Remotely powering on ESXi guests

As long as Tech support mode is enabled, you can fire up guests under ESXi without using a console, which is useful if you need to boot something when far away.


ssh root@esx1
root@esx1's password:
.
.
.
{list the registered guests}
/bin # vim-cmd vmsvc/getallvms

Vmid Name File Guest OS
16 2008_1 [datastore1] 2008_1/2008_1.vmx winLonghornGuest
64 Win_7_1 [datastore1] Win_7_1/Win_7_1.vmx windows7Guest
80 Ubuntu1010 [datastore1] Ubuntu1010/Ubuntu1010.vmx ubuntuGuest
96 VFiler [datastore1] VFiler/VFiler.vmx rhel5Guest

{power up the guest }
/bin # vim-cmd vmsvc/power.on 96
Powering on VM:

{check that worked...}
# vim-cmd vmsvc/power.getstate 96

Retrieved runtime info
Powered on

/bin # exit
Connection to esx1 closed.