Amonra IT Support Services

Note: The steps in this article require root access to the host, either at the physical console or using SSH. For more information on enabling root access, see:

• Enabling root SSH login on an ESX host (8375637)

• Tech Support Mode for Emergency Support (1003677) (for ESXi 3.5 and 4.0)

• Using Tech Support Mode in ESXi 4.1 and ESXi 5.0 (1017910)

ESXi 5.x

To power on a virtual machine from the command line:

1. List the inventory ID of the virtual machine with the command:
   
   vim-cmd vmsvc/getallvms |grep <vm name>
   
   Note: The first column of the output shows the vmid.
   
   
2. Check the power state of the virtual machine with the command:
   
   vim-cmd vmsvc/power.getstate <vmid>
   
   
3. Power-on the virtual machine with the command:
   
   vim-cmd vmsvc/power.on <vmid>

ESXi 4.1

To power on a virtual machine from the command line:

1. List the inventory ID of the virtual machine with the command:
   
   vim-cmd vmsvc/getallvms |grep <vm name>
   
   Note: The first column of the output shows the vmid.
   
   

2. Check the power state of the virtual machine with the command:
   
   vim-cmd vmsvc/power.getstate <vmid>
   
   

3. Power-on the virtual machine with the command:
   
   vim-cmd vmsvc/power.on <vmid>

ESXi 4.0

To power on a virtual machine from the command line:

1. List the inventory ID of the virtual machine with the command:
   
   vmware-vim-cmd vmsvc/getallvms |grep <vm name>
   
   Note: The first column of the output shows the vmid.
   
   

2. Check the power state of the virtual machine with the command:
   
   vmware-vim-cmd vmsvc/power.getstate <vmid>
   
   

3. Power on the virtual machine with the command:
   
   vmware-vim-cmd vmsvc/power.on <vmid>

ESX 4.0 and ESX 4.1

To power on a virtual machine from the command line:

1. To list the path of all the virtual machines on the host:
   
   vmware-cmd -l
   
   

2. Get the state of the virtual machine with the command:
   
   vmware-cmd <path to the VMX file> getstate
   
   

3. Power on the virtual machine with the command:
   
   vmware-cmd <path to the VMX file> start

ESXi 3.5

To power on a virtual machine from the command line:

1. List the inventory ID of the virtual machine with the command:
   
   vim-cmd vmsvc/getallvms |grep <vm name>
   
   

2. Check the power state of the virtual machine with the command:
   
   vim-cmd vmsvc/power.getstate <vmid>
   
   

3. Power on the virtual machine with the command:
   
   vim-cmd vmsvc/power.on <vmid>

ESX 3.5

To power on a virtual machine from the command line:

1. To list the path of all the virtual machines on the host:
   
   vmware-cmd -l
   
   

2. Get the state of the virtual machine with the command:
   
   vmware-cmd <path to the VMX file> getstate
   
   

3. Power on the virtual machine with the command:
   
   vmware-cmd <path to the VMX file> start