Even VMware server 2.0 has a nice web GUI on https://localhost:8333/, you can use scripts to start and stop VM guest directly from your terminal.

Before use, you have to set some hard coded parameters, like HOST_USER.


#!/bin/bash
# This script will start/stop/status VMware machine
#
# Written by Ez-Aton
# http://www.tournament.org.il/run
#
# Modified for VMware server 2.0 by doka@wepoca.net
# http://www.wepoca.net
#
#