"VBoxManage list vms" doens't show all running vms

[adieb]

Hello,

I am using Virtualbox to virtualize several Maschines with different services in a network.
Since the hosts are servers in a cellar-room, we only use ssh to handle them.

I use to start the VMs with "VBoxManage startvm VMname -type vrdp"
(btw, is that the correct way? what is with "VBoxHeadless" or other?)

Sometimes (with all Versions of Virtualbox) it happes, that with "ps ax" i can see, that a certain VM is running (and it is definetly running) but with
VBoxManage list vms or showvminfo VMname it tells me it is aborted oder not running...

It is not a big Problem, because it runs.

Though there are Problems:
1. it is not possible anymore, to monitor the serves correctly. (I wrote some perl-scripts that use the output of VBoxManage commands)

2. I cannot control the VM anymore. for example, pause it, or shut it down, take a snapshot, what ever. Cause VBoxManage thinks, it is not running.

Any Idea?
Is it because i start them wrongly? (use VBoxHeadless?)


-----
The Environment:

HOSTs:
Ubuntu Hardy LTS on 64-Bit Servers
Bridged Networking on 3 Networks
VirtualBox 1.6.4 (same problem with 1.6.2, 1.6.0, 1.4.xx)

[Sasquatch]

Run the VBoxManage and/or VBoxHeadless commands as normal user, not with Sudo as root.

[adieb]

I am not runnning it as root (sudo).
I am using an own user for it. called it vbox.

Would there be a Problem with it? You just said that as a matter of course...

[Sasquatch]

Can I assume that the VMs are registered correctly for the user?

As for the 'run as root' response: We've had a couple of users with the same 'problem' and they were all using the wrong account or with sudo. Just wanted to clear that first.

[adieb]

Ok no problem

yes i think they are correctly registered. created them with
VBoxManage createvm VMname -register

as the same user, i start the vms. (vbox)