VMware Workstation 6.5, VMware Fusion 2.0, and VMware Server 2.0
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Contents
AboutThisBook
UsingvmruntoControlVirtualMachines
AboutthevmrunUtility 5
PowerCommands 5
SnapshotCommands 5
RecordandReplayCommands 5
GuestOperatingSystemCommands 6
MaintenanceCommands 6
VProbesCommands 6
SettingUpvmrunonWindows 6
SettingUpvmrunonLinux 6
SettingUpvmrunonMacOSX 7
FlagstoSpecifyVirtualMachineType 7
VirtualMachineRunSyntax 7
PathtoVMXFile 8
UsingvmrunCommands 8
DisablingDialogBoxes 11
ExamplesofUsingvmrun 12
RebootCommands 12
PowerCommands 12
SnapshotCommands 12
RecordandReplayCommands 13
RunningGuestApplications 13
GuestHostFileOperations 14
MaintenanceCommands 14
VMware, Inc.
VMware, Inc.
Thismanual,UsingvmruntoControlVirtualMachines,documentsthevmrunutility,whichhelpsyoumanage
thecollectionofvirtualmachinesonaVMwarehost.
Revision History
Thisbookisrevisedwitheachreleaseoftheproductorwhennecessary.Arevisedversioncancontainminor
ormajorchanges.Table 1summarizesthesignificantchangesineachversionofthisguide.
Table 1. Revision History
Revision
Description
20080623
DraftofthismanualfortheVMwareServer2.0RC1andWorkstation6.5Beta2releases.
20080724
InitialreleaseincludingsupportforVMwareFusiononIntelbasedMacintoshOSXhosts.
20080815
RevisionwithadditionalexamplesforVMwareServer2.0RC2andWorkstation6.5RC.
20081231
IncludedadviceaboutnullinterpreterforRunScriptInGuestonWindows.
Intended Audience
Thisbookisintendedfordevelopersandsystemadministratorswhowanttocontrolvirtualmachineson
variousplatforms,includingVMwareWorkstation,VMwareFusion,andVMwareServer.
Document Feedback
VMwarewelcomesyoursuggestionsforimprovingourdocumentation.Sendyourfeedbackto
docfeedback@vmware.com.
Support Offerings
TofindouthowVMwaresupportofferingscanhelpmeetyourbusinessneeds,goto
http://www.vmware.com/support/services.
VMware, Inc.
VMware, Inc.
Youcanusethevmruncommandlineutilitytocontrolspecificvirtualmachines,orteamsofvirtualmachines.
ThevmrunutilityisavailableonanyVMwareproductthatincludestheVIXAPIlibraries,orwhenthelibraries
areseparatelyinstalled.Thischaptercontainsthefollowingsections:
AboutthevmrunUtilityonpage 5
SettingUpvmrunonWindowsonpage 6
SettingUpvmrunonLinuxonpage 6
SettingUpvmrunonMacOSXonpage 7
FlagstoSpecifyVirtualMachineTypeonpage 7
VirtualMachineRunSyntaxonpage 7
ExamplesofUsingvmrunonpage 12
Power Commands
Virtualmachinepoweroperationsgiveyoutheseoptions:start(poweron),stop(poweroff),reset(reboot),
suspend(butallowlocalworktoresume),pause(withoutinterrupting),andunpause(continue).
Onsomeproducts,youcangroupvirtualmachinesintoteams,andapplypoweroperationstothewholeteam.
Snapshot Commands
Asnapshotcapturesthestateofavirtualmachineatthetimeofthesnapshot,includingalldataonvirtual
disks.Youcantakeasnapshotofavirtualmachineinanypowerstateandreverttothesnapshotatanytime.
Snapshotsareusefulforexperimentationandespeciallyusefulforbackups.
Thesecommandslistexistingsnapshotsofavirtualmachine,createanewsnapshot,deleteasnapshot,and
revertavirtualmachinetoitsstateasofaspecificsnapshot.VMwareServerlimitsyoutoonesnapshot.
Runanexecutableprogramintheguestoperatingsystem,orrunaninterpretedscript.Theseinterfaces
serveasimilarpurpose,butrunProgramInGuestprovidesmorefinegrainedcontrol.
Checkifafileexistsintheguest,deleteafile,renameafile,listfiles,andcreateordeleteadirectory.
Copyafilefromthehosttotheguest,orcopyafilefromtheguesttothehost.
Addasharedfolderfromthehost,makeasharedfolderwritableintheguest,removeasharedfolder,or
captureascreenimagefromtheguest(exceptonVMwareServer).
Listtheprocessesrunningintheguestoperatingsystem,orterminateanyprocess(withpermission).
Readorwriteavariableintotheguestoperatingsystemsenvironmentorvirtualmachinestate.
Maintenance Commands
Thiscategoryincludescommandstolistallrunningvirtualmachines,upgradethevirtualmachinehardware
version,andinstallVMwareToolsintheguestoperatingsystem.
Additionally,exceptonVMwareServer,youcancloneanyvirtualmachineimagetoanothervirtualmachine.
VMwareServerallowsyoutoregisterandunregistervirtualmachines.
VProbes Commands
YoucanusevmruntoscriptVProbes,afacilityfortransparentlyinstrumentingapoweredonguestoperating
system,itsrunningprocesses,andvirtualizationsoftware.SeetheVProbesProgrammingReferencefordetails.
Locatethevmrunutility,whichgetsinstalledinthisfolderbydefault:
C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware VIX
Addtheinstalllocationtoyoursystempath.OnWindowsXPforexample,choose:
Computer>Properties>Advanced>EnvironmentVariables>Systemvariables>Path>Edit
IfVMwareWorkstationisalreadyinyoursystemPath,thisstepisunnecessarybecauseacopyofvmrun
isalsoinstalledthere.
Usingtherightarrowkey,movetheinputpointertotheendofline,addasemicolon,addthefullpathof
thefolderwherevmrunislocated,andclickOKseveraltimes.
Inacommandwindow,typevmruntoseecommandlineoptions.
ContinuewithFlagstoSpecifyVirtualMachineTypeonpage 7.
(Optional)Asrootorsuperuser,editthe/etc/ld.so.conffile,addalinewiththelibrarylocation
defaultdirectorybelow,savethefile,andruntheldconfigcommand.
/usr/lib/vmware-vix/lib
Inacommandorterminalwindow,typevmruntoseecommandlineoptions.
ContinuewithFlagstoSpecifyVirtualMachineTypeonpage 7.
VMware, Inc.
InaTerminalwindow,addtheVMwareFusiondirectorytoyoursystempath:
export PATH="$PATH:/Library/Application Support/VMware Fusion"
IntheTerminalwindow,typevmruntoseecommandlineoptions.
ContinuewithFlagstoSpecifyVirtualMachineTypeonpage 7.
Insyntaxexamples,optionsenclosedinanglebracketsindicatevariablesthatyoufillin.OnVMware
WorkstationandVMwareFusion,vmruncontrolsguestoperatingsystemsonthelocalhost,soyouneednot
specifyaremotehostnameorport.Possiblynoflagsarerequired.
Forcommandsthatrequireauthenticationbytheguestoperatingsystem,thecommanddescriptionsin
Table 2,vmrunCommandsandParameters,onpage 8statevalidguestloginrequired,inwhichcaseyou
mustusethefollowingflags:
-gu <userName in guest OS>
-gp <userPassword in guest OS>
TosetthehosttypeforremoteaccesstoVMwareServer2.0,usethefollowingflags:
-T
-h
-P
-u
-p
server
https://<hostName or IPaddr>/sdk
<portNumber>
<adminLogin on VMware Server>
<adminPassword on VMware Server>
Ifnotspecified,theportnumberdefaultsto443.Youcanalsospecifytheportnumberinthe-hoptionafter
thehostnameorIPaddress,separatedbyacolon,instandardURLsyntax.Forexample,thiscommandlists
allrunningvirtualmachinesonaremoteserver:
vmrun -T server -h https://example.com:8333/sdk -u root -p secretpw list
ForVMwareWorkstationandVMwareFusion,usethe-Tflagasfollows:
vmrun -T ws
vmrun -T fusion
ForVMwareServer1.0,usethe-Tflagasfollows:
vmrun -T server1
NOTEOnVMwareWorkstationandVMwareFusion,starting(poweringon)avirtualmachinewiththe
defaultguioptionrequiresawindowsystem(userinterface)toberunningonthehost.VMwareServerdoes
notimposethisrequirement.
VMwareServerdoesnotsupportteams,sharedfolders,cloning,recordandreplay,ormultiplesnapshots.
Whenyoutrytocreateasecondsnapshot,theUIasksifyouwanttooverwriteyourexistingsnapshot.
VMwareFusiondoesnotsupportsnapshottrees.
VMware, Inc.
VMwareServerdatastore:
[storage1]Win XP/Win XP.vmx
VMwareWorkstationforWindowspath:
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\My Documents\My Virtual Machines\Win XP\Win XP.vmx
VMwareWorkstationforLinuxpath:
/home/<username>/VirtualMachines/Ubuntu/Ubuntu.vmx
FusionforMacOSXpath:
~/Documents/Virtual Machines.localized/Windows XP Home.vmwarevm/Windows XP Home.vmx
Description
Parameters
Power Commands
start
(Teamsnotsupportedon
VMwareServerandVMware
Fusion.)
stop
(Teamsnotsupportedon
VMwareServeroron
VMwareFusion.)
reset
(Teamsnotsupportedon
VMwareServeroron
VMwareFusion.)
suspend
(Teamsnotsupportedon
VMwareServeroron
VMwareFusion.)
Startsavirtualmachine(.vmxfile)orteam(.vmtmfile).
Thedefaultguioptionstartsthemachineinteractively,
whichisrequiredtodisplayaVMwareuserinterface.
Thenoguioptionsuppressestheuserinterface,
includingstartupdialogbox,toallownoninteractive
scripting.
Stopsavirtualmachine(.vmxfile)orteam(.vmtmfile).
Usethesoftparametertopowerofftheguestafter
runningshutdownscripts.Usethehardparameterto
powerofftheguestwithoutrunningscripts,asifyou
pressedthepowerbutton.Thedefaultistousethe
powerTypespecifiedinthe.vmxfile,ifpresent.
Resetsavirtualmachine(.vmxfile)orteam(.vmtmfile).
Usethesoftparametertorunshutdownscriptsbefore
rebootingtheguest.Usethehardparametertoreboot
theguestwithoutrunningscripts,asifyoupressedthe
resetbutton.ThedefaultistousethepowerType
specifiedinthe.vmxfile,ifpresent.
Suspendsavirtualmachine(.vmxfile)orteam(.vmtm)
withoutshuttingdown,solocalworkcanresumelater.
Thesoftparametersuspendstheguestafterrunning
systemscripts.OnWindowsguests,thesescriptsrelease
theIPaddress.OnLinuxguests,thescriptssuspend
networking.Thehardparametersuspendstheguest
withoutrunningthescripts.Thedefaultistousethe
powerTypespecifiedinthe.vmxfile,ifpresent.
<pathto.vmxor.vmtmfile>
[gui |nogui ]
<pathto.vmxor.vmtmfile>
[hard |soft ]
<pathto.vmxor.vmtmfile>
[hard |soft ]
<pathto.vmxor.vmtmfile>
[hard |soft ]
Toresumevirtualmachineoperationaftersuspend,use
thestartcommand.OnWindows,theIPaddressis
retrieved.OnLinux,networkingisrestarted.
pause
Pausesavirtualmachine(.vmxfile).Youcanusethis
eithertopausereplay,ortopausenormaloperation.
<pathto.vmxfile>
unpause
Resumesoperationofavirtualmachine(.vmxfile)from
whereyoupausedreplayornormaloperation.
<pathto.vmxfile>
VMware, Inc.
Description
Parameters
listSnapshots
Listsallsnapshotsinavirtualmachine(.vmxfile).
<pathto.vmxfile>
snapshot
Createsasnapshotofavirtualmachine(.vmxfile).For
productssuchasWorkstationthatsupportmultiple
snapshots,youmustprovidethesnapshotname.
<snapshotname>
Snapshot Commands
(VMwareServerdoesnot
supportmultiplesnapshots.
VMwareFusiondoesnot
supportsnapshottrees.)
deleteSnapshot
(VMwareServeralways
deletestherootsnapshot.)
<pathto.vmxfile>
Becausetheforwardslashdefinespathnames,donot
usetheslashcharacterinasnapshotname,becausethat
makesitdifficulttospecifythesnapshotpathlater.
Removesasnapshotfromavirtualmachine(.vmxfile).
ForproductssuchasWorkstationthatsupportmultiple
snapshots,youmustprovidethesnapshotname.
<pathto.vmxfile>
<snapshotname>
Thevirtualmachinemustbepoweredofforsuspended.
Ifthissnapshothaschildren,theybecomechildrenof
thedeletedsnapshotsparent,andsubsequentsnapshots
continueasbeforefromtheendofthechain.
revertToSnapshot
Setsthevirtualmachinetoitsstateatsnapshottime.
<pathto.vmxfile>
(VMwareServeralways
revertstotherootsnapshot.)
Ifasnapshothasauniquenamewithinavirtual
machine,reverttothatsnapshotbyspecifyingthepath
tothevirtualmachinesconfigurationfileandthe
uniquesnapshotname.
<snapshotname>
Ifseveralsnapshotshavethesamename,specifythe
snapshotbyincludingafullpathnameforthesnapshot.
Apathnameisaseriesofsnapshotnames,separatedby
forwardslashcharacters(/).Eachnamespecifiesanew
snapshotinthetree.Forexample,thepathname
Snap1/Snap2identifiesasnapshotnamedSnap2that
wastakenfromthestateofasnapshotnamedSnap1.
or
<pathto.vmxfile>
<snap1/snap2/snapN>
Beginsrecordingarunningvirtualmachine(.vmxfile),
storingactivityinthespecifiedsnapshotobject,with
optionaldescription.
Onlyonerecordingorreplaycanbeactiveatatime.
endRecording
Endstherecordingofavirtualmachine(.vmxfile)that
isinprogress,andcloseitssnapshotobject.
beginReplay
Beginsreplayingtherecordedactivityofapoweredoff
virtualmachine(.vmxfile)fromasnapshotobject,
poweringoffifnecessary.
(Replaynotsupportedon
VMwareServeroron
VMwareFusion.)
<pathto.vmxfile>
<snapshotobjectname>
[<description>]
<pathto.vmxfile>
<pathto.vmxfile>
<snapshotobjectname>
Onlyonerecordingorreplaycanbeactiveatatime.
Youcanpausereplaywiththepausecommand,and
resumereplaywiththeunpausecommand.
endReplay
Endsthereplayingofavirtualmachine(.vmxfile)that
iscurrentlyunderway.
<pathto.vmxfile>
Writesavariableintothevirtualmachinestateorguest.
Youcanseteitherruntimeconfigurationinthe.vmxfile,
orenvironmentvariablesintheguestoperatingsystem.
ThelatterrequiresVMwareToolsandavalidguestlogin
(forLinuxguests,settingguestEnvrequiresrootlogin).
Providethevariablenameanditsvalue.
readVariable
VMware, Inc.
Readsavariablefromthevirtualmachinestateorguest.
Youcangeteitherruntimeconfigurationinthe.vmxfile,
orenvironmentvariablesintheguestoperatingsystem.
Thelatterrequiresavalidguestlogin.
<pathto.vmxfile>
[runtimeConfig |
guestEnv ]
<variablename>
<variablevalue>
<pathto.vmxfile>
[runtimeConfig |
guestEnv ]
<variablename>
Description
Parameters
Runsaprogramintheguestoperatingsystem.
<pathto.vmxfile>
The-noWaitoptionreturnsapromptimmediatelyafter
theprogramstartsintheguest,ratherthanwaitingforit
tofinish.Thisoptionisusefulforinteractiveprograms.
[-noWait |
-activeWindow |
-interactive ]
The-activeWindowoptionensuresthattheWindows
GUIisvisible,notminimized.IthasnoeffectonLinux.
<programname>
[<programarguments>]
The-interactiveoptionforcesinteractiveguestlogin.
ItisusefulforWindowsVistagueststomakethe
programvisibleintheconsolewindow.
Providethefullpathnameofaprogramaccessibletothe
guest.VMwareToolsandvalidguestloginarerequired.
Alsoprovidefullaccessiblepathnamesforanyfiles
specifiedintheprogramarguments,whichareoptional
accordingtorequirementsofthenamedprogram.
runScriptInGuest
Runsacommandscriptintheguestoperatingsystem.
VMwareToolsandavalidguestloginarerequired.
Theinterpreterpathisthecommandthatrunsthescript.
Providethecompletetextofthescript,notafilename.
setSharedFolderState
(VMwareServerdoesnot
supportsharedfolders.)
addSharedFolder
(VMwareServerdoesnot
supportsharedfolders.)
removeSharedFolder
(VMwareServerdoesnot
supportsharedfolders.)
Modifiesthewritabilitystateofafoldersharedbetween
thehostandaguestvirtualmachine(.vmxfile).
Thesharenameisamountpointintheguestfilesystem.
Thepathtofolderistheexporteddirectoryonthehost.
Asharedfoldercanbemadewritableorreadonly.
<pathto.vmxfile>
<interpreterpath>
<scripttext>
<pathto.vmxfile>
<sharename>
<pathtofolderonhost>
writable |readonly
<pathto.vmxfile>
Addsafoldertobesharedbetweenthehostandguest.
Thesharenameisamountpointintheguestfilesystem.
Thepathtofolderistheexporteddirectoryonthehost.
<sharename>
Removesaguestvirtualmachinesaccesstoashared
folderonthehost.Thesharenameisamountpointin
theguestfilesystem.
<sharename>
listProcessesInGuest
Listsallprocessesrunningintheguestoperating
system.VMwareToolsandavalidguestloginare
required.
killProcessInGuest
Stopsaspecifiedprocessintheguestoperatingsystem.
VMwareToolsandavalidguestloginarerequired.
<pathtofolderonhost>
<pathto.vmxfile>
<pathto.vmxfile>
<pathto.vmxfile>
<processID>
TakeprocessIDfromthenumberlistedafterpid=inthe
outputoflistProcessesInGuest.
fileExistsInGuest
deleteFileInGuest
renameFileInGuest
createDirectoryInGuest
deleteDirectoryInGuest
listDirectoryInGuest
10
Checkswhetherthespecifiedfileexistsintheguest
operatingsystem.VMwareToolsandavalidguestlogin
arerequired.
<pathto.vmxfile>
<pathtofileonguest>
Deletesaspecifiedfilefromtheguestoperatingsystem.
VMwareToolsandavalidguestloginarerequired.
<pathtofileonguest>
<pathto.vmxfile>
Renamesormovesafileintheguestoperatingsystem.
VMwareToolsandavalidguestloginarerequired.
<originalfilename>
<pathto.vmxfile>
Specifythesourcename(original)beforethedestination
(new).
<newfilename>
Createsthespecifieddirectoryintheguestoperating
system.VMwareToolsandavalidguestloginare
required.
<directorypathonguest>
<pathto.vmxfile>
<pathto.vmxfile>
Deletesadirectoryfromtheguestoperatingsystem.
VMwareToolsandavalidguestloginarerequired.
<directorypathonguest>
Listsdirectorycontentsintheguestoperatingsystem.
VMwareToolsandavalidguestloginarerequired.
<directorypathonguest>
<pathto.vmxfile>
VMware, Inc.
Description
Parameters
copyFileFromHostToGuest
Copiesafilefromthehosttotheguestoperatingsystem.
VMwareToolsandavalidguestloginarerequired.
<filepathonhost>
Specifythesourcefile(host)beforethedestinationfile
(guest).
copyFileFromGuestToHost
Copiesafilefromtheguestoperatingsystemtothehost.
VMwareToolsandavalidguestloginarerequired.
Specifythesourcefile(guest)beforethedestinationfile
(host).
captureScreen
Capturesthescreenofthevirtualmachinetoalocalfile.
ThespecifiedoutputfileonthehostisinPNGformat.
<pathto.vmxfile>
<filepathinguest>
<pathto.vmxfile>
<filepathinguest>
<filepathonhost>
<pathto.vmxfile>
<outputpathonhost>
Avalidguestloginisrequired.
Maintenance Commands
list
Listsallrunningvirtualmachines.
None
upgradevm
Upgradesavirtualmachinetothecurrentversionof
virtualhardware.Hasnoeffectifalreadycurrent.
<pathto.vmxfile>
installtools
PreparestoinstallVMwareToolsintheguestoperating
system.InWindowsguestswithautorunenabled,the
VMwareToolsinstallerstartsbyitself.InLinuxguests
withoutautorun,thiscommandconnectsthevirtual
CDROMdrivetotheVMwareToolsISOimagesuitable
fortheguest,buttheinstallerdoesnotstart.Youmust
completetheinstallationwithadditionalmanualsteps,
asdescribedinyourproductdocumentation.
<pathto.vmxfile>
register
Registersavirtualmachine(.vmxfile),addingittothe
hostsinventory.Pathformatdependsontheproduct.
ForVMwareServer2.0,"[storage1] vm/vm.vmx"
(startingwiththedatastore)istypical.
<pathto.vmxfile>
Unregistersavirtualmachine(.vmxfile),removingit
fromthehostsinventory.Pathformatdependsonthe
product.ForServer2.0,"[storage1] vm/vm.vmx"
(startingwiththedatastore)istypical.
<pathto.vmxfile>
(Registrationnotsupported
onVMwareWorkstationor
onVMwareFusion.)
unregister
(Registrationnotsupported
onVMwareWorkstationor
onVMwareFusion.)
clone
(Cloningnotsupportedon
VMwareServeroron
VMwareFusion.)
Createsacopyofthevirtualmachineandguest.Provide
thesource.vmxfilepathname,andthedestination.vmx
filepathname.Youcancreateeitheranormalfull
cloneoralinkedclone.Ifyouwanttomaketheclone
fromasnapshot,ratherthanfromthecurrentvirtual
machinestate,specifyasnapshotname.
<pathto.vmxfile>
<destination.vmxfilepath>
full |linked
[<snapshotname>]
VProbes Commands
(VMwareServerdoesnotsupportVProbes.)
vprobeVersion
ShowstheVProbesversiononthevirtualmachine.
vprobeLoad
LoadstheVProbesscriptonthevirtualmachine.
<pathto.vmxfile>
<pathto.vmxfile>
<textofVProbesscript>
vprobeReset
DisablesallVProbesonthevirtualmachine.
<pathto.vmxfile>
vprobeListProbes
ListstheactiveVProbesonthevirtualmachine.
<pathto.vmxfile>
vprobeListGlobals
ListsVProbesglobalvariablesonthevirtualmachine.
<pathto.vmxfile>
VMware, Inc.
11
Reboot Commands
RebootavirtualmachinerunningonVMwareWorkstationforLinux:
vmrun -T ws reset /path/to/vm/RHEL4/RHEL4.vmx soft
RebootavirtualmachinerunningonVMwareWorkstationforWindows:
cd "C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\My Documents\My Virtual Machines"
vmrun -T ws reset "WindowsXP\WindowsXP.vmx" soft
RebootavirtualmachinerunningonVMwareFusion:
vmrun -T fusion reset ~/Documents/VirtualMachines.localized/WindowsXP.vmwarevm/WindowsXP.vmx soft
RebootavirtualmachinerunningonVMwareServer:
vmrun -T server -h https://10.0.1.8/sdk -u root -p <pass> reset "[storage1] WinXP/WinXP.vmx" soft
Power Commands
PoweronavirtualmachinewithVMwareWorkstationonaWindowshost:
vmrun start "C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\My Documents\My Virtual Machines\WinXP\WinXP.vmx"
ThiserrormessageindicatesthattheinstalledVIXpackagedoesnotsupportVMwareServer:
vmrun -T server start "My Virtual Machines\WinXP\WinXP.vmx"
Error: The specified service provider was not found
PoweroffavirtualmachinewithVMwareWorkstationonaWindowshost:
vmrun stop "C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\My Documents\My Virtual Machines\WinXP\WinXP.vmx"
UsingVIXtocontrolaVMwareServerwithIPaddress10.0.1.8,poweronavirtualmachine:
vmrun -T server -h https://10.0.1.8/sdk -u root -p <pass> start "[storage1] WinXP/WinXP.vmx"
IfHTTPSserviceisnotconfiguredonport443,specifytheappropriateportafteracolonseparator:
vmrun -T server -h https://10.0.1.9:8333/sdk -u root -p <pass> start "[storage1] WinXP/WinXP.vmx"
UsingVIXtocontrolaVMwareServerwithIPaddress10.0.1.8,poweroffthevirtualmachine:
vmrun -T server -h https://10.0.1.8/sdk -u root -p <pass> start "[storage1] WinXP/WinXP.vmx"
ForVMwareServerinstalledonWindowshosts,the-uuserisusuallyAdministrator,notroot.
Snapshot Commands
CreateasnapshotofavirtualmachinewithVMwareWorkstationonaLinuxhostorVMwareFusion:
vmrun -T ws snapshot /path/to/vm/Ubuntu/Ubuntu.vmx mySnapshot
Listsnapshotsonthevirtualmachine,showingtheonejustmade:
vmrun -T ws listSnapshots /path/to/vm/Ubuntu/Ubuntu.vmx
Total snapshots: 1
mySnapshot
Reverttothesnapshotjustmade,whichsuspendsthevirtualmachine,andresumeoperation:
vmrun -T ws revertToSnapshot /path/to/vm/Ubuntu/Ubuntu.vmx mySnapshot
vmrun -T ws start /path/to/vm/Ubuntu/Ubuntu.vmx
Deletethesnapshot,specifyingitbyname:
vmrun -T ws deleteSnapshot /path/to/vm/Ubuntu/Ubuntu.vmx mySnapshot
12
VMware, Inc.
Whenyoustoprecording,theuserinterfacemightaskyoutonameyoursession:
vmrun -T ws -gu <user> -gp <pass> endRecording WinXP\WinXP.vmx
Reverttothevirtualmachinesnapshotandstartreplayingyourrecordingofuserevents:
vmrun -T ws -gu <user> -gp <pass> beginReplay WinXP\WinXP.vmx session1
Pausereplay,whichyoucanalsodofromtheuserinterface:
vmrun -T ws -gu <user> -gp <pass> pause WinXP\WinXP.vmx
Resumereplay,whichyoucanalsodofromtheuserinterface:
vmrun -T ws -gu <user> -gp <pass> unpause WinXP\WinXP.vmx
Endreplay,whichyoucanalsodofromtheuserinterface:
vmrun -T ws -gu <user> -gp <pass> endReplay WinXP\WinXP.vmx
StartthecommandtoolonaWindowsguest,asanactivewindowonthedesktop:
vmrun -T ws -gu <user> -gp <pass> runProgramInGuest WinXP\WinXP.vmx -activeWindow cmd.exe
RunabatchscriptonaWindowsguest,usingPerlasthescriptinterpreter:
vmrun -T ws -gu <user> -gp <pass> runScriptInGuest Win2k\Win2k.vmx C:\perl\perl.exe C:\script.pl
Runabatchscriptandkeeprunningafterwards.Tousecmd.exeonWindows,specifyinterpreterasnull:
vmrun -T ws -gu <user> -gp <pass> runScriptInGuest WindowsXP\WindowsProfessionalXP.vmx ""
"cmd.exe /k \"C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft Visual Studio\\VC\\vcvarsall.bat\" x86"
RunaBashshellscriptcalledrunitonaLinuxguest:
vmrun -T ws -gu <user> -gp <pass> runScriptInGuest Ubuntu/Ubuntu.vmx /bin/bash /home/<user>/runit
StartanXclockonaLinuxguest(requires-displayoptiontoappearontheconsole):
vmrun -gu <user> -gp <pass> runProgramInGuest SUSE/SUSE.vmx /usr/bin/xclock -display :0
Sameasabove,butimmediatelyreturntocommandlinecontrol:
vmrun -gu <user> -gp <pass> runProgramInGuest SUSE/SUSE.vmx -noWait /usr/bin/xclock -display :0
ForLinuxapplicationsthatdonotacceptthe-displaycommandlineoption,firstsettheguestenvironment
forthevmware-guestdprocess,whichrequiresrootpermission:
vmrun -T ws -gu root -gp <rootpass> writeVariable Ubuntu/Ubuntu.vmx guestEnv DISPLAY :0
vmrun -T ws -gu <user> -gp <userpass> runProgramInGuest Ubuntu/Ubuntu.vmx /usr/bin/firefox
ListprocessesinaLinuxguest,andkilltheprocessnumbered8192:
vmrun -T ws -gu <user> -gp <pass> listProcessesInGuest Ubuntu/Ubuntu.vmx
vmrun -T ws -gu <user> -gp <pass> killProcessesInGuest Ubuntu/Ubuntu.vmx 8192
RunaPerlscriptonaLinuxguesttoremoveDOSstylecarriagereturnsfromafile:
vmrun -T ws -gu <user> -gp <pass> runProgramInGuest Ubuntu/Ubuntu.vmx /usr/bin/perl -e
"open(FILE, '>/tmp/unix.txt'); while (<>) { s/\r\n/\n/ ; print FILE}" /tmp/dos.txt
RunaPerlscriptonaWindowsguesttoinsertDOSstylecarriagereturnsintoafile:
vmrun -T ws -gu <user> -gp <pass> runProgramInGuest WinXP\WinXP.vmx C:\cygwin\bin\perl.exe -e
"open(FILE, >C:\dos.txt); while (<>) { s/\n/\r\n/ ; print FILE}" C:\unix.txt
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RunaprograminaLinuxvirtualmachineonVMwareServer:
vmrun -T server -h https://10.0.1.8/sdk -u root -p <pass> -gu <user> -gp <userpass>
runProgramInGuest "[storage1] RHEL4/RHEL4.vmx" /usr/X11R6/bin/xclock -display :0
Tocopyanarbitraryfilefromaguesttothehost,theusermusthavereadpermissiononthesourcefile:
vmrun -gu <user> -gp <pass> copyFileFromGuestToHost Ubuntu\Ubuntu.vmx /home/<user>/addr addr.txt
Beforeusingsharedfolders,youmustenablethembyselectingVM>Settings>Options>SharedFolders>
Enabledintheuserinterface.ToshareafolderonaWindowshostwithaparticularLinuxguest:
vmrun -T ws addSharedFolder Ubuntu\Ubuntu.vmx /mnt/hgfs/Share C:\Share
Sharedfoldersarewritablebydefault.Tomakeasharedfolderreadonly:
vmrun -T ws setSharedFolderState Ubuntu\Ubuntu.vmx /mnt/hgfs/Share C:\Share readonly
Tostopsharingthefolder:
vmrun -T ws removeSharedFolder Ubuntu\Ubuntu.vmx /mnt/hgfs/Share
Maintenance Commands
ListrunningvirtualmachinesonVMwareWorkstation:
vmrun -T ws list
Total running VMs: 2
C:\Documents and Settings\user\My Documents\My Virtual Machines\Ubuntu\Ubuntu.vmx
C:\Documents and Settings\user\My Documents\My Virtual Machines\WinXP\WinXP.vmx
RegisteranewvirtualmachineinstalledonVMwareServer:
vmrun -T server -h https://10.0.1.8/sdk -u root -p <pass> register "[storage1] RHEL5/RHEL5.vmx"
UnregisteranoldvirtualmachinegoingoutofserviceonVMwareServer:
vmrun -T server -h https://10.0.1.8/sdk -u root -p <pass> unregister "[storage1] RHEL3/RHEL3.vmx"
PreparetoinstallVMwareToolsonVMwareFusion:
vmrun -T fusion installTools RedHatEnt5/RedHatEnt5.vmx
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