How to Start, Shutdown and Reboot VM on VMware Workstation using vmrun

VMware WorkstationThe vmrun utility installs with Workstation and VMware Fusion. On Workstation and VMware Fusion, you do not need to specify a remote host name or port if you are running guest operating systems on the local host. This post has been tested using VMware Workstation 9. Use the -T flag for Workstation, Player, and VMware Fusion :

vmrun -T ws
vmrun -T player
vmrun -T fusion

Where you can run vmru ?

If you are running VMware Workstation, a copy of vmrun is included in the folder where you installed
Workstation :
32‐bit systems – C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Workstation
64‐bit systems – C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware Workstation

Usage: vmrun [AUTHENTICATION-FLAGS] COMMAND [PARAMETERS]

1. Power on Virtual machine with Workstation on a Windows host :

C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Workstation>vmrun -T ws start "C:\Virtual Machine
s\CentOS6.3\CentOS6.3.vmx"

2. Shutdown Virtual machine running on Workstation for Windows :

C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Workstation>vmrun -T ws stop "C:\Virtual Machines
\CentOS6.3\CentOS6.3.vmx" soft

3. Reboot Virtual machine running on Workstation for Windows :

C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Workstation>vmrun -T ws reset "C:\Virtual Machine
s\CentOS6.3\CentOS6.3.vmx" soft

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