VirtualBox

Creating a Headless VM

As taken from Create VirtualBox VM from the command line.

export VM="Ubuntu Server 18.04"
cd /vms
mkdir "${VM}"
cd "${VM}"

# Create 32GB dynamic disk
VBoxManage createhd --filename "${VM}.vdi" --size 32768

# Can get supported OS types using
VBoxManage list ostypes

VBoxManage createvm --name "${VM}" --ostype "Ubuntu_64" --register

# Create the SATA controller and attach the VDI
VBoxManage storagectl "${VM}" --name "SATA Controller" --add sata --controller IntelAHCI
VBoxManage storageattach "${VM}" --storagectl "SATA Controller" --port 0 --device 0 --type hdd --medium "${VM}.vdi"

# Create the IDE controller and attach an ISO as the dvd drive
VBoxManage storagectl "${VM}" --name "IDE Controller" --add ide
VBoxManage storageattach "${VM}" --storagectl "IDE Controller" --port 0 --device 0 --type dvddrive --medium <path_to_iso>

VBoxManage modifyvm "${VM}" --ioapic on
VBoxManage modifyvm "${VM}" --boot1 dvd --boot2 disk --boot3 none --boot4 none
VBoxManage modifyvm "${VM}" --memory 1024 --vram 128
VBoxManage modifyvm "${VM}" --nic1 bridged --bridgeadapter1 <adapter_name>

# Optionally configure VRDP, and the desired port, ie 5000
VBoxManage modifyvm "${VM}" --vrde on
VBoxManage modifyvm "${VM}" --vrdeport 5000

# Run headless 
VBoxHeadless -s "${VM}"