====== ESXi - CLI ======


===== Manually start 'Auto power on' procedure =====

This may be useful after exiting maintenance mode. The following command will start the VM's like described in /etc/vmware/hostd/vmAutoStart.xml.

<code>
~ # vim-cmd hostsvc/autostartmanager/autostart
</code>

The execution takes some time. It will start one VM after another.

===== Shutdown all powered on VM's =====

This command will get all running VM's, determine the Vmid and initiate a guest shutdown for all of them. Use it at your own risk.
<code>
~ # for vmid in $(vim-cmd vmsvc/getallvms | egrep "$(esxcli vm process list | grep "^[^ ]" | xargs | sed 's/ /|/g')" | awk '{ if($1 ~ /^[0-9]*$/ ) { print $1} }'); do vim-cmd vmsvc/power.shutdown $vmid; done
</code>

===== Poweroff or kill a VM =====

**Attention**: This is a power off, not a guest shutdown. This is not the prefered way to shutdown your VM's.

First, to get a list of your running VM's and the corresponding //World ID// execute the following command:

<code>
~ # esxcli vm process list
my_vm_x
   World ID: 35930
   Process ID: 0
   VMX Cartel ID: 35699
   UUID: 56 4d 67 bf 2c 52 e1 e0-33 1b 57 42 02 d8 d8 3b
   Display Name: my_vm_x
   Config File: /vmfs/volumes/5463f5fa-e9e1b35a-983d-6451066626e8/my_vm_x/my_vm_x.vmx

my_vm_y
   World ID: 36398
   Process ID: 0
   VMX Cartel ID: 36397
   UUID: 56 4d f9 f5 10 4e fa e0-42 e8 80 17 a2 bf b5 93
   Display Name: my_vm_y
   Config File: /vmfs/volumes/5463f5fa-e9e1b35a-983d-6451066626e8/my_vm_y/my_vm_y.vmx
</code>

This is how the kill command is constructed:
<code>
~ # esxcli vm process kill --type={soft,hard,force} --world-id={world id}
</code>

Use the type in this order. Try a soft kill first. If the VM wont power off try hard and if it doesn't work try force as last option.

For example:
<code>
~ # esxcli vm process kill --type=soft --world-id=35930
</code>

and if soft is not enough:
<code>
~ # esxcli vm process kill --type=hard --world-id=35930
~ # esxcli vm process kill --type=force --world-id=35930
</code>



===== Create logical RAID 1 drive with two new disk =====

//Environment: HP Proliant MicroServer gen8 with ESXi 6.0.0 HP customized ISO//

First, check if the system detected the new disks.

<code>
~ # esxcli hpssacli cmd -q "ctrl slot=0 pd all show"

Dynamic Smart Array B120i RAID in Slot 0 (Embedded)

   array A

      physicaldrive 3I:0:3 (port 3I:box 0:bay 3, SATA, 1500.3 GB, OK)
      physicaldrive 4I:0:4 (port 4I:box 0:bay 4, SATA, 1500.3 GB, OK)

   unassigned

      physicaldrive 1I:0:1 (port 1I:box 0:bay 1, SATA, 3 TB, OK)
      physicaldrive 2I:0:2 (port 2I:box 0:bay 2, SATA, 3 TB, OK)


</code>


In this example, there are two unassigned disks (1I:0:1,2I:0:2). With the following command, a new logical disk (array B) is created with this two disks in a RAID 1 mirror.

<code>
~ # esxcli hpssacli cmd -q "ctrl slot=0 create type=ld drives=1I:0:1,2I:0:2 raid=1"
</code>

The command above can be shortened because the two used disks are the only unassigned disks. The keyword **all** can be used instead of a list with the disks.

<code>
~ # esxcli hpssacli cmd -q "ctrl slot=0 create type=ld drives=all raid=1"
</code>

Now, the result can be checked.

<code>
~ # esxcli hpssacli cmd -q "ctrl slot=0 pd all show"

Dynamic Smart Array B120i RAID in Slot 0 (Embedded)

   array A

      physicaldrive 3I:0:3 (port 3I:box 0:bay 3, SATA, 1500.3 GB, OK)
      physicaldrive 4I:0:4 (port 4I:box 0:bay 4, SATA, 1500.3 GB, OK)

   array B

      physicaldrive 1I:0:1 (port 1I:box 0:bay 1, SATA, 3 TB, OK)
      physicaldrive 2I:0:2 (port 2I:box 0:bay 2, SATA, 3 TB, OK)


~ # esxcli hpssacli cmd -q "ctrl slot=0 ld all show"

Dynamic Smart Array B120i RAID in Slot 0 (Embedded)

   array A

      logicaldrive 1 (1.4 TB, RAID 1, OK)

   array B

      logicaldrive 2 (2.7 TB, RAID 1, OK)


</code>


===== Label new volume =====

I added two disks to my ESXi which were used in my NAS before. I created a new array on the controller, started a rescan and tried to add new storage. The volume was listed but when I got ahead I got the following error:

<code>
Call "HostDatastoreSystem.QueryVmfsDatastoreCreateOptions" for object "ha-datastoresystem" on ESXi "my_host" failed.
</code>

It seems that the old partition table of my NAS annoys my ESXi host.

Solution: relabel the device.

The disk name is visible in the GUI.

<code>
~ # partedUtil mklabel /vmfs/devices/disks/naa.600508b1001c73ca6d5fa78a068685e5 gpt
</code>