Management Commands

[jauner]

Is there somewhere I can get a list of commands to manage my ESX 3.5 server in the event that I need to do it from the console?

Such as restarting and shutting down Virtual Machines,etc.

[depping]

http://www.vmreference.com/vi3-card/

There's a great PDF at the link above, with most useful commands. Basically esxcfg-<tab><tab>.

Duncan

Blogging: http://www.yellow-bricks.com

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[jauner]

This card does have some useful commands but I do not see how to shutdown the VMs safely if for some reason the network is down and I cannot use the infastructure client.

I have seen some reference to using the shutdown command but I am not sure if this brings down the VMs safely or not.

[petedr]

This is another good link listing commands.

http://b2v.co.uk/b2vguide2vmware3.htm

For shutting down VMs one way is using vmware-cmd

vmware-cmd stop [hard]

there is are also a lot of commands available using vimsh. xtravirt has a good document on vimsh for 3.5

http://knowledge.xtravirt.com/white-papers/scripting.html

[atbnet]

I have some examples and info on various service console commands that you will find useful.

Things like stopping VMs when they wont via VI client, releasing locked files, vswitch and other network commands if you need to resort to the service console. Ive found them useful many times.

Andy, VMware Certified Professional (VCP),

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[jauner]

Will the following command bring it down properly?

vmware-cmd /path/to/vm stop trysoft

Also I am wondering if the following two commands will power it back on:

1. vmware-cmd -s register <path to VM>

2. vmware-cmd <path to VM> start

Is the first command necessary or will the last one do.

[petedr]

As far as I know this is the difference between the powerop_modes when running vmware-cmd shutdown

soft - will attempt to bring the VM down properly but VMware tools needs to be installed on the VM

hard - will shutdown the VM down regardless

trysort - will attempt a soft shutdown and if that fails will do a hard shutdown

[Texiwill]

Hello,

Even so sometimes using 'hard' will not shutdown the VM and you have to resort to alternative methods. Some are outlined at http://www.itworld.com/security/54258/more-thoughts-forensics .

Best regards,

Edward L. Haletky

VMware Communities User Moderator

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