virtualboxheadless.txt

Virtualbox headless commands

This is a summary of Virtualbox headless commands that I've found useful.
Common commands

common-virtualbox.sh

    # Listing available VMs
    VBoxManage list vms

    # Listing running VMs
    VBoxManage list runningvms

    # Start $VM machine (with default open RDP on port 3389)
    VBoxHeadless --startvm $VM &

    # Connecting via remotedesktop
    rdesktop $HOSTNAME

    # Start $VM machine (without RDP)
    VBoxHeadless --startvm $VM --vrde off &

    # Start $VM machine with open RDP (port 4444)
    VBoxHeadless --startvm $VM -e “TCP/Ports=4444″ &

    # Start $VM machine with open RDP (port 3390)
    nohup VBoxHeadless -s $VM -v on -p 3390 &

    # Poweroff $VM machine
    VBoxManage controlvm $VM poweroff

Less common commands

extpacks-virtualbox.sh

    # Listing installed extension packs
    VBoxManage list extpacks

    # Install an extension pack
    VBoxManage extpack install ./Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-4.2.12-84980.vbox-extpack

Links

    http://xmodulo.com/2013/05/how-to-create-and-start-virtualbox-vm-without-gui.html