alexg0 / vboxtool Goto Github PK

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 script/vboxtool in /usr/local/bin

* Make vboxtool executable: 
    chmod +x /usr/local/bin/vboxtool

* Place the init script script/vboxtoolinit in /etc/init.d

* Make vboxtoolinit executable: 
    chmod +x /etc/init.d/vboxtoolinit
  
* Activate the init script 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.

KNOWN ISSUES

- Backup is not working as expected when using snapshots. When a snapshot is 
  present, the main vdi file is not copied, even if it's different from 
  previous backups. Problem is that once a snapshot is made, the main vdi 
  (according to info from 'VBoxManage showvminfo') is pointing to the snapshot 
  vdi instead of the expected, chained main vdi in the vdi folder.
  (Tracker #2132265)

MORE HELP

- Type: 'vboxtool help'
- See http://vboxtool.sourceforge.net for more details.