Run VM with GUI from headless host

Discussions related to using VirtualBox on Linux hosts.
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chancej715
Posts: 1
Joined: 8. Dec 2022, 15:37

Run VM with GUI from headless host

Post by chancej715 »

How can I run a VM with GUI from a headless host OS? I only use 3 applications that require GUI and I would like to consolidate them to a single VM.
scottgus1
Site Moderator
Posts: 20965
Joined: 30. Dec 2009, 20:14
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Windows, Linux

Re: Run VM with GUI from headless host

Post by scottgus1 »

Virtualbox VMs always run with a GUI, unless you use the "None" option in the video card choice. You can start the VM "headless", which really means "monitorless", and the GUI will run "hidden", so to speak: still calculating, but not shown on the text-only host. Then remote into the VM from another computer, using Virtualbox RDP or a remote software installed in the VM.

See the manual, https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch08. ... ge-startvm and https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch07.html#vrde
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