March 27, 2024

VMware: Stopping a Virtual Machine gone haywire

 

Sometimes a Virtual Machine can’t be stopped via the VIClient. The job just hangs. There are a number of options to stop your Virtual Machine from within the Service Console. Keep in mind that these are last resort options!

  • Stopping the virtual machine by issuing the command vmware-cmd /vmfs/volumes/<datastorename>/<vmname>/<vmname>.vmx stop. This must be done on the ESX host where the Virtual Machine is running!
  • If this does not work, one can issue the following command: vmware-cmd /vmfs/volumes/<datastorename>/<vmname>/<vmname>.vmx stop hard. This will try to kill the Virtual Machine instantly.
  • A final solution is to kill the PID (process ID). Issue the following command: ps auxfww | grep <vmname> to locate the correct PID (BTW: this cannot be done via ESXTOP). The first number to appear in the output is your PID. The PID can be used to terminate the process by issuing kill -9 PID.

VMware: Stopping a Virtual Machine gone haywire
Vincent Vlieghe
Thu, 20 Sep 2007 11:50:00 GMT

Jason Benway

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2 thoughts on “VMware: Stopping a Virtual Machine gone haywire

  1. I like the stress on “last resort“. Maybe you should also present the problems that might appear if you use this “last resort” actions.
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  2. I like the stress on “last resort“. Maybe you should also present the problems that might appear if you use this “last resort” actions. But anyways, in the end you must do something so… bombs away!!!
    ____________________________________________
    Machinery Moving California

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