diff --git a/xCAT-server/lib/xcat/plugins/esx.pm b/xCAT-server/lib/xcat/plugins/esx.pm
index 58c9794cf..2fe85a8c0 100644
--- a/xCAT-server/lib/xcat/plugins/esx.pm
+++ b/xCAT-server/lib/xcat/plugins/esx.pm
@@ -1383,6 +1383,13 @@ sub power {
                 } else {
                     xCAT::SvrUtils::sendmsg($currstat, $output_handler,$node);
                 }
+            } elsif ($subcmd =~ /softoff/) {
+                if ($currstat eq 'on') {
+                    $args{vmview}->ShutdownGuest();
+                    xCAT::SvrUtils::sendmsg("softoff", $output_handler,$node);
+                } else {
+                    xCAT::SvrUtils::sendmsg($currstat, $output_handler,$node);
+                }
             } elsif ($subcmd =~ /off/) {
                 if ($currstat eq 'on') {
                     $task = $args{vmview}->PowerOffVM_Task();