Microsoft Windows-based virtual machine loses network connectivity with the error: Your guest has entered a standby sleep state. Use the keyboard or mouse while grabbed to wake it
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Article ID: 320013
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Updated On:
Products
VMware vCenter ServerVMware vSphere ESXi
Issue/Introduction
To resolve Windows VM getting into sleep mode
Symptoms:
A Windows virtual machine loses network connectivity.
The VMware Tools status on the virtual machine shows:
Not Running
Under Task and Event in the virtual machine, you see a message similar to:
Your guest has entered a standby sleep state. Use the keyboard or mouse while grabbed to wake it
The vmware.log for the virtual machine (located at /vmfs/volumes/<Datastore>/<Virtual Machine Directory>/ ) contains entries similar to:
vcpu-0| Your guest has entered a standby sleep state. Use the keyboard or mouse while grabbed to wake it. vcpu-0| --------------------------------------- vmx| GuestRpcSendTimedOut: message to toolbox timed out. vmx| GuestRpcSendTimedOut: message to toolbox timed out. vmx| GuestRpc: app toolbox's second ping timeout; assuming app is down
Environment
VMware vCenter Server 5.1.x VMware vSphere ESXi 5.0 VMware vSphere ESXi 5.5 VMware vSphere ESXi 5.1 VMware vCenter Server 5.0.x VMware vCenter Server 5.5.x
Cause
This issue occurs when the Microsoft operating system goes in to sleep mode due to power management within the virtual machine and turns off all devices, including the networking card. You can only wake the virtual machine directly from a console session, from vCenter Server or the ESXi host it resides on.
Resolution
To resolve this issue, disable Power Management within the guest operating system.
Note: The preceding link was correct as of April 26, 2016. If you find the link is broken, provide a feedback and a VMware employee will update the link.