VMware released version 1.5 of the VI Toolkit for Windows – the PowerShell management and reporting tool of choice for many VMware administrators. The new version carries build number 142961. You can download v1.5 here: http://blogs.vmware.com/vipowershell/. The update includes some 32 new cmdlets, including ones for getting/setting NTP settings on ESX, getting/setting Advanced configuration options on ESX, getting/setting ESX Firewall settings, and the ability to modify DRS rules using PowerShell. Existing cmdlets have also been updated with new parameters, and several fixes have been introduced. Check out the release notes here: http://www.vmware.com/support/developer/windowstoolkit/wintk15/windowstoolkit15-200901-releasenotes.html.

There are plenty of examples on the Internet to get you started with the VI Toolkit for Windows. Check out these sites to get started:

Start at the VMware Community site for the Windows Toolkit for great examples and a little help from some friends: http://communities.vmware.com/community/developer/windows_toolkit/
There are also some good example scripts and resources floating around, such as:

http://vmetc.com/2008/08/27/powershell-scripting-examples-for-vmware-virtual-infrastructure/
http://www.peetersonline.nl/
http://www.ivobeerens.nl/?p=106
http://www.vmguru.com/

Not a hard-core scripter? Grab this handy tool for a little GUI on your PowerShell, and extend it with the VMware Infrastructure PowerPack 2.0

What tools or examples are you using to extend the power of PowerShell into your Virtual Infrasturucture?  Leave a comment to share!