Search code examples
servicevirtualboxvirtualization

How to run "Oracle VirtualBox (VBOX)" like a service after boot in fully background "Microsoft Windows (WIN)"

I want to run autostart "Virtual Machine (VM)" without "Oracle VirtualBox (VBOX)" "Graphical User Interface (GUI)" on a local development machine with "Microsoft Windows (WIN)".

How can I do that in fully running background process?

Solution

  • How can I run VBOX under WIN like a service with script?

    The trick is to run the VM without GUI. With this you can easily run VM on WIN server like a service too.

    Prerequired is that exist some VM, you have some already. Below put its name instead {vm_name}.

    1) Create script BAT

    Use build-in executable file "VBoxHeadless.exe".

    Create file

    vm.run.bat

    with

    cd "c:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\"
VBoxHeadless.exe -s {vm_name} -v on

    run and test it - with WIN "Command Line Interface (CLI)" called "Command shell" - and VM will be opened running in background.

    vm.run.bat

    2) Create script VBS

    Use "Windows-based script host (WSCRIPT)" and language "Microsoft Visual Basic Script (VBS)" and run above file "vm.run.bat".

    Create file

    vm.run.vbs

    put code

    Set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
obj = WshShell.Run("vm.run.bat", 0)
set WshShell = Nothing

    run and test it - CLI will be run in background

    wscript.exe vm.run.vbs

    Ref