VBoxHeadlessTray - free utility to run VMs in Windows tray

Discussions related to using VirtualBox on Windows hosts.
memilanuk
Posts: 54
Joined: 1. Jul 2009, 18:16
Primary OS: Linux other
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: openSuSE, Fedora, Ubuntu, CentOS
Location: Wenatchee, WA USA

Re: VBoxHeadlessTray - free utility to run VMs in Windows tray

Post by memilanuk »

I started using this again on my Windows Vista 64 pc to run various Linux (and hopefully soon, BSD) distros for education/entertainment. It's changed a little since I first tried it; the option to connect to each VM individually via RDP is sweet! I still kind of wish it could consolidate all the VMs into one icon in the system tray, but other than that, I'm pretty tickled with it ;)
HH99
Posts: 4
Joined: 4. Jan 2010, 16:50
Primary OS: MS Windows XP
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: XP

Re: VBoxHeadlessTray - free utility to run VMs in Windows tray

Post by HH99 »

memilanuk wrote:I started using this again on my Windows Vista 64 pc to run various Linux (and hopefully soon, BSD) distros for education/entertainment. It's changed a little since I first tried it; the option to connect to each VM individually via RDP is sweet! I still kind of wish it could consolidate all the VMs into one icon in the system tray, but other than that, I'm pretty tickled with it ;)

Try "Virtualbox Monitor Gadget". Its a windows 7 sidebar gadget for managing headless VB VM's. I like it.
soulblade64
Posts: 5
Joined: 9. Oct 2008, 03:51

Re: VBoxHeadlessTray - free utility to run VMs in Windows tray

Post by soulblade64 »

This program is excellent! It's the first time I've successfully had a VM save it's state before Windows shuts down, no matter how much scripting I try.

The only two requests I have, when I load HeadlessTray, it asks me which VM I want to power up. How can I set it so it automatically powers up the only VM I run, so if I have HeadlessTray run at startup, it's starts my VM without prompting me? Secondly, how can I have HeadlessTray shut down the VM when you exit, instead of saving the state? Saving the state should work, but I would prefer to have it shut down.
dubh
Posts: 1
Joined: 17. Dec 2010, 18:24
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Ubuntu Server

Re: VBoxHeadlessTray - free utility to run VMs in Windows tray

Post by dubh »

This should be default functionality for the Windows build of VirtualBox. Thank you for developing this app.
jean_naimare
Posts: 6
Joined: 18. Apr 2010, 14:26
Primary OS: Ubuntu other
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Windows XP

Re: VBoxHeadlessTray - free utility to run VMs in Windows tray

Post by jean_naimare »

Hello,

It is a great program but no more VM appears in the list since I upgraded to VirtualBox 4.0 ...

Is it a way to run VBoxHeadlessTray with VirtualBox 4 ?

Thanks a lot
bradr
Posts: 12
Joined: 23. Oct 2009, 13:27
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Ubuntu

Re: VBoxHeadlessTray - free utility to run VMs in Windows tray

Post by bradr »

I'm working on a build for VirtualBox 4.0. Unforuntately it's not a simple recompile as the VirtualBox API's have changed. Should be available soonish.

Brad
bradr
Posts: 12
Joined: 23. Oct 2009, 13:27
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Ubuntu

Re: VBoxHeadlessTray - free utility to run VMs in Windows tray

Post by bradr »

OK, here's a build that seems to be working, but only lightly tested.

http://www.toptensoftware.com/downloads ... 0Setup.exe

Please report any issues.
Brad
funlovin
Posts: 5
Joined: 7. Jul 2008, 16:22

Re: VBoxHeadlessTray - free utility to run VMs in Windows tray

Post by funlovin »

Hi Brad,

thanks for new build.

I'm using Windows 7 x64 and I have the problem, that every tray icon shows the same status.
I have 3 different virtual machines and every change on a single vm, changes every icon from all vm.

Thanks again
bogdan4521
Posts: 2
Joined: 30. Dec 2010, 19:57
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Fedora

Re: VBoxHeadlessTray - free utility to run VMs in Windows tray

Post by bogdan4521 »

Hi,
Works for me with the new version of VirtualBox.
ACPI sub-menu items are disabled, but they were disabled in previous versions too, so maybe it's just a configuration problem of mine.

Thank you for this wonderful tool.
bradr
Posts: 12
Joined: 23. Oct 2009, 13:27
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Ubuntu

Re: VBoxHeadlessTray - free utility to run VMs in Windows tray

Post by bradr »

funlovin wrote: I'm using Windows 7 x64 and I have the problem, that every tray icon shows the same status.
I have 3 different virtual machines and every change on a single vm, changes every icon from all vm.
Fixed already. Just download and reinstall, should fix it.
bogdan4521 wrote:ACPI sub-menu items are disabled, but they were disabled in previous versions too, so maybe it's just a configuration problem of mine.
The ACPI commands are only enabled if the guest VM has the VirtualBox Additions installed.

Brad
Technologov
Volunteer
Posts: 3342
Joined: 10. May 2007, 16:59
Location: Israel

Re: VBoxHeadlessTray - free utility to run VMs in Windows tray

Post by Technologov »

it would be nice to see this feature move over to "extpack" as v4.x architecture allows it.
Hammerfest
Posts: 9
Joined: 10. Apr 2011, 19:35
Primary OS: MS Windows 2008
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: XP, Vista, 7, Compact

Re: VBoxHeadlessTray - free utility to run VMs in Windows tray

Post by Hammerfest »

that would be smexy... i love this addon and i just started using VirtualBox!
Mortalife
Posts: 2
Joined: 16. Apr 2011, 14:45
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: OSE Debian
Guest OSses: MS Windows 7

Re: VBoxHeadlessTray - free utility to run VMs in Windows tray

Post by Mortalife »

I've been trying to write this program for about 3 days now with my novice VB.2008 skills. Seems I'm trying to reinvent the wheel. Oh well, it was a learning experience. Using yours now, much better than mine. ;) Thanks,

Mort
Cerebrum
Posts: 4
Joined: 26. May 2011, 08:21
Primary OS: MS Windows 2003
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
Location: Russia

Re: VBoxHeadlessTray - free utility to run VMs in Windows tray

Post by Cerebrum »

Virtual Box 4.0.8
Host: Windows Server 2003 R2 SP2
Guest: 3x Windows

When I switching to GUI mode one of the running VM, tray icon starts animation then show pause icon and VM hangs up. After that I can do nothing with this machine even thru the VirtualBox. It says the machine is saving, but there's no activity. The only way out is to kill that VM from task manager.

Code: Select all

c:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox>VBoxManage.exe controlvm VM resume
VBoxManage.exe: error: Cannot resume the machine as it is not paused (machine state: Saving)
VBoxManage.exe: error: Details: code VBOX_E_INVALID_VM_STATE (0x80bb0002), component Console, interface IConso
le, callee IUnknown
Context: "Resume()" at line 102 of file VBoxManageControlVM.cpp

PS. Sorry for my English
DavidA
Posts: 82
Joined: 21. Dec 2010, 12:31
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Centos 5

Re: VBoxHeadlessTray - free utility to run VMs in Windows tray

Post by DavidA »

I am interested in using VBoxHeadlessTray, but I notice that its license disallows commercial use. :cry:

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by- ... au/deed.en
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