# Security Parameters

**--require-pwd** <**exit-fullscreen** | **change-vm-state** | **manage-snapshots** | **change-guest-pwd | change-vm-config**>:<**on** | **off**>

Require an administrator password to perform a corresponding action. Use **--allow-to-confirm** to make the system ask for username and password.

**--require-custom-pwd** <**exit-fullscreen** | **change-vm-state** | **manage-snapshots** | **change-guest-pwd** | **change-vm-config**>:<**on** | **off**>

Require a custom password to perform an operation. The **change-guest-pwd** option allows you to change the guest OS password via command line. Use -**-allow-to-confirm** to make the system ask for username and password. Other options are self-explanatory.

**--custom-pwd** \[**--custom-pwd-mode** <**on** | **off** | **change**>] \[**--replace-commands**]

Set, reset, or changes a custom password for operations that require it. The options are described below.

**--custom-pwd-mode** < **on** | **off** | **change**> — set, reset, or change a custom password for operations that require it.

**--allow-to-confirm \[--host-admin]** — prompt to enter admin credentials or a custom password if an operation requires it. If no operation requires a password, this option will be ignored. If an operation requires a password, this option shows a prompt to enter it. If an operation requires a password, but this option is omitted, the operation will fail with a corresponding error. To make an operation require a password, use the following options: **--require-pwd** , **--require-custom-pwd**, or **--lock-edit-settings** as described in this guide. -**-host-admin** specifies the host administrator name if an administrator password is required to unlock the Parallels Desktop preferences for editing.

**--replace-commands** — specify this option to reset commands that are protected with the admin password. This means that when you enable a custom password, commands that require the admin password will now require a custom password. Commands that previously required a custom password will be discarded. The same logic is used when you switch back to the admin password (set **--custom-pwd-mode** to **off**). When you disable a custom password, commands that require it will now require the admin password. Commands that previously required the admin password will be discarded. This option is ignored if **--custom-pwd-mode** is set to **change**.

**--lock-on-suspend** <**on** | **off**>

Always locks the guest OS on suspend.

**--isolate-vm** <**on** | **off**>

Isolates the the virtual machine from the host.

**--smart-guard** <**on** | **off**>

Enables or disables smart guard mech.

**--sg-notify-before-create** <**on** | **off**>

Notifies the user before creating a snapshot.

**--sg-interval** <*seconds*>

Sets a time interval between taking snapshots.

**--sg-max-snapshots** <*num*>

Sets the maximum allowed number of snapshots.

**--lock-edit-settings** <**on** | **off** \[**--host-admin** <*name*>]>

Locks or unlocks editing of the virtual machine configuration.

**--host-admin** \<name>

Specifies the host administrator name if an administrator password is required to unlock editing of the virtual machine configuration.

**--userpasswd** <*user* : *passwd*> \[-**-host-admin** <*name*>]

Sets a password for the specified user in the virtual machine. If the user account does not exist, it is created. The **--host-admin** <*name*> parameter specifies the host administrator name if an administrator password is required to change the user password in the virtual machine. Parallels Tools must be installed in the virtual machine for the command to succeed.

**--password-to-edit**

{% hint style="warning" %}
**Note**: This parameter has been dropped in Parallels Desktop 15. In previous versions, it was used to set a custom password to modify the virtual machine configuration. In Parallels Desktop 15 and newer, use the **--require-custom-pwd** and **--custom-pwd** commands (described at the beginning of this section).
{% endhint %}


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