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Command Line Reference Command Line Reference
The following sections describe command line options that are available when you launch VMware Workstation and keyboard shortcuts you can use while VMware Workstation is running.
Startup Options on a Linux Host
The following list describes various options available when you run VMware Workstation from the command line on a Linux host operating system.
VMware [-x] [-X] [-q] [-s <variablename>=<value>]
[-m] [-v] [/<path_to_config>/<config>.virtual machinex ]
[X toolkit options ]
Option
Description
-x
automatically powers on the virtual machine when VMware Workstation starts. This is equivalent to clicking the Power On button in the VMware Workstation toolbar.
-X
automatically powers on the virtual machine, then switches the VMware Workstation window to full screen mode.
-q
closes the virtual machine's tab when the virtual machine powers off. If no other virtual machine is open, it also exits VMware Workstation. This is particularly useful when the guest operating system is capable of powering off the virtual machine.
-s
sets the specified variable to the specified value. Any variable names and values that are valid in the configuration file may be specified on the command line with the -s switch.
-m
starts the program in quick switch mode on a Linux host.
-v
displays the product name, version and build number.
/<path_to_config>/<config>.virtual machinex (or .cfg)
launches a virtual machine using the specified configuration file.
X toolkit options
can be passed as arguments, although some of them (most notably the size and title of the VMware Workstation window) cannot be overridden.
Startup Options on a Windows Host
Most of the switches described above for Linux can also be used on a Windows host. The -m switch is for Linux hosts only. The most convenient way to use the switches is to incorporate them into the command generated by a Windows shortcut.
Create the shortcut, right-click the shortcut, then click Properties. In the Target field, add any switches you want to use after the VMware.exe filename. For example,
"C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Workstation\Programs\VMware.exe -X C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\My Documents\My Virtual Machines\Windows Me\Windows Me.vmx"
launches the Windows Me virtual machine specified, powers it on automatically and switches to full screen mode.
Be sure to enclose the entire command string in quotation marks.
Note: On Windows, the configuration file has a .vmx extension by default. Path names on Windows use the backslash character (\). X toolkit options are not relevant on a Windows host.
VMrun Command Line Application
VMware Workstation includes a separate application vmrun for operating teams or virtual machines from the command line. To launch this application:
  • From the Windows command prompt:
  • vmrun COMMAND OPTIONS
  • From a Linux terminal
  • ./vmrun COMMAND OPTIONS
    Valid commands and options are described in the following tables:
    Command
    Description
    list
    List running virtual machines.
    start
    Start a VM or Team. Use -v and/or -t option.
    stop
    Stop a VM or Team. Use -v and/or -t option.
    reset
    Reset a VM or Team. Use -v and/or -t option.
    suspend
    Suspend a VM or Team. Use -v and/or -t option.
    Option
    Description
    -v <fileName>
    Specifies the pathname of the virtual machine configuration (vmx) file.
    -t <fileName>
    Specifies the pathname of the virtual machine Team (vmt) file.
    Note: In the Workstation Beta version, team option -t works only for the start command. Additionally, in this Beta release, vmrun does not support interactions with virtual machines which require user input to continue, for example because of a message or hint being displayed. In such situations, vmrun start proceeds but other commands pause for you to provide input through the UI (e.g. stop, reset, suspend).
    For example, on a Windows host you can type this command to see a list of running virtual machines.
    vmrun list
    To further illustrate, in a Linux terminal, you can type this command to start a team.
    vmrun start -t /usr/local/VMs/team.vmtm"
    On the Windows commandline, type this command to start a team:
    vmrun start -t c:\My Virtual Machines\team.vmtm"
    Note: You must use fully-qualified (absolute) path names with vmrun. The application does not accept a relative path, and can hang if one is entered.
    Keyboard Shortcuts Keyboard Shortcuts
    If you prefer to work from the keyboard as much as possible, you may find the following keyboard shortcuts handy. If you have changed the Preferences setting for the hot-key combination, substitute your new setting for Ctrl-Alt as needed in the shortcuts listed here.
    Shortcut
    Action
    Ctrl-B
    Power on.
    Ctrl-E
    Power off.
    Ctrl-R
    Reset the power.
    Ctrl-Z
    Suspend.
    Ctrl-N
    Create a new virtual machine.
    Ctrl-O
    Open a virtual machine.
    Ctrl-F4
    Close the current virtual machine.
    Ctrl-D
    Edit the virtual machine's configuration.
    Ctrl-G
    Grab input from keyboard and mouse.
    Ctrl-P
    Edit preferences.
    Ctrl-Alt-Enter
    Go to full screen mode.
    Ctrl-Alt
    Return to normal (windowed) mode.
    Ctrl-Alt-Tab
    Switch among open virtual machines while mouse and keyboard input are grabbed.
    Ctrl-Tab
    Switch among open virtual machines while mouse and keyboard input are not grabbed. VMware Workstation must be the active application.
    Ctrl-Shift-Tab
    Switch among open virtual machines while mouse and keyboard input are not grabbed. VMware Workstation must be the active application.
    Ctrl-Alt-Fx
    Linux hosts: Switch among open virtual machines while using full screen mode. Fx is a function key corresponding to the virtual machine you want to use. The key combination to use for a virtual machine is shown in the VMware Workstation title bar when that virtual machine is active and in normal (windowed) mode.
    Windows hosts: For an additional similar functionality, see Using Full Screen Switch Mode.
    Where to Go Next? Where to Go Next?
  • Creating a New Virtual Machine
  • Running VMware Workstation

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