In case anybody else goes through this...
I updated a client and wanted to continue with running their VMs using vmplayer (Linux host for winXP guest(s)), yet still make automated backups, preferably without shutting them down.
I finally found this document:
http://www.vmware.com/support/developer/vix-api/vix112_vmrun_command.pdf
(much newer than the version I learned on)
Here's the important part
" Limitations
VMware Fusion does not support snapshot trees.
VMware Player does not support pause and unpause, snapshot operations, virtual machine cloning, or virtual hardware upgrade.
VMware Server does not support teams, shared folders, cloning, or multiple snapshots. When you try to create a second snapshot, the UI asks you to overwrite your existing snapshot.
The record and replay commands were deprecated in Workstation 7.1 and removed from this release."
So far VIX / Player just don't work together (which is why I was looking for the manual):
running as root, or the user who launched vmplayer:
# vmrun list
Unable to connect to host.
Error: Service type VIX_SERVICEPROVIDER_VMWARE_WORKSTATION was specified, but not installed
experimenting with Player 5.0.1 and vix 1.12.1
