VMWARE Powering on a virtual machine from the command line

ESXi 5.0

To power on a virtual machine from the command line:

1. List the inventory ID of the virtual machine with the command:
   
   vim-cmd vmsvc/getallvms |grep
   Note: The first column of the output shows the vmid.
   
   
2. Check the power state of the virtual machine with the command:
   
   vim-cmd vmsvc/power.getstate
   
3. Power-on the virtual machine with the command:
   vim-cmd vmsvc/power.on

ESXi 4.1

To power on a virtual machine from the command line:

1. List the inventory ID of the virtual machine with the command:
   
   vim-cmd vmsvc/getallvms |grep
   
   Note: The first column of the output shows the vmid.
2. Check the power state of the virtual machine with the command:
   
   vim-cmd vmsvc/power.getstate
   
3. Power-on the virtual machine with the command:
   
   vim-cmd vmsvc/power.on

ESXi 4.0

To power on a virtual machine from the command line:

1. List the inventory ID of the virtual machine with the command:
   
   vmware-vim-cmd vmsvc/getallvms |grep
   Note: The first column of the output shows the vmid.
2. Check the power state of the virtual machine with the command:
   
   vmware-vim-cmd vmsvc/power.getstate
   
3. Power on the virtual machine with the command:
   
   vmware-vim-cmd vmsvc/power.on

ESX 4.0 and ESX 4.1

To power on a virtual machine from the command line:

1. To list the path of all the virtual machines on the host:
   
   vmware-cmd -l
2. Get the state of the virtual machine with the command:
   
   vmware-cmd getstate
3. Power on the virtual machine with the command:
   
   vmware-cmd start

ESXi 3.5

To power on a virtual machine from the command line:

1. List the inventory ID of the virtual machine with the command:
   
   vim-cmd vmsvc/getallvms |grep
   
2. Check the power state of the virtual machine with the command:
   
   vim-cmd vmsvc/power.getstate
   
3. Power on the virtual machine with the command:
   
   vim-cmd vmsvc/power.on

ESX 3.5

To power on a virtual machine from the command line:

1. To list the path of all the virtual machines on the host:
   
   vmware-cmd -l
   
2. Get the state of the virtual machine with the command:
   
   vmware-cmd getstate
3. Power on the virtual machine with the command:
   
   vmware-cmd start