Automatically starting virtual machines (VMs) when a host system boots up can save administrators significant time and effort. VMware offers autostart capabilities in both its ESXi hypervisor and Workstation products. This article explores how to configure VM autostart in these environments.
Configuring Autostart in VMware Workstation
VMware Workstation Pro allows you to set VMs to launch automatically when your Windows host machine starts up. Here’s how to enable and configure this feature:
Enable the VMware Autostart Service
Step 1: Open the Windows Services application by pressing Win + R, typing services.msc, and pressing Enter.
Step 2: Locate the “VMware Autostart Service” in the list.
Step 3: Right-click on the service and select “Properties”.
Step 4: Change the “Startup type” to “Automatic” and click “Apply”.
Step 5: Click the “Start” button to initiate the service if it’s not already running.
Configure Autostart for Specific VMs
Step 1: Launch VMware Workstation Pro.
Step 2: Right-click on “My Computer” in the VM library.
Step 3: Select “Configure Auto Start VMs” from the context menu.
Step 4: Choose the VMs you want to start automatically and set their boot order.
Step 5: Click “OK” to save your settings.
Note: Only VMs located in the root folder of your VM library can be configured for autostart.
Troubleshooting Autostart Permissions
If you encounter a “Failed to update AutoStart configuration” error, you may need to adjust file permissions:
Step 1: Navigate to C:\ProgramData\VMware\VMware Workstation.
Step 2: Right-click on the vmAutoStart.xml file and select “Properties”.
Step 3: Go to the “Security” tab and click “Edit”.
Step 4: Add your user account and grant it “Write” permissions.
Step 5: Click “Apply” and “OK” to save the changes.
Configuring Autostart in VMware ESXi
VMware ESXi offers more granular control over VM autostart settings, especially for standalone hosts.
Enabling Autostart on a Standalone ESXi Host
Step 1: Log in to the ESXi Host Client web interface.
Step 2: Navigate to “Manage” > “System” > “Autostart”.
Step 3: Click “Edit Settings” and set “Enable auto-start/auto-stop” to “Yes”.
Step 4: Configure global settings like start and stop delays if desired.
Step 5: Click “Save” to apply the changes.
Configuring Individual VM Autostart Settings
Step 1: In the Autostart section, locate the VM you want to configure.
Step 2: Click the “Enable” button next to the VM’s name.
Step 3: Use the “Start Order” column to set the VM’s boot priority.
Step 4: Click “Configure” next to the VM to set specific options:
- Startup Delay: Time to wait before powering on the VM
- Shutdown Delay: Maximum time to wait for the VM to shut down gracefully
- Stop Action: Choose between shut down, suspend, or power off
- Wait for Heartbeat: Delay further startups until VMware Tools reports the VM is running
Step 5: Click “Save” to apply the individual VM settings.
Autostart Considerations for vCenter-Managed Hosts
When ESXi hosts are managed by vCenter Server, VM autostart settings don’t transfer during vMotion events. For consistent autostart behavior in vSphere clusters, consider these alternatives:
- Use vSphere HA (High Availability) to automatically restart VMs after host failures.
- Create PowerCLI scripts to configure autostart settings across multiple hosts.
- Implement third-party solutions designed for VM startup orchestration in vSphere environments.
Configuring VM autostart can significantly streamline your virtualization workflow. By following these steps for VMware Workstation and ESXi, you can ensure critical VMs are always available when you need them. Remember to test your autostart configuration thoroughly to verify it behaves as expected during host reboots or unexpected shutdowns.