How to install a virtual machine in VirtualBox headlessly

Sure I know there are plenty of documentations and how-to's about this.  But this is my blog and this is where I log what I want for myself : )

Starting by installing an extension pack for VRDP support:

• Download this file: http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/4.0.4/Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-4.0.4-70112.vbox-extpack
• Install it by: VBoxManage extpack install Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-4.0.4-70112.vbox-extpack

To create a virtual machine, follow these steps:

• Register a VM: VBoxManage createvm --name "miyabi" --ostype Windows2003 --register
• Setting RAM, boot device: VBoxManage modifyvm "miyabi" --memory 1024 --acpi on --boot1 dvd
• Settings bridged mode networking: VBoxManage modifyvm "miyabi" --nic1 bridged --bridgeadapter1 eth0
• Create a virtual harddisk (in this case 60GB in size):  VBoxManage createhd --filename "miyabi.vdi" --size 60000
• Add an IDE Controller to the new VM: VBoxManage storagectl "miyabi" --name "IDE Controller" --add ide --controller PIIX4
• Set the VDI file created above as the first virtual hard disk of the new VM: VBoxManage storageattach "miyabi" --storagectl "IDE Controller" --port 0 --device 0 --type hdd --medium "miyabi.vdi"
• Attach the ISO file that contains the operating system installation that you want to install later to the virtual machine, so the machine can boot from it (use --medium emptydrive to detach the iso): VBoxManage storageattach "miyabi" --storagectl "IDE Controller" --port 0 --device 1 --type dvddrive --medium /full/path/to/win2003.iso

VRDE set up

• vboxmanage modifyvm miyabi --vrde on
• vboxmanage modifyvm miyabi --vrdeport 7001 
• vboxmanage modifyvm miyabi --vrdeauthtype external
• VBoxManage setproperty vrdeauthlibrary "VBoxAuthSimple"
• VBoxManage internalcommands passwordhash "your_password"
• VBoxManage setextradata miyabi "VBoxAuthSimple/users/debian" 404f753f57f...
  

Others

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• As root, run:  /etc/init.d/vboxdrv setup
• If you find error, you may want to try this: insmod /lib/modules/2.6.33-grml/updates/dkms/vboxnetflt.ko
• I put the command above to my /etc/rc.local .

Useful commands:

• To start a vm: VBoxHeadless --startvm
• To get a list of valid ostypes: VBoxManage list ostypes

References:

• http://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch07.html#vboxheadless
• http://www.chrisnewland.com/av/52/headless-virtualbox-multiple-guests-with-bridged-networking