VBoxClient

VBoxClient [options]  // Launches specific integration service
VBoxClient-all  // Starts all available services

--clipboard
    Enable bidirectional shared clipboard

--draganddrop
    Enable drag-and-drop; mode: bidir, host2guest, or guest2host

--seamless
    Enable seamless desktop mode (hide window borders)

--display
    Enable display management (auto-resize, DPMS)

--vmsvga
    Enable VMWare SVGA graphics support

--vmsvga3d
    Enable 3D acceleration with VMWare SVGA

--checkhostversion
    Periodically check and notify host version changes

--notification-toolbar
    Enable notification toolbar service

--notification-area
    Enable system tray notification area

--vmmetrics
    Enable VM metrics reporting (CPU, memory usage)

--testbed
    Run in testbed mode for development

--doctypes
    Register VirtualBox document types

VBoxClient is a background daemon from Oracle VM VirtualBox Guest Additions that enables seamless integration features between the guest operating system and the host machine.

It provides services such as shared clipboard (copy-paste between host and guest), drag-and-drop file transfer, seamless desktop mode (hides guest window decorations), automatic display resizing to match host window size, shared folders, and mouse pointer integration without grabbing.

Typically launched automatically during guest startup via the VBoxClient-all wrapper script, which starts multiple VBoxClient instances for different services. It communicates with the host kernel driver through a guest kernel module (vboxguest or vboxvideo). Requires Guest Additions to be installed and running on both host and guest.

Supports X11, Wayland (limited), and console sessions. Services can be started individually with specific options for troubleshooting or customization.

Requires VirtualBox Guest Additions installed and vboxguest kernel module loaded. Some features (e.g., Wayland support) are limited or experimental. Running multiple conflicting services may cause issues; use VBoxClient-all instead.

Add VBoxClient-all to ~/.xinitrc, ~/.xprofile, or systemd user service for auto-start on login.

Check logs with journalctl -u vboxadd-service or ~/.VBoxClient-*.log. Restart via sudo /opt/VBox_GuestAdditions-*/init/vboxadd setup.

Introduced in early VirtualBox releases (~2006 by Sun Microsystems). Maintained by Oracle since 2010 acquisition. Evolved with Guest Additions to support modern features like Wayland, improved 3D graphics, and bidirectional D&D in VirtualBox 6.x+.

VBoxManage(1), mount.vboxsf(1), vboximg-mount(1)