VirtualBox
Oracle / Sun virtualbox
/etc/apt/sources.list deb http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian lenny non-free
package: virtualbox-3.2
you need the linux-headers (linux-headers-2.6-linux-flavor) and dkms package installed
The Debian package is called virtualbox-ose (open source edition)
The guest-additions are to be installed in the virtual machine.
From version 4 you also need to install the virtualbox extenstion package too.
Installing Extension pack
This goes on the physical machine.
Download this from https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads
Then:
BoxManage extpack install filename
Installing guest additions
These go on the virtual machines.
NB you need the linux-headers-2.6-amd64, gcc, make and xorg dkms virtualbox-guest-additions-iso lxde (or other window manager) packages (and possibly build-essential and module-assistant) installed. It's ok if the window system drivers fails.
cd /usr/share/virtualbox
mount ./VBoxGuestAdditions.iso /mnt
/mnt/VBoxLinuxAdditions.run
Make sure that in Virtualbox Devices -> Shared Clipboard is set to bidirectional
Copy / paste from host to guest will only work in a full X11 environment, not in the terminal (also not with gdm, which allows you to copy and paste within the terminal)
old
- Install required packages with apt-get install build-essential module-assistant; - Configure your system for building kernel modules by running m-a prepare; - Click on Install Guest Additions… from the Devices menu, then run mount /media/cdrom. - Run sh /media/cdrom/VBoxLinuxAdditions.run, and follow the instructions on screen.
or bash VBoxLinuxAddition-adm64.run
mount -t vboxsf sharename /mountpoint/
(nb it's not 'fs' it's 'sf')
to mount throug fstab it's
sharename /mount/point vboxsf defaults 0 0
Switching consoles
The normal way to switch consoles in Linux is to use the ctrl-alt-Fx key combination. This does not work for a VirtualBox virtual machine (VM); it will switch consoles for the host system instead.
You should use <Host Key>-Fx instead, where <Host Key> is the key defined in File->Preferences->Input. (is normally right ctrl)
This also works for ctrl-alt-del and ctrl-alt-backspace
vobxtool to start virtual machines headlessly on PM startup
http://vboxtool.sourceforge.net/
Changing the UUID of an image:
VBoxManage internalcommands sethduuid genericmachine.vdi
Copying an image to a new image to use:
Setting up VRDP / Remote Desktop
VBoxManage modifyvm "VM name" --vrdpport 5000
NB every server needs a different port
To get into the VRDP use mstsc.exe / Remote Desktop Connection.
Connect to the IP-of-physical-server:PORT (So not the IP of the VM)
Starting / stopping a vbox:
Add to start in /etc/init.d/vboxdrv
VBoxManage startvm EdgarGhost --type headless --type vrdp
and to the stop part of the script
VBoxManage controlvm $1 poweroff
made a stop/start script for vbox machines sometime ago, ez to stop/start via cmd line
host-0001:~# cat start-vbox.sh VBoxManage startvm $1 --type vrdp host-0001:~# cat stop-vbox.sh VBoxManage controlvm $1 poweroff
e.g.
stop-vbox.sh esuck start-vbox.sh esuck
--type vrdp is necessary if you want the VM to also open an RDP console!
Remember to give each vm in the configuration gui a different port!
To make it run fullscreen:
<right ctrl>+<F>
NIC settings
The network cards need to be bridged adapters and PCnet-FAST III