Create headless Ubuntu 18.04 virtual machine with Oracle Virtualbox only using command line in offline environment

README.md

Installation VirtualBox

1. Download Ubuntu 18.04 image at here

   I used Kakao Ubuntu mirror server in Korea.

2. Download Oracle VirtualBox package at here

3. Download Oracle VirtualBox Extension Pack at here

4. Install the package

   I constructed a local ubuntu mirror server so that I can use apt install. If you did not do this, you are supposed to move all of dependencies one by one to offline environment from online environment.

   sudo dpkg -i virtualbox-6.0_6.0.14-133895_Ubuntu_bionic_amd64.deb
   sudo apt install --fix-broken  

5. Sign kernel modules of VirtualBox

   Physical access to the host machine is required to enroll singing key using MOK manager EFI utility. Signing process is at here.

6. Configure VirtualBox

   sudo /sbin/vboxconfig
   sudo reboot

7. Install Oracle VirtualBox Extension Pack

   sudo VBoxManage extpack install Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-6.0.14.vbox-extpack 

Creating Ubuntu virtual machine

1. Create network

   There are five modes of network for VirtualBox. I will use NAT Network. You can check other modes in Table 6.1. Overview of Networking Modes. If you want bi-directional communication between host and guest, you have to set the bridge network.

   VBoxManage natnetwork add --netname natnet --network "192.168.1.0/24" --enable --dhpc on
   VBoxManage natnetwork start --netname natnet1

2. Create virtual machine

   cd some_where_create_a_virtual_machine   
   VBoxManage createvm --name Ubuntu_1804 --ostype Ubuntu_64 --register --basefolder $(pwd)
   VBoxManage modifyvm Ubuntu_1804 --memory 16384 --cpus 4 --boot1 dvd --nic1 natnetwork --nat-network1 natnet1 --hwvirtex on --vrde on --vrdeport 5001
   VBoxManage storagectl Ubuntu_1804 --name "Ubuntu_1804_SATA" --add sata
   VBoxManage createhd --filename $(pwd)/Ubuntu_1804/Ubuntu_1804.vdi --size 131072 --format VDI --variant Standard
   VBoxManage storageattach Ubuntu_1804 --storagectl Ubuntu_1804_SATA --port 1 --type hdd --medium $(pwd)/Ubuntu_1804/Ubuntu_1804.vdi
   VBoxManage storageattach Ubuntu_1804 --storagectl Ubuntu_1804_SATA --port 0 --type dvddrive --medium /tmp/ubuntu-18.04.3-live-server-amd64.iso
   VBoxManage startvm Ubuntu_1804 --type headless

3. Connect to the Ubuntu Server using Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)

   • Ctrl + R (Run) - Enter "mstsc" - Enter "[Host IP Address]:5001"

   • Install Ubuntu Server 18.04

4. Notes

   • Control

     VBoxManage controlvm
     VBoxManage controlvm Ubuntu_1804 pause|resume|reset|poweroff|savestate

   • Port Forward

     To port-forward to some port between 1-1024 (well-known ports), you may need root permission.

     VBoxManage natnetwork modify --netname natnet1 --port-forward-4 "ssh:tcp:[127.0.0.1]:10022:[192.168.1.4]:22"
     ssh [username]@localhost -p 10022
     VBoxManage natnetwork modify --netname natnet1 --port-forward-4 delete ssh