VBoxTool
VBoxTool currently consist only of a set of scripts. With this scripts, virtual machines of VirtualBox in a Linux headless server can be controlled. Start, stop, save, backup and show status of sessions in batch mode from the command line.
Usage and installation is tested only on Ubuntu. Please report if a specific function is not working in another environment, say OpenSUSE, Fedora, etc.
Installation
Note: Precede commands with sudo
when not operated as root.
- Place the main script,
vboxtool
, in /usr/local/bin - Make
vboxtool
executable:chmod +x /usr/local/bin/vboxtool
- Place the
vboxtoolinit
script in /etc/init.d - Make
vboxtoolinit
executable:chmod +x /etc/init.d/vboxtoolinit
- Activate the
vboxtoolinit
:update-rc.d vboxtoolinit defaults 99 10
- Create a folder /etc/vboxtool. In here, two config files have to be created, see
configuration section below, type
vboxtool help
for more instructions.
Note: To remove vboxtoolinit from autostart: update-rc.d -f vboxtoolinit remove
Configuration
Note: Configuration from vboxtool does not taking place on running sessions, so save or stop all sessions before issueing the autostart command.
-
Create /etc/vboxtool/machines.conf:
<session name>,<VRDP-port>
The VRDP-port enables RDP-clients like rdesktop to connect. It may be left blank.
-
Create /etc/vboxtool/vboxtool.conf:
vbox_user='<user name>'
-
Issue the following command:
vboxtool autostart
VBoxTool will configure sessions (VRDP-port). By now, session(s) should be up and running and configured.
-
Check if sessions or running, with the assumed vrdp-port:
vboxtool show
Show only the running sessions:
vboxtool showrun
-
Check if sessions configured in /etc/vboxtool/machines.conf are be automatically started at reboot. Reboot your system, check with:
vboxtool showrun
Upgrading from 0.2
Sorry for breaking things here, but it's all in the name of naming consistency...
- Config folder is moved from /etc/vbox to /etc/vboxtool. Rename this folder.
- Main script 'vbox' is renamed to 'vboxtool'
Usage
After installation, type vboxtool help
for more info.
Help
- Type:
vboxtool help
- See http://vboxtool.sourceforge.net for more details.