virtualbox.org

Is there one or more obvious downsides to doing this?

My motivation is, that when updating I want to start up the new version with the NIC disabled, and when it has started then enabling it, the NIC.
In other words I want all the services/servers on the VM up and running before any humans can connect

Before the internet, many computers were installed and used without a network installed or plugged in. So you should be able to install an OS in a Virtualbox VM with either no network card enabled, or with the card enabled and the "cable" unplugged.

Pretty much as I thought, but... I've had too many nasty shocks where things that should have just worked, caused no issues etc blew up in a range of tragic yet somewhat amusing ways.

That being said, thanks for giving me affirmation, hope, that sort of thing.

Noting that this community is pretty much the most helpful one around/.