Changing virtual machine power states is useful when you do maintenance on the host. You can use the system default settings for the virtual machine power controls, or you can configure the controls to interact with the guest operating system. For example, you can configure the Power off control to power off the virtual machine or shut down the guest operating system.

You can modify many virtual machine configurations while the virtual machine is running, but you might need to change the virtual machine power state for some configurations.

You cannot configure A Power on (This Power On image shows a right facing green arrow.) action. This action powers on a virtual machine when a virtual machine is stopped, or resumes the virtual machine and runs a script when it is suspended and VMware Tools is installed and available. If VMware Tools is not installed, it resumes the virtual machine and does not run a script.

Prerequisites

  • Verify that you have privileges to perform the intended power operation on the virtual machine.
  • To set optional power functions, install VMware Tools in the virtual machine.
  • Power off the virtual machine before editing the VMware Tools options.

Procedure

  1. Right-click a virtual machine in the inventory and select Edit Settings.
  2. Click the VM Options tab and expand VMware Tools.
  3. Select an option for the virtual machine Power Off (This virtual machine Power Off image shows a red square button.) control from the drop-down menu.
    Option Description
    Shut Down Guest Uses VMware Tools to initiate an orderly system shut down of the virtual machine. Soft power operations are possible only if the tools are installed in the guest operating system.
    Power Off Immediately stops the virtual machine. A Power Off action shuts down the guest operating system or powers off the virtual machine. A message indicates that the guest operating system might not shut down properly. Use this power off option only when necessary.
    Default (Shut Down Guest) Follows system settings. The current value of the system settings appears in parentheses.
  4. Select an option for the Suspend (The virtual machine Suspend image shows two orange side-by-side, vertical bars.) control from the drop-down menu.
    Option Description
    Suspend Pauses all virtual machine activity. When VMware Tools is installed and available, a suspend action runs a script and suspends the virtual machine. If VMware Tools is not installed, a Suspend action suspends the virtual machine without running a script.
    Default (Suspended) Follows system settings. The current value of the system setting appears in parentheses.
  5. Select an option for the Reset (The virtual machine Reset option image shows a red and green arrow turning counter clockwise in a circle.) control from the drop-down menu.
    Option Description
    Restart Guest Uses VMware Tools to initiate an orderly restart. Soft power operations are possible only if the tools are installed in the guest operating system.
    Reset Shuts down and restarts the guest operating system without powering off the virtual machine. If VMWare Tools is not installed, a Reset action resets the virtual machine.
    Default (Restart Guest) Follows system settings. The current value of the system setting appears in parentheses.
  6. Click OK to save your changes.