[SOLVED] I need a simple way to start/stop a virtualbox vm

thiago · 2011-09-04 00:54:32

Hi,

I need a very simple way to start a headless virtualbox vm on login, and cleanly save its state on system shutdown/reboot. I can't use solutions like vboxtool because my home directory is encrypted and only available after I login.

I have written a simple script to do what I need:

#!/bin/bash

if VBoxManage startvm --type headless archdev > /dev/null 2>&1; then
	trap "VBoxManage controlvm archdev savestate > /dev/null 2>&1; exit" SIGINT SIGTERM
	while true;  
	do 
		sleep 10h
	done
fi

When I run this script in a interactive shell, all works as expected: It will successfully start the vm(archdev), and when I send SIGINT (using CTRL+C) it will cleanly save the vm state. The problem I'm facing is that when I start this script as a background process(sufix it with a '&') it will successfully start, but it will fail to cleanly save state on shutdown, since it seems to ignore signals send using 'kill' command(unless it is a SIGKILL). I highly appreciate an solution to this problem, by either explaining to me what is happening, or by providing an alternate one(as long it doesn't involve starting the vm with the system).

Thanks in advance.

Last edited by thiago (2011-09-04 14:54:44)

cybertorture · 2011-09-04 01:01:12

vboxmanage startvm --type headless VMNAME

put this to start at login

su -c 'vboxmanage controlvm VMNAME savestate' USERNAME

put this to /etc/rc.local.shutdown

thiago · 2011-09-04 01:13:03

cybertorture wrote:

vboxmanage startvm --type headless VMNAME
put this to start at login
su -c 'vboxmanage controlvm VMNAME savestate' USERNAME
put this to /etc/rc.local.shutdown

Worked like a charm, thanks.

cybertorture · 2011-09-04 03:41:56

No problem, i m plesed to hear it suits you. Just a reminder to put [solved], before moderators do it

ewaller · 2011-09-04 03:50:13

cybertorture wrote:

No problem, i m plesed to hear it suits you. Just a reminder to put [solved], before moderators do it

Hey!

Arch Linux

#1 2011-09-04 00:54:32

[SOLVED] I need a simple way to start/stop a virtualbox vm

#2 2011-09-04 01:01:12

Re: [SOLVED] I need a simple way to start/stop a virtualbox vm

#3 2011-09-04 01:13:03

Re: [SOLVED] I need a simple way to start/stop a virtualbox vm

#4 2011-09-04 03:41:56

Re: [SOLVED] I need a simple way to start/stop a virtualbox vm

#5 2011-09-04 03:50:13

Re: [SOLVED] I need a simple way to start/stop a virtualbox vm

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