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kamikatze
Contributor
Contributor

ESXi AutoStart virtual machines?

My ESXi doesn't start any VMs upon reboot/crash.

Is this the default desired behaviour for ESXi?

~ # grep auto /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/zork/zork.vmx

autostart = "poweron"

~ # grep -i AutoStart -A5 /var/log/messages

Jan 25 20:02:18 Hostd: 2008-01-25 20:02:18.500 'Hostsvc::AutoStartManager' 16384 info VM autostart configuration: /etc/vmware/hostd/vmAutoStart.xml

Jan 25 20:02:18 Hostd: 2008-01-25 20:02:18.631 'ServiceSystem' 16384 warning Could not establish init directory for service vmware-vpxa

Jan 25 20:02:18 sfcb[1376]: --- sfcbd V1.2.5 started - 1375

Jan 25 20:02:18 sfcb[1376]: --- Using /etc/sfcb/sfcb.cfg

Jan 25 20:02:18 sfcb[1376]: --- Max provider procs: 32

Jan 25 20:02:18 sfcb[1376]: --- initSocketPairs: 64

  • vmAutoStart.xml in attachment

That wouldn't be a problem at all unless i knew how to start a machine by hand. But i don't. I'm assuming it has something to do with

/bin/vmx

~ # uname -a

VMkernel 3.5.0 #1 SMP Release build-103909

Thank you.

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18 Replies
Jasemccarty
Immortal
Immortal

Look under the configuration tab, at "Virtual Machine Startup/Shutdown"

Choose Properties. You can configure the startup/shutdown here.

Jase McCarty

http://www.jasemccarty.com

Co-Author of VMware ESX Essentials in the Virtual Data Center

(ISBN:1420070274) from Auerbach

Jase McCarty - @jasemccarty
kamikatze
Contributor
Contributor

I'm embarrassed Smiley Happy

Thank you.

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Jasemccarty
Immortal
Immortal

Nothing to be embarrassed about. Some of these menus aren't so easily found.

There is nothing wrong with being new to the product. Just enjoy it.

Jase McCarty

http://www.jasemccarty.com

Co-Author of VMware ESX Essentials in the Virtual Data Center

(ISBN:1420070274) from Auerbach

      • Assign points if you felt this post was helpful or correct. Thanks!

Jase McCarty - @jasemccarty
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Gremlin
Contributor
Contributor

I am more than embarassed!!

Using ESX3i with the 2.5.0 Infrastructure client, there is no startup/shutdownoption available to me in Inventory or any other menu/tab.

So, where can I look now? I tried in Options in the virtual host but nothing there either.

Thanks.

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Dave_Mishchenko
Immortal
Immortal

In the VI client you'll want to select the host. Then click on the Configuration Tab and you should see Virtual Machine Startup /Shutdown. Select that and then click on Properties.

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Gremlin
Contributor
Contributor

Many thanks - I am now not only embarrassed, but also certified as an idiot for not seeing it!!!!!!

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ggvillegas
Contributor
Contributor

Hi I'm using ESXi 4.0 and vSphere client, but the "Edit" button is grayed out or not active in the VM Startup/Shutdown properties(system settings). Is this license issue, does ESXi 4.0 doesn't support autostart of virtual machine anymore?

Thanks,

Greg Villegas

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asatoran
Immortal
Immortal

Hi I'm using ESXi 4.0 and vSphere client, but the "Edit" button is grayed out....

Click on the Move Up button to move a virtual machine to Automatic Startup or Any Order. According to your screenshot, all your virtual machines are set to Manual Startup.

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w6vms
Contributor
Contributor

I have several VM's, all running FreeBSD with the VMWare tools installed, and upon restarting the ESXi 4.0 host, none of the VM's automatically start, even though they are all configured to do so.

Any ideas?

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pocket45
Contributor
Contributor

I am running ESXi 4.1 server, trying to enable VM guests to automatically start when the HOST powers on.

I too have the problem of the EDIT button being grayed out on the "Virtual Machine Startup and Shutdown".

Did you ever find a solution for your problem greg?

I am logged in as root, so I am assuming I should have persmission to change this item.

Is it possible I don't have privledge to "Host.Configuration.Virtual Machine Auto-Start Configuration"?

If so, can somone explain how I would enable this priveledge to my root account?

All suggestions are greatly appreciated as I seem to have hit a wall troubleshooting this problem.

P.S. We have very little LINUX experience so detailed instructions help greatly.

Thanks,

Eric

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mtanana
Contributor
Contributor

there is a check button at the top ...."allow virtual machine to start and stop automatically......" once you do this, then they are no longer greyed out.

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pocket45
Contributor
Contributor

Thanks for the help mtanana, however the 'allow virtual machines to start

and stop automatically with the system' box is already checked.

Everything object/button on the screen is black, with the exception of the

Edit button. The Edit button is still grey.

In the Startup Order section:

My VMs show "Disabled" in the startup column, however I cannot edit them.

I have the same issue with an VMware server (esxi 3) that I have at home.

So since the community hasn't come forward with an answer, I am assuming

there is not a straight-forward fix.

Eric

mtanana replied to the

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"ESXi AutoStart virtual machines?"

To view the discussion, visit:

http://communities.vmware.com/message/1724808#1724808

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pocket45
Contributor
Contributor

So I spent some more time on this issue, and FINALLY found the solution.

Hopefully others will find this useful, and save them some headache.

Once you are in the "Virtual Machine Startup and Shutdown" configuration

window.

In the bottom 1/2 of this window will be a section labeled "Startup Order".

IF your VM is in the "manual startup" sub-section... The edit button will

be greyed out!

You need to highlight your VM and click the "MOVE UP" button until your VM

is in the "Automatic Startup" sub-section. At which point the Startup

field will automatically change from disabled to enabled.

This fact didn't jump out at me, and I see others have run into the same

issue.

Eric

mtanana replied to the

discussion

"ESXi AutoStart virtual machines?"

To view the discussion, visit:

http://communities.vmware.com/message/1724808#1724808

manab
Contributor
Contributor

thanks for your gide...its working..

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Ktulu789
Contributor
Contributor

Hello, I have two servers with ESXi 5 build 623860. Both with a free license.

One has a Linux VM for mail spam filtering and the other one has 3 Win 2008 R2 Std.

All the VMs are configured for Automatic Startup and I even tried the Linux box set as "Any order". The resulting screen shows "Enabled" on the "Startup" column.

The "Allow virtual machines to start and stop automatically with the system" setting is enabled.
I tried with 120 seconds delay for startup, and I also reduced it to 60.
I tried with the "Continue inmediatly if VMware Tools start" setting enabled and disabled.

The machines don't start up automatically no matter how I set them.
I even tried to put them on manual startup, restarted the host, and I put them back to automatic startup and restarted the host again but nothing happens!

Is it a bug?

Is there anything else to set up that I'm missing?

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Ktulu789
Contributor
Contributor

I use the vSphere client v 5 build 455964.
Do I have to use vCenter? http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=850

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advyon
Contributor
Contributor

Thank you so much for this post!  I greatly appreciate it.

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sburci
Contributor
Contributor

Jase

EXCELENT!

SEBASTIAN B.

sebastian@sbsbeyond.net

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