Using PowerShell objects

The ESI PowerShell toolkits accept objects as inputs. The inputs can be standard objects, such as strings and integers. In many instances, these inputs have useful properties that can be accessed using dot notation. However, the full list of these objects and their properties is beyond the scope of this help file.

Defining and accessing variables

PowerShell enables you to create objects and store them in variables. For example, an ESI LUN object can be created and stored in a variable by using the Get-EmcLun command:

$lun = Get-EmcLun “My LUN”

This LUN object is used with the Set-EmcLunAccess cmdlet to present the LUN to a host:

Set-EmcLunAccess –LUN $lun –HostSystem $myhost -Available

Retrieving object information

Use the Get-Member cmdlet to access information about the properties and methods supported by an object. The Get-Member cmdlet accepts pipeline inputs. You can pipe an object returned by a cmdlet to Get-Member to determine the properties and methods of the object.

Standard object descriptions

The following table lists common PowerShell objects.

Object	Description
Boolean	Represents a true or false value. For true, type 1 or $true. For false, type 1 or $false.
Int32	Represents a 32-bit signed integer. Signed integers are either positive or negative.
Int64	Represents a 64-bit signed integer. Signed integers are either positive or negative.
SecureString	Represents an encrypted string for private data.
String	Represents a set of alphanumeric characters. A string that contains the space character must be enclosed by quotation marks. For example: Get-EmcLun “My Basic LUN”
UInt32	Represents a 32-bit unsigned integer. Unsigned integers cannot be negative.
UInt64	Represents a 64-bit unsigned integer. Unsigned integers cannot be negative.