Here is a VBScript that will let you start a virtual machine in the background.
(I am not a VBScript guru, so if anyone wants to make this better, please go ahead. This works on my machine, but no promises.).
Just create a new file called "powerOnBackground.vbs" or whatever you chose.
Then copy the following script into the file.
' Do not run this script directly.
' Use the accompanying .wsf script, which will load VixCOM.
' To run the script, type
' cscript //nonlogo powerOnBackground.wsf vmxPath
' where vmxPath is the path the .vmx file for the virtual machine you want
' to power on. You can also put multiple paths, which will power on
' each virtual machine.
Dim lib, job
If Wscript.Arguments.Count = 0 Then
Wscript.Echo("You must specify at least one path to a vmx file.")
Wscript.Quit
End If
Set lib = CreateObject("VixCOM.VixLib")
Set job = lib.Connect(VixCOM.Constants.VIX_API_VERSION, VixCOM.Constants.VIX_SERVICEPROVIDER_VMWARE_WORKSTATION, Empty, 0, Empty, Empty, 0, Nothing, Nothing)
Set results = Nothing
err = job.Wait(Array(VixCOM.Constants.VIX_PROPERTY_JOB_RESULT_HANDLE), results)
QuitIfError(err)
Set host = results(0)
For i = 0 to WScript.Arguments.Count - 1
Set job = host.OpenVM(WScript.Arguments(i), Nothing)
err = job.Wait(Array(VixCOM.Constants.VIX_PROPERTY_JOB_RESULT_HANDLE), results)
QuitIfError(err)
Set vm = results(0)
Set job = vm.PowerOn(VixCOM.Constants.VIX_VMPOWEROP_NORMAL, Nothing, Nothing)
err = job.WaitWithoutResults()
QuitIfError(err)
Next
host.Disconnect()
'----
' A simple error handler. Prints the error message to the console, and then exits.
sub QuitIfError(err)
if lib.ErrorIndicatesFailure(err) then
WScript.Echo("Error: " & lib.GetErrorText(err, empty))
WScript.Quit
end if
end sub
Then create a second file in the same directory called "powerOnBackground.wsf". Copy the following code into that file:
Make sure that the "src" attribute matches what you named the VBScript file.
Then you can run the script from the command line by typing:
cscript //nologo powerOnBackground.wsf C:\VMs\winxp\winxp.vmx
replacing that path with the path the .vmx file for the virtual machine you want to power on headlessly. This script will also let you supply multiple virtual machines.
Let me know how this works for you and if you have any questions, feel free to ask.
