run a vmware VM from command-line - chs post at https://hedzr.com/devops/linux/run-vmware-vm-from-command-line/

vmware_run.sh

vmware_run() {
	local VMDIR="${VMWARE_DIR:-$HOME/Downloads/VMs/vmware}"
	local VMTYPE="${VMWARE_TYPE:-fusion}" # or "ws"
	# local VMDIR="$HOME/Documents/Virtual Machines.localized"
	which vmrun >/dev/null 2>&1 || ln -s "/Applications/VMware Fusion.app/Contents/Library/vmrun" /usr/local/bin/vmrun

	vmware_run_usage() {
		cat <<-EOF
			Usage:
				$(basename $0) <VM-name> <start|up|stop|halt|suspend|reset|pause|unpause>
				$(basename $0) <VM-name> <start_with_gui|start-with-gui>

			Examples:
				$(basename $0) u20.local start
				# start vm without gui (headless mode)

		EOF
	}
	vmware_run_start() {
		local cmd=$1
		local vmname=$2
		shift
		shift
		vmrun list | grep -q "$vmname" && {
			echo "VM '$vmname' already running"
		} || {
			[ "$cmd" != "start" ] && cmd=start
			echo "vmrun -T $VMTYPE $cmd $VMDIR/$vmname.vmwarevm/$vmname.vmx" "$@"
			vmrun -T $VMTYPE $cmd $VMDIR/$vmname.vmwarevm/$vmname.vmx "$@"
		}
	}
	vmware_run_stop() {
		local cmd=$1
		local vmname=$2
		vmrun list | grep -q "$vmname" || {
			echo "VM '$vmname' not running"
		} && {
			[ "$cmd" != "stop" ] && cmd=stop
			vmrun -T $VMTYPE $cmd $VMDIR/$vmname.vmwarevm/$vmname.vmx
		}
	}

	case ${2:-start} in
	start | start-without-gui | up)
		local cmd=${2:-start} && local vmn=$1
		(($#)) && shift
		(($#)) && shift
		dbg "vmn=$wmn" &&
			vmware_run_start $cmd $vmn nogui "$@"
		;;
	start_with_gui | start-with-gui | unpause)
		local cmd=$2 && local vmn=$1
		(($#)) && shift
		(($#)) && shift
		vmware_run_start start $vmn "$@"
		;;
	stop | suspend | reset | pause | halt)
		local cmd=$2 && local vmn=$1
		(($#)) && shift
		(($#)) && shift
		vmware_run_stop $cmd $vmn "$@"
		;;
	usage | help | -h | -H | --help)
		vmware_run_usage
		;;
	*)
		case $1 in
		usage | help | -h | -H | --help)
			vmware_run_usage
			;;

		*)
			vmrun "$@"
			;;
		esac
		;;
	esac
}