Name

Description

VixHandle
VixVM_RunProgramInGuest(VixHandle vmHandle,
                        const char *guestProgramName,
                        const char *commandLineArgs,
                        VixRunProgramOptions options,
                        VixHandle propertyListHandle,
                        VixEventProc *callbackProc,
                        void *clientData);

This function runs a program in the guest operating system. The program must be stored on a file system available to the guest before calling this function.

Parameters

vmHandle

Identifies a virtual machine. Call VixVM_Open() to create a virtual machine handle.

guestProgramName

The path name of an executable file on the guest operating system.

commandLineArgs

A string to be passed as command line arguments to the executable identified by guestProgramName.

options

Run options for the program. See the remarks below.

propertyListHandle

Must be VIX_INVALID_HANDLE.

callbackProc

A callback function that will be invoked when the operation is complete.

clientData

A parameter that will be passed to the callbackProc function.

Return Value

Remarks

• This function runs a program in the guest operating system. The program must be stored on a file system available to the guest before calling this function.
• The current working directory for the program in the guest is not defined. Absolute paths should be used for files in the guest, including guestProgramName and any command-line arguments.
• You must call VixVM_LoginInGuest() before calling this function.
• If the program to run in the guest is intended to be visible to the user in the guest, such as an application with a graphical user interface, you must call VixVM_LoginInGuest() with VIX_LOGIN_IN_GUEST_REQUIRE_INTERACTIVE_ENVIRONMENT as the option before calling this function. This will ensure that the program is run within a graphical session that is visible to the user.
• If the options parameter is 0, this function will report completion to the job handle when the program exits in the guest operating system. Alternatively, you can pass VIX_RUNPROGRAM_RETURN_IMMEDIATELY as the value of the options parameter, and this function reports completion to the job handle as soon as the program starts in the guest.
• For Windows guest operating systems, when running a program with a graphical user interface, you can pass VIX_RUNPROGRAM_ACTIVATE_WINDOW as the value of the options parameter. This option will ensure that the application's window is visible and not minimized on the guest's screen. This can be combined with the VIX_RUNPROGRAM_RETURN_IMMEDIATELY flag using the bitwise inclusive OR operator (|). VIX_RUNPROGRAM_ACTIVATE_WINDOW has no effect on Linux guest operating systems.
• On a Linux guest operating system, if you are running a program with a graphical user interface, it must know what X Windows display to use, for example host:0.0, so it can make the program visible on that display. Do this by passing the -display argument to the program, if it supports that argument, or by setting the DISPLAY environment variable on the guest. See documentation on VixVM_WriteVariable.
• When the job is signaled, the following properties will be available on the returned job handle:
  • VIX_PROPERTY_JOB_RESULT_PROCESS_ID: the process id; however, if the guest has an older version of Tools (those released with Workstation 6 and earlier) and the VIX_RUNPROGRAM_RETURN_IMMEDIATELY flag is used, then the process ID will not be returned from the guest and this property will not be set on the job handle, so attempting to access this property will result in VIX_E_UNRECOGNIZED_PROPERTY being returned;
  • VIX_PROPERTY_JOB_RESULT_GUEST_PROGRAM_ELAPSED_TIME: the process elapsed time in seconds;
  • VIX_PROPERTY_JOB_RESULT_GUEST_PROGRAM_EXIT_CODE: the process exit code.
  If the option parameter is VIX_RUNPROGRAM_RETURN_IMMEDIATELY, the latter two will both be 0.
• Depending on the behavior of the guest operating system, there may be a short delay after the job completes before the process is visible in the guest operating system.

Side Effects

Requirements

Example

VixError err = VIX_OK;
VixHandle hostHandle = VIX_INVALID_HANDLE;
VixHandle jobHandle = VIX_INVALID_HANDLE;
VixHandle vmHandle = VIX_INVALID_HANDLE;

jobHandle = VixHost_Connect(VIX_API_VERSION,
                            VIX_SERVICEPROVIDER_VMWARE_WORKSTATION,
                            NULL, // hostName
                            0, // hostPort
                            NULL, // userName
                            NULL, // password
                            0, // options
                            VIX_INVALID_HANDLE, // propertyListHandle
                            NULL, // callbackProc
                            NULL); // clientData

err = VixJob_Wait(jobHandle,
                  VIX_PROPERTY_JOB_RESULT_HANDLE,
                  &hostHandle,
                  VIX_PROPERTY_NONE);

if (VIX_OK != err) {
   // Handle the error...
   goto abort;
}
Vix_ReleaseHandle(jobHandle);
jobHandle = VixVM_Open(hostHandle,
                       "c:\\Virtual Machines\\vm1\\win2000.vmx",
                       NULL, // callbackProc
                       NULL); // clientData
err = VixJob_Wait(jobHandle,
                  VIX_PROPERTY_JOB_RESULT_HANDLE,
                  &vmHandle,
                  VIX_PROPERTY_NONE);
if (VIX_OK != err) {
   // Handle the error...
   goto abort;
}

Vix_ReleaseHandle(jobHandle);

jobHandle = VixVM_PowerOn(vmHandle,
                          0, // powerOnOptions
                          VIX_INVALID_HANDLE, // propertyListHandle
                          NULL, // callbackProc
                          NULL); // clientData

err = VixJob_Wait(jobHandle,VIX_PROPERTY_NONE);
if (VIX_OK != err) {
   // Handle the error...
   goto abort;
}

Vix_ReleaseHandle(jobHandle);

// Wait until guest is completely booted.
jobHandle = VixVM_WaitForToolsInGuest(vmHandle,
                                      300, // timeoutInSeconds
                                      NULL, // callbackProc
                                      NULL); // clientData

err = VixJob_Wait(jobHandle, VIX_PROPERTY_NONE);
if (VIX_OK != err) {
   // Handle the error...
   goto abort;
}

Vix_ReleaseHandle(jobHandle);

// Authenticate for guest operations.
jobHandle = VixVM_LoginInGuest(vmHandle,
                               "vixuser", // userName
                               "secret", // password
                               0, // options
                               NULL, // callbackProc
                               NULL); // clientData

err = VixJob_Wait(jobHandle, VIX_PROPERTY_NONE);
if (VIX_OK != err) {
   // Handle the error...
   goto abort;
}

Vix_ReleaseHandle(jobHandle);

// Run the target program.
jobHandle = VixVM_RunProgramInGuest(vmHandle,
                                    "c:\\myProgram.exe",
                                    "/flag arg1 arg2",
                                    0, // options,
                                    VIX_INVALID_HANDLE, // propertyListHandle,
                                    NULL, // callbackProc,
                                    NULL); // clientData

err = VixJob_Wait(jobHandle, VIX_PROPERTY_NONE);

if (VIX_OK != err) {
   // Handle the error...
   goto abort;
}

abort:
Vix_ReleaseHandle(jobHandle);
Vix_ReleaseHandle(vmHandle);
VixHost_Disconnect(hostHandle);