to the pipeline representing the virtual machine on which failover is to be started.

Type:SwitchParameter
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Prepare

Starts the planned failover on the primary virtual machine and replicates any pending changes. To complete the planned failover, use the Set-VMReplication and Start-VM cmdlets as shown in Example 4.

Note: The primary virtual machine must be shut down to prepare it for failover.

Type:SwitchParameter
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-VM

Specifies the virtual machine for which failover is to be started.

Type:VirtualMachine[]
Position:0
Default value:None
Required:True
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:False

-VMName

Specifies the name of the virtual machine for which failover is to be started.

Type:String[]
Position:0
Default value:None
Required:True
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:False

-VMRecoverySnapshot

Specifies the recovery snapshot to use during a failover. (This parameter is not required for a planned failover.)

Type:VMSnapshot
Aliases:VMRecoveryCheckpoint
Position:0
Default value:None
Required:True
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:False

-WhatIf

Shows what would happen if the cmdlet runs. The cmdlet is not run.

Type:SwitchParameter
Aliases:wi
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

Outputs

None

Default

Microsoft.HyperV.PowerShell.VirtualMachine

If -PassThru is specified.