LinuxMint 19: Install VirtualBox for virtualization

Install virtualbox package. virtualbox-ext-pack needs license agreement.

$ cat <<EOF | sudo debconf-set-selections
virtualbox-ext-pack virtualbox-ext-pack/license boolean true
EOF
$ sudo apt install -y -o 'apt::install-recommends=true' \
  virtualbox virtualbox-guest-additions-iso virtualbox-ext-pack

Run virtualbox command.

$ virtualbox

While libvirt+KVM needs bridge interface, VirtualBox allows physical ethernet device or bridge interface.

For example, eth0 is ethernet device and br0 is bridge interface which is bridged to eth0. libvirt+KVM needs br0, and VirtualBox allows both eth0 and br0.

But you need to set "Adapter Type" to "Paravirtualized Network (virtio-net)" which is paravirt driver. If you does not use it, local network machines cannot access to virtual machine (Connection is established but stalled immediately).

VBoxManage can be used via CUI. It is easy to be scripted.

Clone virtual machine.

$ VBoxManage clonevm <OriginalVMName> --register --mode machine \
             --name <ClonedVMName>

Get MAC address of virtual machine.

$ VBoxManage showvminfo --machinereadable vbx-ubuntu-1804-test | \
              grep '^macaddress[0-9]*'
macaddress1="080027A0CEDB"

Start virtual machine. –type headless option can start virtual machine without displaying console window.

$ VBoxManage startvm --type headless <VMName>

Shutdown virtual machine with ACPI (Some OS needs ACPI settings for shutdown).

$ VBoxManage controlvm <VMName> acpipowerbutton

Delete virtual machine. Stop virtual machine with shutdown (power off) before deleting because machine must be stopped for deleting virtual machine,

$ VBoxManage controlvm <VMName> shutdown
$ VBoxManage unregistervm --delete <VMName>