VMware ESXi SSH CLI basic commands

vim-cmd vmsvc/getallvms

Lists all vm's running on hypervisor and provides vmid

vim-cmd vmsvc/power.off vmid

Powers off vmid referenced from getallvms command

vim-cmd vmsvc/power.on vmid

Powers off vmid referenced from getallvms command

vim-cmd vmsvc/power.reboot vmid

Reboots vmid referenced from getallvms command

vim-cmd vmsvc/destroy vmid

Deletes the vmdk and vmx files from disk

vim-cmd hostsvc/maintenance_mode_enter

Puts hypervisor into maintenance mode

vim-cmd hostsvc/maintenance_mode_exit

Takes hypervisor out of maintenance mode

vim-cmd solo/registervm /vmfs/vol/datastore/dir/vm.vmx

Registers vm in hypervisor inventory

vim-cmd vmsvc/unregister vmid

Unregisters vm with hypervisor

vim-cmd vmsvc/tools.install vmid

Starts vmware tools installation for VM

vim-cmd hostsvc/net/info

Provides information about hypervisor networking

chkconfig -l

Shows daemons running on hypervisor. Can also be used for configuration.

esxtop

Same as linux top for vmware

vmkerrcode -l

List of vmkernel errors

esxcfg-info

Lists a LOT of information about the esx host

esxcfg-nics -l

Lists information about NIC's. Can also be used for configuration.

esxcfg-vswitch -l

Lists information about virtual switching. Can also be used for configuration.

dcui

Provides console screen to ssh session

vsish

Vmware interactive shell

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Update Patches or ESXI upgrade through Command Line

#vim-cmd hostsvc/maintenance_mode_enter 

#esxcli software vib install -d "/vmfs/volumes/datastore1/patch-directory/ESXi500-201111001.zip" 

#esxcli software vib install -v     https://hostupdate.vmware.com/software/VUM/PRODUCTION/main/esx/vmw/vib20/tools-light/VMware_locker_tools-light_5.0.0-0.7.515841.vib 

###Verify that the VIBs are installed on your ESXi host:

#esxcli software vib list 

After the patch has been installed, reboot the ESX host:

# reboot 

After the host has finished booting, exit maintenance mode and power on the virtual machines:

# vim-cmd hostsvc/maintenance_mode_exit

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Below is a list of most common CLI commands for VMWare ESXi. Type these in directly in an ESXi or SSH shell.

vim-cmd vmsvc/getallvms	List all VMs running on the host. Also provides vmid, required for commands below.
vim-cmd vmsvc/power.off vmid	Power off specified VM.
vim-cmd vmsvc/power.on vmid	Power off specified VM.
vim-cmd vmsvc/power.reboot vmid	Reboot specified VM.
vim-cmd solo/registervm /vmfs/volume/datastore/subdir/vm-file.vmx	Register the VM stored at location on the ESX host inventory.
vim-cmd vmsvc/unregister vmid	Unregister VM from the host. Does not remove the VM's files from the datastore.
vim-cmd vmsvc/destroy vmid	Delete the specified VM. The VMDK and VMX files will be deleted from storage as well.
vim-cmd vmsvc/tools.install vmid	Initiates an installation of VMWare Tools on the VM
vim-cmd hostsvc/maintenance_mode_enter	Put the host into maintenance mode.
vim-cmd hostsvc/maintenance_mode_exit	Take the host out of maintenance mode.
vim-cmd hostsvc/net/info	Show networking information of the host.
chkconfig -l	Show services running on the host. Can also be used to change startup configuration.
esxtop	Display list of processes and its usage of resources. Works similar to linux top.
esxcfg-info	Show host's configuration and information.
esxcfg-nics -l	Show current NIC configuration.
esxcfg-vswitch -l	Show current vSwitch configuration.
vmkerrcode -l	Display a reference list of VMKernel return codes and descriptions.
dcui	Start the console UI (when accessing through SSH).
vsish	Run the VMWare Interactive Shell (from SSH).
decodeSel /var/log/ipmi_sel.raw	Read IPMI system log of physical server.

Replace vmid with the value you retrieved from the getallvms command (first one in the table).

Replace path with the full path and file name of a VMX-file (= configuration file of a VM).

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