VMware GSX Server 3.2

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Using Power Options for Virtual Machines

The basic power operations for a virtual machine include powering on, powering off, suspending, resuming and resetting. These options are analogous to the power operations on a physical computer.

If VMware Tools is running, you can run scripts when you change the power state of a virtual machine. For more information, see Executing Scripts When the Virtual Machine's Power State Changes.

When you reset a virtual machine, you can choose either to restart the guest operating system, which gracefully closes applications and restarts the guest operating system, or to reset the virtual machine, which is the same as pressing the reset button on a physical computer.

Similarly, when you power off the virtual machine, you can choose either to shut down the guest operating system, which gracefully closes applications and shuts the guest operating system down, or to turn off the virtual machine, which is the same as pressing the power button on a physical computer.

All the power options are available on the Power menu. The menu items may not be available, depending upon the current power state of the virtual machine. For example, if the virtual machine is powered off, you cannot select any power off, suspend, resume or reset options.

For the purpose of running scripts in the guest operating system, the commands on the Power menu take precedence over how the toolbar power buttons are configured.

For example, if the Suspend toolbar button is configured to run a script when you suspend the virtual machine, and you do not want to run the script, choose Power > Suspend. Similarly, if the Suspend toolbar button is not configured to run a script, and you want to run the script at the time you suspend the virtual machine, choose Power > Suspend after running script.

Options for Powering On a Virtual Machine

You can choose from the following options when powering on a virtual machine:

Power On — powers on the virtual machine. This is the same as clicking the Power On button on the toolbar. When the virtual machine is suspended, this menu item appears as Resume.

Power On and run script — powers on the virtual machine, then executes the associated script.

Options for Powering Off a Virtual Machine

You can choose from the following options when powering off a virtual machine:

Power Off — powers off the virtual machine. This is similar to turning off a physical computer by pressing its power button, so any programs running in the virtual machine may be adversely affected.

Shut Down Guest — runs the associated script, then gracefully shuts the guest operating system down and, if the guest operating system supports Advanced Power Management, powers off the virtual machine. This is the same as choosing Start > Shut Down > Shut Down in a Windows operating system or issuing a shutdown command in a Linux operating system.

The stop button ( ) on the toolbar can be configured to power off the virtual machine or shut down the guest operating system. Choose VM > Settings, then click Options > Power, and choose the desired action in the list under Power Controls.

Options for Suspending a Virtual Machine

You can choose from the following options when suspending a virtual machine:

Suspend — suspends the virtual machine.

Suspend after running script — executes the associated script, then suspends the virtual machine.

Options for Resuming a Virtual Machine

You can choose from the following options when resuming a virtual machine:

Resume — resumes the suspended virtual machine. When the virtual machine is powered off, this menu item appears as Power On.

Resume and run script — resumes the suspended virtual machine, then executes the associated script.

Options for Resetting a Virtual Machine

You can choose from the following options when resetting a virtual machine:

Reset — resets the virtual machine. This is similar to resetting a physical computer by pressing its reset button, so any programs running in the virtual machine may be adversely affected.

Restart Guest — gracefully restarts the virtual machine. This is the same as choosing Start > Shut Down > Restart in a Windows operating system or issuing a reboot command in a Linux operating system.

The reset button ( ) on the toolbar can be configured to reset the virtual machine or restart the guest operating system. Choose VM > Settings, then click Options > Power, and choose the desired action in the list under Power Controls.

Changing a Virtual Machine's Power State from the Management Interface

Depending upon your permissions, you can change the power state of the virtual machine in the management interface. Your permissions are listed in the Users and Events tab for the virtual machine. For more information, see Viewing a List of Connected Users.

To change the virtual machine's power state, click the button that corresponds to the virtual machine's current power state. A popup menu appears, displaying the following buttons:


Button	Description
	Shuts down the guest operating system and powers off the virtual machine. Any open applications close, the guest operating system shuts down, then GSX Server powers off the virtual machine. VMware Tools executes any script associated with this power state change. When this icon is red, the virtual machine is powered off.
	Suspends a running virtual machine. VMware Tools executes any script associated with this power state change. When this icon is amber, the virtual machine is suspended.
	Powers on a stopped virtual machine or resumes a suspended virtual machine. VMware Tools executes any script associated with this power state change. When this icon is green, the virtual machine is running.
	Restarts a guest operating system. Any open applications close, the guest operating system shuts down, then GSX Server restarts the guest. VMware Tools executes any script associated with this power state change.

Changing the power state executes any script associated with the power state change. For more information about running scripts, see Executing Scripts When the Virtual Machine's Power State Changes.

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