Notes and bug reports for the VirtualBox service on briccs-1
VirtualBox GUI over SSH
There is a know issue with the latest version of VirtualBox GUI when accessing it via a SHH connection.
This bug makes it almost impossible to use the full VirtualBox GUI via a remote connection. It takes several minutes to display a simple pop-up dialogue box.
ssh -X root@briccs-1.rcs.le.ac.uk
briccs-1:~ # VirtualBox
The bug only affects the main VirtualBox GUI, so the simpler per-vm GUI is still usable.
ssh -X root@briccs-1.rcs.le.ac.uk
briccs-1:~ # VBoxManage startvm briccs-7
The per-vm GUI allows you to mount and unmount discs in the virtual DVD ROM drive, which enables you to boot from an ISO image and re-install the OS on a VM.
To start a VM with no GUI and leave it running when you logout from the SSH connection, use the headless option.
ssh root@briccs-1.rcs.le.ac.uk
briccs-1:~ # VBoxManage startvm briccs-7 --type headless
To ensure the VMs keep good time, and for other reasons of good practice, install the Guest Additions
>> [root@briccs-5 ~]# yum install gcc >> [root@briccs-5 ~]# yum install kernel-devel >> [root@briccs-5 ~]# reboot >> >> [root@briccs-5 ~]# mkdir /media/cdrom >> [root@briccs-5 ~]# mount /dev/hdb /media/cdrom >> [root@briccs-5 ~]# cd /media/cdrom/ >> [root@briccs-5 ~]# sh ./VBoxLinuxAdditions.run service ntpd stop chkconfig ntpd off
