VirtualBox

Sun virtualbox

/etc/apt/sources.list deb http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian lenny non-free

package: virtualbox-3.2

adding shared directories:

NB you need the linux-headers-2.6-amd64, gcc, make and xorg packages (and possibly build-essential) installed. It's ok if the window system drivers fails.

- 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

VBoxManage modifyvm "VM name" --vrdpport 5000

NB every server needs a different port

To get into the VRDP use mstsc.exe / Remote Desktop Connection

Starting / stopping a vbox:

Add to start in /etc/init.d/vboxdrv

VBoxManage startvm TripGhost --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>