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How Do You Restart a VM?

Published in Virtual Machines 3 mins read

There are several ways to restart a Virtual Machine (VM), depending on the desired outcome and the tools available. Here's a breakdown of the common methods:

1. Using the Restart-Computer Cmdlet (PowerShell)

If you're working within the VM's operating system and have PowerShell access, you can use the Restart-Computer cmdlet. This is similar to restarting a physical computer.

Example:

 ```powershell
 Restart-Computer -ComputerName FOO
 ```

 This command restarts the computer named "FOO".  You will need appropriate permissions to execute this command.

2. Using the Restart-VM Cmdlet (PowerShell)

This method performs a hard reset of the VM. This is equivalent to pulling the power cord on a physical machine and should be used with caution, as it can potentially lead to data loss or corruption if the VM has pending write operations.

Example:

 ```powershell
 Restart-VM -Name "MyVM"
 ```

 This command hard resets the VM named "MyVM".

3. Graceful Shutdown and Restart (Stop-VM followed by Start-VM)

This is the recommended method for restarting a VM, as it allows the guest operating system to shut down cleanly. It's analogous to using the "Restart" option from within the operating system.

Steps:

  1. Stop the VM: Use the Stop-VM cmdlet to gracefully shut down the VM's operating system.

    Stop-VM -Name "MyVM" -Force

    The -Force parameter bypasses any confirmation prompts. Omit it if you prefer to be prompted for confirmation.

  2. Start the VM: Once the VM is stopped, use the Start-VM cmdlet to power it back on.

    Start-VM -Name "MyVM"

Comparison of Methods:

Method Description Pros Cons When to Use
Restart-Computer Restarts the VM from within its operating system (like restarting a physical PC). Clean shutdown process. Requires access to the VM's operating system. When you need to restart the VM's OS gracefully and have access to it.
Restart-VM Performs a hard reset of the VM. Quickest option. Can cause data loss or corruption if not used carefully. When a VM is unresponsive and a hard reset is the only option.
Stop-VM then Start-VM Gracefully shuts down the VM's OS and then restarts it. Safest method for preventing data loss. Takes longer than a hard reset. When you want to restart the VM cleanly and avoid potential data corruption.

Choose the method that best suits your needs, considering the importance of data integrity and the urgency of the restart.

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