virtualbox

virtualbox command [options]

help
    Displays help information for the specified command or the virtualbox command itself.

list
    Lists available virtual machines, host-only networks, or other VirtualBox resources.

createvm
    Creates a new virtual machine.

startvm
    Starts a virtual machine.

controlvm
    Controls the operation of a virtual machine (e.g., poweroff, savestate, reset).

unregistervm
    Unregisters a virtual machine (removes it from the VirtualBox Manager list).

import
    Imports a virtual appliance (OVA/OVF) into VirtualBox.

export
    Exports a virtual machine to a virtual appliance (OVA/OVF).

guestcontrol
    Execute programs within the guest operating system.

The virtualbox command provides a comprehensive command-line interface to manage VirtualBox virtual machines and the VirtualBox environment. It allows users to create, configure, start, stop, and manage virtual machines without using the graphical VirtualBox Manager. This command is powerful for scripting VM management, automation, and headless server environments. It interacts directly with the VirtualBox engine and offers control over many aspects of VM configuration including network settings, storage devices, guest additions and snapshots. It's essential for power users and administrators needing to automate complex VM workflows. virtualbox can also be used to query VM information, providing details about VM state, configuration, and resource usage.
This is separate to `VBoxManage` which is the main tool.

The virtualbox command may require root privileges for certain operations, especially those involving network configuration or device access. The specific commands available and their options may vary slightly depending on the VirtualBox version.

virtualbox list vms
Lists all registered Virtual Machines

virtualbox startvm "My VM"
Starts the VM named 'My VM'

The virtualbox command emerged alongside VirtualBox as a critical component for managing virtual machines from the command line. It was developed to provide a more flexible and scriptable alternative to the GUI. Over time, it has evolved alongside VirtualBox to support new features and functionalities.

VBoxManage(1), vmrun(1)