Starting a virtual server

Use the virsh start command to start a shut off virtual server.

About this task

When you start a virtual server, usually, an Initial Program Load (IPL) is performed, for example to boot the guest. But if there is a saved system image for the virtual server, the guest is restored from this system image. It depends on the command that terminated a virtual server whether the system image was saved or not (see Terminating a virtual server).

The saved shut off state indicates the availability of a saved system image. To display the state and the reason of a virtual server, enter the command:

# virsh domstate <VS> --reason
shut off (saved)

where <VS> is the name of the virtual server.

Refer to Virtual server life cycle to see the effect of the virsh start command depending on the virtual server state.

Procedure

Start a defined virtual server in shut off state using the virsh start command (see start):

# virsh start <VS>

Using the --console option grants initial access to the virtual server console and displays all messages that are issued to the console:

# virsh start <VS> --console

<VS>: Is the name of the virtual server as specified in its domain configuration-XML file.

If there is a saved system image, you can avoid that the virtual server is restored from this image by using the --force-boot option.