Q. How can I place my VMware ESX server in maintenance mode from the command line?

A. You can place a server in maintenance mode using the VI client, or you can do it from the command line:

vimsh -n -e /hostsvc/maintenance_mode_enter

You can exit maintenance mode using the command

vimsh -n -e /hostsvc/maintenance_mode_exit

Related Reading:

• The Virtualization Stakes
• Q. How can I quickly get the status of all the virtual machines (VMs) System Center Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) is managing from PowerShell?
• Q. Can I perform Storage vMotion with ESX 3.5 and keep disks thin?
• Q. Are there disadvantages to using technologies that allow zero downtime migrations between virtual servers with different versions of a CPU?

Check out hundreds more useful Q&As like this in John Savill's FAQ for Windows. Also, watch instructional videos made by John at ITTV.net.