VMware vSphere PowerCLI contains modules and snap-ins of cmdlets based on Microsoft PowerShell for automating vSphere, vCloud Director, and vCloud Air administration. It provides C# and PowerShell interfaces to VMware vSphere, vCloud, and vCenter Site Recovery Manager APIs.

vSphere PowerCLI is based on Microsoft PowerShell and uses the PowerShell basic syntax and concepts.

vSphere PowerCLI cmdlets are created to automate VMware environments administration and to introduce some specific features in addition to the PowerShell concepts.