You can configure virtual machines running on an ESXi host to start up and shut down with the host or after a delay. You can also set the default timing and startup order for virtual machines. This way, the operating system has enough time to save data when the host enters maintenance mode or is being powered off for another reason.

The Virtual Machine Startup and Shutdown (automatic startup) setting is deactivated for all virtual machines residing on hosts that are in a vSphere HA cluster. Automatic startup is not supported with vSphere HA.

Note: You can also create a scheduled task to change the power settings for a virtual machine. See vCenter Server and Host Management.

Procedure

  1. In the vSphere Web Client, navigate to the host where the virtual machine is located and click the Configure tab.
  2. Under Virtual Machines, select VM Startup/Shutdown and click Edit.
    The Edit VM Startup/Shutdown Configuration dialog box opens.
  3. Select Automatically start and stop the virtual machines with the system.
  4. (Optional) In the Default VM Settings pane, configure the default startup and shutdown behavior for all virtual machines on the host.
    Setting Description
    Startup Delay After you start the ESXi host, it starts powering on the virtual machines that are configured for automatic startup. After the ESXi host powers on the first virtual machine, the host waits for the specified delay time and then powers on the next virtual machine. The virtual machines are powered on in the startup order specified in the Per-VM Overrides pane.
    Continue immediately if VMware Tools starts Shortens the startup delay of the virtual machine. If VMware Tools starts before the specified delay time passes, the ESXi host powers on the next virtual machine without waiting for the delay time to pass.
    Shutdown delay When you power off the ESXi host, it starts powering off the virtual machines that run on it. The order in which virtual machines are powered off is the reverse of their startup order. After the ESXi host powers off the first virtual machine, the host waits for the specified shutdown delay time and then powers off the next virtual machine. The ESXi host shuts down only after all virtual machines are powered off.
    Shutdown action Select a shutdown action that is applicable to the virtual machines on the host when the host shuts down.
    • Guest Shutdown
    • Power Off
    • Suspend
    • None
  5. (Optional) In the Per-VM Overrides pane, configure the startup order and behavior for individual virtual machines.
    Use this option when you need the delay of the virtual machine to be different from the default delay for all machines. The settings that you configure for individual virtual machines override the default settings for all machines.
    1. To change the startup order of virtual machines, select a virtual machine from the Manual Startup category and use the up arrow to move it up to the Automatic Startup or Any Order categories.
      Use the up and down arrows to change the startup order for virtual machines in the Automatic Startup and Any Order categories. During shutdown, the virtual machines shut down in the reverse order.
    2. To change the start up behavior of a virtual machine, select a virtual machine and click the default option in the Startup Behavior column.
      The default option is Use Defaults.
      A drop-down menu appears.

    3. Select Custom and configure the startup delay by clicking the default value (120) in the Startup Delay(s) column.
    4. For the selected virtual machine, click the default option in the VMware Tools column. Define whether the ESXi host waits for the delay to pass when VMware Tools is already installed on the virtual machine.
      If you select Continue if VMware Tools is installed, the ESXi host powers on the next virtual machine without waiting for the delay to pass. If you select Do not continue if VMware Tools is installed, the ESXi host waits for the delay to pass.
    5. For the selected virtual machine, click the default option in the Shutdown Behavior column.
      The default is Use Defaults.
    6. From the drop-down menu, select Custom and configure the Shutdown Action and the Shutdown Delay(s) by clicking the default options in those columns.
      The default shutdown action is Power off and the default shutdown delay is 120.
  6. Click OK.