Purpose
This article guides you through the different methods of powering on a virtual machine. Alternative methods are useful when there is something preventing the use of one method or when a specific method is more useful for particular environmental requirements.
Resolution
The methods of powering on a virtual machine differ for each product. Refer to the section that matches the product you are using.
Note: To execute the methods below, you may need to:
- Open a command or shell prompt. For more information, see Opening a command or shell prompt (1003892).
- Navigate to the VMware application's installation directory. For more information, see Locating a VMware product's installation directory (1003897).
- Locate the full path to the virtual machine's configuration file. For more information, see Locating a hosted virtual machine's files (1003880).
- Replace any reference to vm.vmx with the full path to the virtual machine's configuration file.
VMware Workstation
You can use any these methods to power on a virtual machine with VMware Workstation:
- Use the graphical interface. Click the name of the virtual machine that you want to power on and then click Start this virtual machine. If the virtual machine does not appear, click File > Open and browse for its configuration (.vmx) file.
- Launch VMware Workstation and start the virtual machine. Open a command or shell prompt, navigate to the VMware Workstation installation directory, type vmware -x vm.vmx and press Enter.
Note: If you are using a graphical file explorer, you can navigate to the virtual machine's configuration file and double-click the file.
- If available, use the vmrun command. From a command or shell prompt, navigate to the VMware Workstation installation directory, type vmrun start vm.vmx and press Enter.
- Use the vmware-cmd command. Open a command or shell prompt, navigate to the VMware Workstation installation directory, type vmware-cmd vm.vmx start and press Enter.
VMware Player and VMware ACE instances
You can use any of these methods to power on a virtual machine or a VMware Player or VMware ACE instance:
- Use the graphical interface. Click the name of the virtual machine in the Recent Virtual Machines section of the application window that you want to power on. If the virtual machine does not appear under Recent Virtual Machines, click Open and browse for its configuration (.vmx) file.
Note: If you are using a VMware ACE Instance, and have an shortcut on your desktop, you can double-click it.
- Launch VMware Player and start the virtual machine or VMware ACE instance automatically. Open a command or shell prompt, navigate to the VMware Player installation directory, type vmware vm.vmx and press Enter.
Note: If you are using a graphical file explorer, you can navigate to the virtual machine's configuration file and double-click it.
VMware Fusion
See Powering on a Fusion virtual machine (1020751).
VMware Server or GSX
You can use any of these methods to power on a virtual machine with VMware Server or GSX:
- Use the graphical interface. Click the name of the virtual machine that you want to power on and then click Start this virtual machine. If the virtual machine does not appear, click File > Open and browse for its configuration (.vmx) file.
- Launch VMware Server or GSX and start the virtual machine. Open a command or shell prompt, navigate to the VMware Server or GSX installation directory, type vmware -x vm.vmx and press Enter.
Note: If you are using a graphical file explorer, you can navigate to the virtual machine's configuration file and double-click it.
- If available, use the vmrun command. From a command or shell prompt, navigate to the VMware Server or GSX installation directory, type vmrun start vm.vmx and press Enter.
- Use the vmware-cmd command. Open a command or shell prompt, navigate to the VMware Server or GSX installation directory, type vmware-cmd vm.vmx start and press Enter.Based on VMware KB 1003845
