Here is a list of common virtualization keyboard shortcuts.
These are the default shortcuts, from the default install.
If anyone would like to submit additional products which I don’t have access to please leave them as a comment and I will post them.
VNC Player, from Real VNC (http://www.realvnc.com/)
Menu popup: F8
Remote Desktop, from Microsoft (http://www.microsoft.com/)
[source:
http://www.sessioncomputing.com/keyboard.htm ]
| Key combination |
Function |
Similar local keys |
| CTRL+ALT+END |
Opens the Windows Security dialog box |
CTRL+ALT+DELETE |
| CTRL+ALT+BREAK |
Toggles the Terminal Services client display from window to full screen |
NONE |
| ALT+INSERT |
Cycles through running programs on the remote computer |
ALT+TAB |
| ALT+HOME |
Displays the remote computer’s Start menu |
|
| ALT+DELETE |
Displays the remote window’s Control menu |
ALT+SPACE BAR |
| CTRL+ALT+NUMBER PAD MINUS |
Places an image of active window onto the TS clipboard |
ALT+PRINT SCREEN |
| CTRL+ALT+NUMBER PAD PLUS |
Places an image of the entire Terminal Services client on the Terminal Services clipboard |
PRINT SCREEN |
VMware GSX, from VMware (http://www.VMware.com)
[source:
http://www.vmware.com/…/running_shortcut_gsx.html ]
| Ctrl-B |
Power on. |
| Ctrl-E |
Power off. |
| Ctrl-R |
Reset the power. |
| Ctrl-Z |
Suspend. |
| Ctrl-N |
Create a new virtual machine. |
| Ctrl-O |
Open a virtual machine. |
| Ctrl-F4 |
Close the current virtual machine. |
| Ctrl-D |
Edit the virtual machine’s configuration. |
| Ctrl-G |
Grab input from the keyboard and mouse. |
| Ctrl-P |
Edit preferences. See Setting User Preferences for the VMware GSX Server Host. |
| Ctrl-Alt-Enter |
Go to full screen mode. |
| Ctrl-Alt |
Return to normal (windowed) mode. |
| Ctrl-Alt-Tab |
Switch among open virtual machines while the mouse and keyboard input are grabbed. |
| Ctrl-Tab |
Switch among open virtual machines while the mouse and keyboard input are not grabbed. VMware GSX Server must be the active application. |
| Ctrl-Shift-Tab |
Switch among open virtual machines while the mouse and keyboard input are not grabbed. VMware GSX Server must be the active application. |
| Ctrl-Alt-Fx |
Switch among open virtual machines while using full screen mode. Fx is a function key corresponding to the virtual machine you want to use. The key combination to use for a virtual machine is shown in the VMware GSX Server title bar when that virtual machine is active and in normal (windowed) mode. |
VMware Workstation 5.5, from VMware (http://www.VMware.com)
[source:
http://www.vmware.com/…/ws_learning_keyboard_shortcuts.html ]
| Ctrl-B |
Power on. |
| Ctrl-E |
Power off. |
| Ctrl-R |
Reset the power. |
| Ctrl-Z |
Suspend. |
| Ctrl-N |
Create a new virtual machine. |
| Ctrl-O |
Open a virtual machine. |
| Ctrl-F4 |
Close the summary/console view for the selected virtual machine. A confirmation dialog appears only if the virtual machine is powered on. |
| Ctrl-D |
Edit the virtual machine’s configuration. |
| Ctrl-G |
Grab input from keyboard and mouse. |
| Ctrl-P |
Edit preferences. |
| Ctrl-Alt-Enter |
Go to full screen mode. |
| Ctrl-Alt |
Return to normal (windowed) mode. |
| Ctrl-Alt-Tab |
Switch among open virtual machines while mouse and keyboard input are grabbed. |
| Ctrl-Tab |
Switch among open virtual machines while mouse and keyboard input are not grabbed. VMware Workstation must be the active application. |
| Ctrl-Shift-Tab |
Switch among open virtual machines while mouse and keyboard input are not grabbed. VMware Workstation must be the active application. |
Microsoft Virtual PC 2007, from Microsoft (http://www.Microsoft.com)
[source:
http://www.techgalaxy.net/…/Keyboard_shortcuts.htm ]
Virtual PC provides much of the required keyboard functionality through the use of a host key and key combinations. By default the host key is the right ALT key. You use the host key in two ways:
* If a virtual machine has captured the pointer, you can press the host key to return control of the mouse to the host computer.
* When Virtual PC is running, you can use the host key in combination with other keys for specific functions. The following table describes the keyboard combinations and the functionality that each provides.
| Key combination |
Description |
| Host key+L |
Restores Virtual PC Console from a minimized state. Moves Virtual PC Console to the foreground. |
| Host key+I |
Installs Virtual Machine Additions. |
| Host key+ENTER |
Toggles a virtual machine between full-screen mode and window mode. |
| Host key+DELETE |
Sends CTRL+ALT+DELETE to the virtual machine operating system. |
| Host key+P |
Pauses or resumes the virtual machine, depending upon its current state. |
| Host key+R |
Resets the virtual machine. |
| Host key+F4 |
Closes the virtual machine. |
| Host key+C |
Copies the selected items. |
| Host key+V |
Pastes a copied item. |
| Host key+A |
Selects all. |
| Host key+E |
Opens the virtual machine settings. |
| Host key+DOWN ARROW |
Minimizes the virtual machine. |
| Host key+LEFT ARROW |
Switches to the previous virtual machine when running multiple virtual machines, unless you are using full-screen mode. |
| Host key+RIGHT ARROW |
Switches to the next virtual machine when running multiple virtual machines, unless you are using full-screen mode. |
Microsoft Virtual Server 2005, from Microsoft (http://www.Microsoft.com)
[source:
http://technet2.microsoft.com/…4d1033.mspx
http://technet2.microsoft.com/…091033.mspx ]
By default the Host key is the right ALT key.
| Keyboard shortcut |
Description |
| HOST KEY+DELETE |
Sends CTRL+ALT+DELETE functionality to the virtual machine operating system. |
| HOST KEY+C |
Connects the Remote Control or VMRC to the VMRC server. |
| HOST KEY+A |
Switches the Remote Control or VMRC to the Administrator Display. |
| HOST KEY+I |
Displays connection information. |
| HOST KEY+V |
Sets the virtual machine so that the guest operating system cannot be manipulated. You can only view the virtual machine window. |
| HOST KEY+H |
Displays the control to set the Host key. |
| HOST KEY+ENTER |
Switches the virtual machine window to full-screen display. This option is available only when you connect to a virtual machine using the VMRC client. |
| HOST KEY+LEFT ARROW |
Switches to the previous virtual machine. This option is available only when you connect to a virtual machine using the VMRC client. |
| HOST KEY+RIGHT ARROW |
Switches to the next virtual machine. This option is available only when you connect to a virtual machine using the VMRC client. |
To send special keys to a virtual machine
Using the Administration Website
1. Open the Administration Website.
2. In the navigation pane, under Virtual Machines, point to Configure and then click the appropriate virtual machine.
3. On the Status page for your virtual machine, point to the virtual machine name, and then click Turn On.
4. Once the virtual machine is turned on, point to the virtual machine name, and then click Remote Control.
5. On the Remote Control page, click Remote Control in the upper-right corner, and then click Special Keys.
Using the Virtual Machine Remote Control client
1. Start the Virtual Machine Remote Control (VMRC) client.
2. Type the address of a virtual machine, and then click Connect.
3. Click the Remote Control menu, and then click Special Keys.
Virtual Server includes menu options to send the following special keyboard shortcuts to the virtual machine:
* CTRL+ALT+DELETE
* PRINT SCREEN
As with a physical computer, some keyboard functionality for the virtual machine, such as whether NUM LOCK is on by default when the virtual machine starts, is controlled by the BIOS setup utility. To access the BIOS, press the Delete key as the virtual machine is starting.
Parallels Workstation for OSX, from Parallels (http://www.parallels.com)
[source:
http://download.parallels.com/…Guide.pdf ]
Capturing and Releasing the Keyboard
and the Mouse in a Virtual Machine
To release the keyboard and mouse to Mac OS X:
Press the keyboard shortcut for releasing your keyboard/mouse. The factory setting is
Ctrl+Option(Alt), but you can change this key combo in Parallels Desktop-
>Preferences->Hot Keys.
Parallels Workstation for Windows Platform, from Parallels (http://www.parallels.com)
[source:
http://www.parallels.com/…Guide%20Nov%2022.pdf ]
Capturing and Releasing the Keyboard and the Mouse in a Virtual Machine
You can use any of three methods to make the virtual machine “capture” the keyboard and mouse:
Click anywhere inside the virtual machine window.
Select Capture Input in the VM menu.
Press Ctrl+I on your keyboard.
Once the guest OS captures your cursor, you can’t move it outside of the Parallels Workstation
To release the keyboard and mouse to primary OS:
Press the keyboard shortcut for releasing your keyboard/mouse. The factory setting is
Ctrl+Alt, but you can change this key combo in the Edit -> Preferences -> Hot Keys tab.
The keyboard and the mouse will be released immediately.
Keyboard Shortcut Limitations in
Windows Primary OS
If your computer is running Windows primary OS, it will intercept Ctrl+Alt+Del key
combination pressed in guest OS. To send Ctrl+Alt+Del to guest OS:
either press Ctrl+Alt+Ins while the keyboard is captured inside a Virtual Machine
window,
or select Send Ctrl+Alt+Del in the Parallels Workstation VM menu.
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