Setting Hot-Key Sequences for Virtual Machines

Select: Edit > Preferences > Hot keys

You can use hot-key sequences to interact with virtual machines. Hot-key sequences can be used to

Switch between virtual machines

Leave full screen mode

Ungrab input

Send Ctrl-Alt-Del to the virtual machine only (and not to the host machine)

Send commands to the virtual machine only (and not to the host machine)

Using the Hot Keys editor in the Preferences dialog box (choose Edit > Preferences > Hot keys), you can specify the key combination that is used with hot-key sequences for all of your virtual machines. For example, you can require that all hot-key sequences use Ctrl-Alt-Shift. This is useful if you want to prevent certain key combinations (such as Ctrl-Alt-Del) from being intercepted by VMware Server instead of being sent to the guest operating system.

You can select the following hot-key sequences:

Ctrl-Alt (the default)

Ctrl-Shift-Alt

Custom, using a combination of the Ctrl, Shift and Alt keys

The modifiers for the custom combination are:

Down - The key must be pressed to use the hot-key sequence.
Up - The key must not be pressed to use the hot-key sequence.
Either - The key may be up or down; this is useful to allow users a variety of keystrokes to leave full screen mode. For example, selecting Either for the Shift key means that both Ctrl-Alt and Ctrl-Shift-Alt cause VMware Server to leave full screen mode.
Note: If you select Either for all of the keys (Ctrl, Alt and Shift) in the custom combination, then the Esc key is used to leave full screen mode.

The hot-key settings apply to all of your virtual machines.

To use hot-key sequences:

Click or type in the virtual machine display to direct keyboard and mouse input to the virtual machine.

Once VMware Server has grabbed the keyboard and mouse input, you can begin using hot-key sequences. Refer to the following table for descriptions of hot-key sequences you can use

.

Hot-Key Sequence

Description

Alt-Tab

Changes between applications within the virtual machine.

Alt-Esc

Shifts between application windows within the virtual machine.

Ctrl-Alt-Delete

Lets you shut down or (depending upon the operating system) log off the operating system. This command is received by both the host operating system and the virtual machine, even when VMware VMware Server has control of input. You can cancel the ending of the host operating system's session, then return to the virtual machine and log off or shut down the guest operating system, or perform administrative tasks.

Ctrl-Alt-Insert

Lets you shut down or (depending upon the guest operating system) log off the guest. This command is received solely by the virtual machine.

Note: Changing the hot-key combination changes the sequence you need to use. For instance, if you change the hot-key combination to Ctrl-Shift-Alt, you must press Ctrl-Shift-Alt-Insert to end the guest operating system session.

Ctrl-Alt

Takes the virtual machine out of full screen mode; if the virtual machine is not in full screen mode, this hot-key combination releases the mouse and keyboard from the virtual machine.

Note: Changing the hot-key combination changes the sequence you need to use. For instance, if you change the hot-key combination to Ctrl-Shift-Alt, you must press Ctrl-Shift-Alt to take the virtual machine out of full screen mode or release the mouse and keyboard.

Ctrl-Alt-Enter

Expands the current virtual machine into full screen mode; when running several virtual machines and repeating the command, it switches the next virtual machine into full screen mode. This command provides a useful way to move between virtual machines.

Note: Changing the hot-key combination changes the sequence you need to use. For instance, if you change the hot-key combination to Ctrl-Shift-Alt, you must press Ctrl-Shift-Alt-Enter to enter full screen mode.

Ctrl-Alt-<space>

Sends any command into the virtual machine so that VMware VMware Server does not process it. Hold down Ctrl-Alt as you press the space bar and continue to hold those keys down as you press the next key in the sequence. For example, follow these steps to send Ctrl-Alt-Esc to the virtual machine, bypassing VMware Server:

1. Press Ctrl-Alt.

2. Press and release <space>.

3. Press and release Esc.

4. Release Ctrl-Alt.

Note: Changing the hot-key combination changes the sequence you need to use. For instance, if you change the hot-key combination to Ctrl-Shift-Alt, you must press Ctrl-Shift-Alt-<space> to have VMware Server not process a command.

Ctrl-Alt-F8

On most Linux hosts, the first virtual machine is Ctrl-Alt-F8, the second Ctrl-Alt- F9 and so on.

Note: Changing the hot-key combination changes the sequence you need to use. For instance, if you change the hot-key combination to Ctrl-Shift-Alt, you must press Ctrl-Shift-Alt-F8 to switch to the first virtual machine.

Ctrl-Alt-F9

On most Linux hosts, the second virtual machine is Ctrl-Alt-F9 and so forth.

Note: Changing the hot-key combination changes the sequence you need to use. For instance, if you change the hot-key combination to Ctrl-Shift-Alt, you must press Ctrl-Shift-Alt-F9 to switch to the second virtual machine, Ctrl-Shift- Alt-F10 to switch to the third virtual machine and so forth.

Hot-Key Sequence	Description
Alt-Tab	Changes between applications within the virtual machine.
Alt-Esc	Shifts between application windows within the virtual machine.
Ctrl-Alt-Delete	Lets you shut down or (depending upon the operating system) log off the operating system. This command is received by both the host operating system and the virtual machine, even when VMware VMware Server has control of input. You can cancel the ending of the host operating system's session, then return to the virtual machine and log off or shut down the guest operating system, or perform administrative tasks.
Ctrl-Alt-Insert	Lets you shut down or (depending upon the guest operating system) log off the guest. This command is received solely by the virtual machine. Note: Changing the hot-key combination changes the sequence you need to use. For instance, if you change the hot-key combination to Ctrl-Shift-Alt, you must press Ctrl-Shift-Alt-Insert to end the guest operating system session.
Ctrl-Alt	Takes the virtual machine out of full screen mode; if the virtual machine is not in full screen mode, this hot-key combination releases the mouse and keyboard from the virtual machine. Note: Changing the hot-key combination changes the sequence you need to use. For instance, if you change the hot-key combination to Ctrl-Shift-Alt, you must press Ctrl-Shift-Alt to take the virtual machine out of full screen mode or release the mouse and keyboard.
Ctrl-Alt-Enter	Expands the current virtual machine into full screen mode; when running several virtual machines and repeating the command, it switches the next virtual machine into full screen mode. This command provides a useful way to move between virtual machines. Note: Changing the hot-key combination changes the sequence you need to use. For instance, if you change the hot-key combination to Ctrl-Shift-Alt, you must press Ctrl-Shift-Alt-Enter to enter full screen mode.
Ctrl-Alt-<space>	Sends any command into the virtual machine so that VMware VMware Server does not process it. Hold down Ctrl-Alt as you press the space bar and continue to hold those keys down as you press the next key in the sequence. For example, follow these steps to send Ctrl-Alt-Esc to the virtual machine, bypassing VMware Server: 1. Press Ctrl-Alt. 2. Press and release <space>. 3. Press and release Esc. 4. Release Ctrl-Alt. Note: Changing the hot-key combination changes the sequence you need to use. For instance, if you change the hot-key combination to Ctrl-Shift-Alt, you must press Ctrl-Shift-Alt-<space> to have VMware Server not process a command.
Ctrl-Alt-F8	On most Linux hosts, the first virtual machine is Ctrl-Alt-F8, the second Ctrl-Alt- F9 and so on. Note: Changing the hot-key combination changes the sequence you need to use. For instance, if you change the hot-key combination to Ctrl-Shift-Alt, you must press Ctrl-Shift-Alt-F8 to switch to the first virtual machine.
Ctrl-Alt-F9	On most Linux hosts, the second virtual machine is Ctrl-Alt-F9 and so forth. Note: Changing the hot-key combination changes the sequence you need to use. For instance, if you change the hot-key combination to Ctrl-Shift-Alt, you must press Ctrl-Shift-Alt-F9 to switch to the second virtual machine, Ctrl-Shift- Alt-F10 to switch to the third virtual machine and so forth.