I don't think we have an official document. I'll try to make sure we get a KB article out about how to use it.

Anyway here's a quick and dirty version.

You can find vmware-vmrc in your Firefox profile in the extensions/VMwareVMRC@VMware.com/plugins folder, or for IE in %USERPROFILE%\Application Data\VMware Remote Console (Web). These locations are subject to change and in fact the IE one is very likely going to change, though it should still be easy to find (just look for vmware-vmrc.exe on your system after installing the plug-in).

You can invoke it as follows:

Linux:

vmware-vmrc -h [<hostname>] [-u <username> -p <password>] [-M <moid> | <datastore path>]

Windows:

vmware-vmrc.exe -h <hostname> [-u <username> -p <password>] -M <moid> | <datastore path>

So, on Linux, if you invoke vmware-vmrc with just -h, you'll get a UI where you can specify a hostname:port, and username/password. If you click connect, you'll get a VM selector UI which allows you to choose a specific VM on that server. Alternatively you can specify a username and password and hostname, but no VM, you'll get connected and then jump straight to the selector. This works if you point it at ESX as well (which, sadly, makes it one of the easiest ways to view an ESX VM from a Linux box).

Windows doesn't have the VM selector, so you must specify a VM and hostname, though you can provide the username and password in a GUI login box if you don't want to specify them on the commandline.

In both cases, you can specify the VM by either datastore path, or managed object ID (a.k.a. "Moe ID"). You can determine the moid for a VM by looking at vmInventory.xml in /etc/vmware/hostd/ or %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\VMware\VMware Server\hostd as appropriate.

I am the developers ;-).

Pass the '-X' flag to go fullscreen at startup. I just doublechecked that that's working, on Windows and Linux.

You can look up the datastore path for a VM in the web UI, under Configure VM->General Tab->Virtual Machine Configuration file. It will look something like this: "[standard] vm/vm.vmx".

For your username/password on the commandline problem, it's likely that you have some character in your password (or username?) that is getting escaped on the commandline, e.g. %, if you're using CMD.EXE. You can try enclosing both username and password in doublequotes.

Try shortcut like this:

"C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Application Data\VMware\VMware Remote Console (Web) 2.5.0.100265\vmware-vmrc.exe" -h hostname:8333 -u "administrator" -p "mypassword" "[standard] GuestName/GuestName.vmx"

Try escaping the backslash (by doubling it).

Peter_vm,

Thanks to your help I am getting closer. I tried the following and my username/password is accepted, my VM powers on (and comes up) but I get a message, shown below, and my VM locks up and I have to hit the x to kill it. It works this much with the Administrator account or my own.

"C:\Documents and Settings\xx\Application Data\VMware\VMware Remote Console (Web) 2.5.0.100265\vmware-vmrc.exe" -h xx:8333 -u "administrator" -p "xx" "[standard XP Pro x64 Edition_3A/Windows XP Professional x64 Edition.vmx"

Even if I don't put my username/password into the command line, I get this message. It seems to be a function of using the storage address instead of the -M. I have tried the -X for full screen and it works.

I'll keep experimenting - comments are appreciated. Thanks much for your help, John.

Host and Guest Systems:

Windows XP Pro x64 Edition;

VMware 2.0.0RC1, Build 101586

Thanks, Peter_vm.

I have checked it at least a gazillion times (perhaps a small exaggeration). I failed to note I deleted the closing ] in my last post to avoid its being turned into a weird thing. Somehow rrdharan managed to put the standard thing into his post without the weirdness.  I copied the path from my Configure VM-General Tab as rrdharan suggested.  Note that my VM comes up OK, I just get the error message and can't use the console.

I get the same Write error if I remove the password/username from the shortcut. I have tried it at the Command Prompt with the same results.

Still thinking and experimenting.

Thanks much, John

Host and Guest Systems:

Windows XP Pro x64 Edition;

VMware 2.0.0RC1, Build 101586