Page 1 of 1
[Solved] Encrypted VM starting from command line
Posted: 13. Feb 2018, 19:49
by JW8888
Hi,
I've created a VM via the GUI interface on Xubuntu 16.04 64bit, the VM is encrypted and will start without problem from the GUI.
However I want to be able to start this VM on the same PC when the OS graphical interface is off and so in headless mode.
Starting the VM with:
results in the VM starting up 'paused'
VBoxManage controlvm "whatever" resume
- does not work, remains paused
I have tried
VBoxHeadless --startvm "whatever" && VBoxManage controlvm "whatever" addencpassword "identifier" -
which sometimes allows me to enter a password and sometimes does not, but either way the machine is still paused and will only be rescued by switching on the OS graphical & saving state & then resuming - all from GUI.
So all functions with GUI, but where am in going wrong with command line..?
Any help much appreciated..!
Re: Encrypted VM starting from command line
Posted: 13. Feb 2018, 21:38
by socratis
JW8888 wrote:VBoxManage controlvm "whatever" resume
- does not work, remains paused
Good. It's not supposed to resume as simply as that, you need to enter the password. See ch.
9.31.3 Starting a VM with encrypted images.
JW8888 wrote:I have tried
VBoxHeadless --startvm "whatever" && VBoxManage controlvm "whatever" addencpassword "identifier" -
which sometimes allows me to enter a password and sometimes does not
I highly doubt that it sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. That's not a deterministic way. It works fine with the following commands:
$ VBoxHeadless -s "<MyVM>" -v off &
[1] 4516
Oracle VM VirtualBox Headless Interface 5.2.97
(C) 2008-2018 Oracle Corporation
All rights reserved.
$ VBoxManage controlvm "<MyVM>" addencpassword "<MyVM>" -
Enter password:
The only unclear part in the manual (for me at least) was that for the "id" part, I had to use the name of the VM, since I used the GUI and I didn't include specifically an ID. I guess it defaults to the VM name. I had to open the .vbox file to see the following:
<Property name="CRYPT/KeyId" value="MyVM"/>
Re: Encrypted VM starting from command line
Posted: 13. Feb 2018, 23:48
by JW8888
Hi socratis, thanks for your reply!
I should have explained that the resume function doesn't work even after I have entered a password
I highly doubt that it sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. That's not a deterministic way.
So what usually happens with my commands, is that I get the password prompt, but occasionally, after I've been trying to start & stop the VM from command line a few times, the same command doesn't produce the password prompt but it seems as if the process / terminal / something - has crashed.
I noticed from your suggestion...
$ VBoxHeadless -s "<MyVM>" -v off &
[1] 4516
Oracle VM VirtualBox Headless Interface 5.2.97
(C) 2008-2018 Oracle Corporation
All rights reserved.
$ VBoxManage controlvm "<MyVM>" addencpassword "<MyVM>" -
Enter password:
...I believe the '&' is meant to push that command to run in the background...? so that the command prompt comes back for your 2nd command - only that does not happen for me, no command prompt returns.
I've also noticed that if I start VM from command and then go to the GUI - its paused - I can save state and then restart the VM - but it then states in the GUI VM window; 'fatal error no boot medium' - but I'm guessing that is because no encryption password has been entered..?'
Anyway, I've tried your suggestion but I can't get as far as the 2nd command. If i try the 2nd command from a 2nd terminal, no luck either.
I've sorted it out now see next post, it was all about correct id as socratis suggested
Re: Encrypted VM starting from command line
Posted: 14. Feb 2018, 00:21
by JW8888
Hi socratis,
your suggestion about the 'id' I think has solved my problem
The only unclear part in the manual (for me at least) was that for the "id" part, I had to use the name of the VM, since I used the GUI and I didn't include specifically an ID. I guess it defaults to the VM name. I had to open the .vbox file to see the following:
<Property name="CRYPT/KeyId" value="MyVM"/>
I've chained my 2 commands together with the correct id now ( I had thought it was my user name ) and all is working..!
Thanks very much for your help!
Re: Encrypted VM starting from command line
Posted: 14. Feb 2018, 00:49
by socratis
And that's why you read the whole message before replying...
Glad you got it going. Marking as [Solved].
I'll see what we can suggest as improvements to the documentation if needed...