ESX cheat sheet

List of hosts in the HA cluster

less /etc/opt/vmware/fdm/hostlist

less /etc/vmware/hostd/vmInventory.xml

vim-cmd vmsvc/getallvms	List VMs registered on the host
vim-cmd vmsvc/reload VMID	Force the host to reload the vmx
vim-cmd vmsvc/power.getstate VMID	Get Power State of the VM
vim-cmd vmsvc/power.shutdown VMID	Shutdown the Guest OS
vim-cmd vmsvc/power.off VMID	VM Hard power off
vim-cmd vmsvc/get.tasklist VMID	List VM Tasks
vim-cmd vmsvc/task_info task_id	Get more details on the task
vim-cmd vmsvc/task_cancel task_id	Cancel the task

Using esxcli

esxcli vm process list	List all running VM process
esxcli vm process kill -t soft -w WorldID	Soft kill the VM
esxcli vm process kill -t hard -w WorldID	Hard kill the VM
esxcli vm process kill -t force -w WorldID	Force kill the VM

From esxtop

Shift + V	Show only running VMs
F > C > Enter	Add the LWID (Leader World ID)view
K > enter LWID	Kill the process of the unresponsive VM