Virtualbox management commands

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Assume the vm guest name is CentOS

Contents

[edit] General Commands

[edit] Find System ID

(you can also use system name for the commands) 

VBoxManage list vms

[edit] Show details about vm

VBoxManage showvminfo "CentOS"

[edit] Start VM

VBoxManage startvm "CentOS"

[edit] Start in Headless Mode

This automatically enables the vrdp mode (rdesktop) 

VBoxHeadless --startvm "CentOS"

[edit] You can also set a specif port

VBoxHeadless -s "CentOS" -p 3399

To use this mode connect the rdp client to the ip address of the HOST server and specify the proper port

[edit] Start without vrdp (ssh only access)

VBoxHeadless --startvm CentOS --vrdp=off

[edit] Stop VM

VBoxManage controlvm "CentOS" poweroff

[edit] Take Snapshot

  • Note: the snap1-stable-system is a cosmetic name

take <name> [--description <desc>] 

VBoxManage snapshot "CentOS" take snap1-stable-system

[edit] Revert Snapshot

  • Note: Remember to stop the virtual machine for best practice.

To Discard current changes 

VBoxManage snapshot "CentOS" discardcurrent -state

Revert to last snapshot: 

VBoxManage snapshot "CentOS" discardcurrent -all

[edit] Discard a specific Snapshot or system state

*NOTE: Use Extreme caution this logic here is weird

Use showvminfo command to see Snapshot information 

VBoxManage snapshot "CentOS" discard <SnapName>

or 

VBoxManage snapshot "CentOS" discard <UID>

[edit] Global Settings

[edit] Change HardDisks Storage Location

Command is: 

VBoxManage setproperty hdfolder </file/location>

IE: 

VBoxManage setproperty hdfolder /data/vbox/HardDisks

To revert to the default location use: 

VBoxManage setproperty hdfolder default

[edit] Change Machine Storage Location

Command is: 

VBoxManage setproperty machinefolder </file/location>

IE: 

VBoxManage setproperty machinefolder /data/vbox/Machines/

To revert to the default location use: 

VBoxManage setproperty machinefolder default

[edit] Move VM to new host server

Verify settings and get information: 

VBoxManage showvminfo w2k3 |grep -e 'DVD:' -e 'Floppy:' -e 'SATA ' -e 'UUID' -e 'Name:' -e 'Config file:' -e 'State:' -e 'USB:'
  • Note: Make sure all secondary devices are detached (USB, Floppy, DVD etc)
  • Note: You may want to output this to a file for reference by adding a > tomove.txt at the end.

Detach the primary drives 

VBoxManage modifyvm "w2k3" --sataport1 none
  • Note: Increment the port number as needed

Verify with: 

VBoxManage showvminfo w2k3 |grep -e 'SATA:'

Should be blank

Unregister the Harddisks 

VBoxManage unregisterimage disk <UUID>
  • Note: Get the UUID from the output of first command

Unregister the Virtual Machine 

VBoxManage unregistervm w2k3

Handle any Snapshots. CAUTION Snaps will be lost with the following command. 

VBoxManage snapshot w2k3 discard <SNAP UUID>

Unregister VM 

VBoxManage unregistervm w2k3

Copy Machine and HardDisks 

rsync -avP /current/location/.VirtualBox/Machines/w2k3  root@192.168.0.150:/data/vbox/Machines/
rsync -avP /current/location/.VirtualBox/HardDisks/w2k3_system.vdi  root@<IP ADDRESS>:/new/location/HardDisks/

ON NEW MACHINE

Register the VM 

VBoxManage registervm /data/vbox/Machines/w2k3/w2k3.xml

Register the Harddisks 

VBoxManage openmedium disk --type normal w2k3_system.vdi

Attach Hardisks

  • NOTE: Run for all HardDisks, Remember to invrement the port number as needed (use source output file to match if needed) 
VBoxManage modifyvm "w2k3" --sataportcount 8 --sataport1 "w2k3_system.vdi"

Find the rdesktop port binding (VRDBPort) 

cat /data/vbox/Machines/w2k3/w2k3.xml |grep VRDPBindPort | cut -d"=" -f 3 |cut -b 2-5

Start VM 

VBoxHeadless --startvm "w2k3"







[edit] Duplicate (Clone) Drive

To duplicate an existing virtualbox machine use the VBoxManage clonehd command 

VBoxManage clonehd /source/harddrive/location/CentOS.vdi /target/location/Clonediskname.vdi --format VDI --variant Standard --type normal

You can also use the disk UID but that will name the targe copy the UID.vdi file name

Here is a list of options: 

Usage:

VBoxManage clonehd          <uuid>|<filename> <outputfile>
                            [--format VDI|VMDK|VHD|RAW|<other>]
                            [--variant Standard,Fixed,Split2G,Stream,ESX]
                            [--type normal|writethrough|immutable]
                            [--remember] [--existing]




This will run for a little while be patent there will be status info along the way
 0%...10%...20%...30%...40%...50%...60%...70%...80%...90%...100%

After duplication simply create a new machine and attach then new disk (verify permissions)

[edit] Create Virtual Machine Guest

This example is for Debian, with SATA drives and Bridged network

Create new machine 

VBoxManage createvm -name "Debian" -ostype "Debian" --register

Set Machine settings 

VBoxManage modifyvm "Debian" --memory "512 MB" --acpi on --boot1 dvd --vrdpport 3399

Set Network Settings (bridged) 

VBoxManage modifyvm "Debian" --cableconnected1 on --nic1 bridged --nictype1 82543GC -hostifdev1 eth0

Create Virtual HardDisk (10 GB raw) 

VBoxManage createhd --filename "deb_main.vdi" --size 10000 --format VDI --variant Standard --remember

Create others as needed. Make sure to give them new names

Attach HardDisk (SATA)

First 

VBoxManage modifyvm "Debian" --sata on --sataportcount 8 --sataport1 "deb_main.vdi"

Additional

  • Note remember to increment the --sataport number 2.3.4... 
VBoxManage modifyvm "Debian" --sataportcount 8 --sataport2 "deb_apache.vdi"

Register the iso with the OS 

VBoxManage openmedium dvd /full/path/to/debian.iso

Attach ISO to Virtual Machine 

VBoxManage modifyvm "Debian" --dvd /full/path/to/debian.iso

Start the Vm (headless) 

VBoxHeadless --startvm "Debian"


[edit] Post Install Steps

Remove DVD from Virtual Machine 

VBoxManage modifyvm "Debian" --dvd none

[edit] Install Client Tools

While guest system is running run this command on the host terminal

Ensure dvd drive is empty 

VBoxManage controlvm "Debian" dvdattach none

Mount Client Tools DVD

  • Note: The path may vary just search for the ISO 
VBoxManage controlvm "Debian" dvdattach /usr/share/virtualbox/VBoxGuestAdditions.iso

Run the setup within the guest IE: for Linus 

/media/cdrom/autorun.sh

Unmount the Client Tools DVD 

VBoxManage controlvm "Debian" dvdattach none

[edit] Speed Builds

[edit] Command Line

[edit] Debian iso boot disk

Change the following parameters on each command

  • <name>
  • <harddisk>
  • <memory>
  • <port>
  • </full/path/to/disk>
  • Verify the eth1 port 
VBoxManage createvm -name "<name>" -ostype "Linux" --register
VBoxManage createhd --filename "<harddisk>.vdi" --size 10000 --format VDI --variant Standard --remember
VBoxManage modifyvm "<name>" --sata on --sataportcount 8 --sataport1 "<harddisk>.vdi" --memory "<memory> MB" --acpi on --boot1 dvd --vrdpport <port> --cableconnected1 on --nic1 bridged --nictype1 82543GC -hostifdev1 eth0 --dvd </full/path/to/disk>.iso

[edit] CentOS PXE Boot

Change the following parameters

  • <name>
  • <harddisk>
  • <memory>
  • <port>
  • Verify the eth1 port 
VBoxManage createvm -name "<name>" -ostype "Linux" --register
VBoxManage createhd --filename "<harddisk>.vdi" --size 10000 --format VDI --variant Standard --remember
VBoxManage modifyvm "<name>" --sata on --sataportcount 8 --sataport1 "<harddisk>.vdi" --memory "<memory> MB" --acpi on --boot1 net --vrdpport <port> --cableconnected1 on --nic1 bridged --nictype1 82543GC -hostifdev1 eth0

[edit] CentOS iso boot disk

Change the following parameters

  • <name>
  • <harddisk>
  • <memory>
  • <port>
  • </full/path/to/disk>
  • Verify the eth1 port 
VBoxManage createvm -name "<name>" -ostype "Linux" --register
VBoxManage createhd --filename "<harddisk>.vdi" --size 10000 --format VDI --variant Standard --remember
VBoxManage modifyvm "<name>" --sata on --sataportcount 8 --sataport1 "<harddisk>.vdi" --memory "<memory> MB" --acpi on --boot1 dvd --vrdpport <port> --cableconnected1 on --nic1 bridged --nictype1 82543GC -hostifdev1 eth0 --dvd </full/path/to/disk>.iso

[edit] Scripts

[edit] With iso boot

vi /scripts/vboxisobuild.sh
chmod 777 /scripts/vboxisobuild.sh

#! /bin/bash
# This will build a simple single hardrive server for iso install.
#
# Example Settings
# me=Debian
# harddisk=Debian
# memory=256
# port=3390
# isopath=/tmp/debian-503-i386-netinst.iso
################################

name=
harddisk=
memory=
port=
isopath=

#### Caution with Edits Below ###

VBoxManage createvm -name "$name" -ostype "Debian" --register
VBoxManage createhd --filename "$harddisk.vdi" --size 10000 --format VDI --variant Standard --remember
VBoxManage modifyvm "$name" --sata on --sataportcount 8 --sataport1 "$harddisk.vdi" --memory "$memory MB" --acpi on --boot1
dvd --vrdpport $port --cableconnected1 on --nic1 bridged --nictype1 82543GC -hostifdev1 eth0 --dvd $isopath

[edit] Network (PXE) boot

vi /scripts/vboxnetbuild.sh
chmod 777 /scripts/vboxnetbuild.sh

#! /bin/bash
# This will build a simple single hardrive server for iso install.
#
# Example Settings
# name=CentOS
# harddisk=centos
# memory=256
# port=3390
################################

name=
harddisk=
memory=
port=

#### Caution with Edits Below ###

VBoxManage createvm -name "$name" -ostype "Redhat" --register
VBoxManage createhd --filename "$harddisk.vdi" --size 10000 --format VDI --variant Standard --remember
VBoxManage modifyvm "$name" --sata on --sataportcount 8 --sataport1 "$harddisk.vdi" --memory "$memory MB" --acpi on --boot1 net --vrdpport $port --cableconnected1 on --nic1 bridged --nictype1 82543GC -hostifdev1 eth0

[edit] Remove Virtual Machines

The are a few steps here and the order of operations is critical

[edit] Remove all harddisks attached

Generally find teh UUID from the disk list 

VBoxManage list hdds

[edit] For Sata

First find the UUID for the harddisks 

VBoxManage showvminfo "debian" |grep SATA*
  • Note: Adjust port number as needed to remove all harddisks 
VBoxManage modifyvm "Debian" --sataport1 none

[edit] For hdd

First find the UUID for the harddisks 

VBoxManage showvminfo "debian" |grep hd*
  • Note: adjust hd(a) as needed to remove all harddisks 
VBoxManage modifyvm "debian" --hda none

[edit] Unregister the harddisk

Need to use UUID here name may not always work 

VBoxManage unregisterimage disk 38fe3756-0ec9-4f78-bca2-120ccab02d6d

[edit] Delete physical harddisk

rm -rf /location/of/HardDisk/disk.vdi

[edit] Unregister the Virtual Machine

VBoxManage unregistervm Debian

[edit] Sata on Windows

Reference Site This is for Windows XP/Server 2003 and earlier

You need the Intel driver from here or locally from here.

For Windows XP/2003, you need to extract the f6flpy32.zip Zip file. Inside it is an EXE; all it does is write an image to a real floppy; if you're already using Windows and want to make a real floppy disk, go ahead and use it, otherwise just use an UnZip utility to extract the image (named F32.IMA).

[edit] Attach a floppy Drive

[edit] Pre Boot

VBoxManage modifyvm w2k3_s01 --floppy /data/ISO/F32.IMA

[edit] Post Boot

VBoxManage controlvm w2k3_s01 --floppyattach /data/ISO/F32.IMA

[edit] Remove Floppy

VBoxManage modifyvm w2k3_s01 --floppy none

Just create a virtual machine now for Windows, and change the virtual hard disk so it uses SATA instead of the default IDE. Mount the floppy in VBox (either real or the disk image, the latter is faster), and make sure that the floppy drive is not set as one of the boot devices (or press F12 when you start the VM and boot the CD-ROM manually).

Press F6 when Windows Setup prompts you if you want to load additional drivers. It doesn't seem to take effect immediately, but just wait a few seconds. Once that is done, this screen will come up:

Press S, and select the second option "Intel(R) 82801HEM/HBM SATA AHCI Controller (Mobile ICH8M-E/M)" as the driver to load:

Then pres Enter to continue

[edit] SCSI Drives

Create normal Harddisk 

VBoxManage createhd --filename "SCSI2.vdi" --size "4000" --format VDI --variant Standard --remember

[edit] Connect First SCSI Drive

VBoxManage modifyvm SCSITest --scsi on --scsitype LsiLogic --scsiport2 "SCSI2.vdi"

[edit] Connect additional Drives

  • Note: Increment port as needed. 
VBoxManage modifyvm SCSITest --scsiport2 "SCSI2.vdi"

[edit] Troubleshoot

[edit] Spanning Error

Can come after a system update

KillVirtual Box if needed 

killall VirtualBox

Reconfigure 

/etc/init.d/vboxdrv setup

Restart VirtualBox

[edit] VBox commands not working

Remember to run as a user that is in the vboxusers user group ie: probably not root

[edit] References:

http://www.virtualbox.org/manual/UserManual.html#vboxmanage


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