VirtualBox Command Line Interface

Available Subcommands:
VBoxManage list | showvminfo | registervm | unregistervm | createvm | modifyvm | import | export | startvm | controlvm | discardstate | adoptstate | snapshot | openmedium | closemedium | storageattach | storagectl | showhdinfo | createhd | modifyhd | clonehd | convertfromraw | addiscsidisk | getextradata | setextradata | setproperty | usbfilter | sharedfolder | vmstatistics | guestproperty | guestcontrol | metrics | hostonlyif | dhcpserver

Oracle VM VirtualBox Command Line Management Interface Version 3.2.2
(C) 2005-2010 Oracle Corporation
All rights reserved.
 
Usage:
 
VBoxManage [-v|--version]    print version number and exit
VBoxManage [-q|--nologo] ... suppress the logo

VBoxManage list

VBoxManage list [--long|-l] vms|runningvms|ostypes|hostdvds|hostfloppies|
                            bridgedifs|hostonlyifs|dhcpservers|hostinfo|
                            hostcpuids|hddbackends|hdds|dvds|floppies|
                            usbhost|usbfilters|systemproperties

VBoxManage showvminfo

VBoxManage showvminfo       <uuid>|<name> [--details] [--statistics]
                            [--machinereadable]
VBoxManage showvminfo       <uuid>|<name> --log <idx>

VBoxManage registervm

VBoxManage registervm       <filename>

VBoxManage unregistervm

VBoxManage unregistervm     <uuid>|<name> [--delete]

VBoxManage createvm

VBoxManage createvm         --name <name>
                            [--ostype <ostype>]
                            [--register]
                            [--basefolder <path> | --settingsfile <path>]
                            [--uuid <uuid>]

VBoxManage modifyvm

VBoxManage modifyvm         <uuid|name>
                            [--name <name>]
                            [--ostype <ostype>]
                            [--memory <memorysize in MB>]
                            [--pagefusion on|off]
                            [--vram <vramsize in MB>]
                            [--acpi on|off]
                            [--ioapic on|off]
                            [--pae on|off]
                            [--hpet on|off]
                            [--hwvirtex on|off]
                            [--nestedpaging on|off]
                            [--largepages on|off]
                            [--vtxvpid on|off]
                            [--synthcpu on|off]
                            [--cpuidset <leaf> <eax> <ebx> <ecx> <edx>]
                            [--cpuidremove <leaf>]
                            [--cpuidremoveall]
                            [--hardwareuuid <uuid>]
                            [--cpus <number>]
                            [--cpuhotplug on|off]
                            [--plugcpu <id>]
                            [--unplugcpu <id>]
                            [--rtcuseutc on|off]
                            [--monitorcount <number>]
                            [--accelerate3d on|off]
                            [--accelerate2dvideo on|off]
                            [--firmware bios|efi|efi32|efi64]
                            [--bioslogofadein on|off]
                            [--bioslogofadeout on|off]
                            [--bioslogodisplaytime <msec>]
                            [--bioslogoimagepath <imagepath>]
                            [--biosbootmenu disabled|menuonly|messageandmenu]
                            [--biossystemtimeoffset <msec>]
                            [--biospxedebug on|off]
                            [--boot<1-4> none|floppy|dvd|disk|net>]
                            [--nic<1-N> none|null|nat|bridged|intnet|hostonly]
                            [--nictype<1-N> Am79C970A|Am79C973|
                                            82540EM|82543GC|82545EM|
                                            virtio]
                            [--cableconnected<1-N> on|off]
                            [--nictrace<1-N> on|off]
                            [--nictracefile<1-N> <filename>]
                            [--nicspeed<1-N> <kbps>]
                            [--nicbootprio<1-N> <priority>]
                            [--bridgeadapter<1-N> none|<devicename>]
                            [--hostonlyadapter<1-N> none|<devicename>]
                            [--intnet<1-N> <network name>]
                            [--natnet<1-N> <network>|default]
                            [--natsettings<1-N> [<mtu>],[<socksnd>],
                                                [<sockrcv>],[<tcpsnd>],
                                                [<tcprcv>]]
                            [--natpf<1-N> [<rulename>],tcp|udp,[<hostip>],
                                          <hostport>,[<guestip>],<guestport>]
                            [--natpf<1-N> delete <rulename>]
                            [--nattftpprefix<1-N> <prefix>]
                            [--nattftpfile<1-N> <file>]
                            [--nattftpserver<1-N> <ip>]
                            [--natdnspassdomain<1-N> on|off]
                            [--natdnsproxy<1-N> on|off]
                            [--natdnshostresolver<1-N> on|off]
                            [--nataliasmode<1-N> default|[log],[proxyonly],
                                                         [sameports]]
                            [--macaddress<1-N> auto|<mac>]
                            [--mouse ps2|usb|usbtablet
                            [--keyboard ps2|usb
                            [--uart<1-N> off|<I/O base> <IRQ>]
                            [--uartmode<1-N> disconnected|
                                             server <pipe>|
                                             client <pipe>|
                                             file <file>|
                                             <devicename>]
                            [--guestmemoryballoon <balloonsize in MB>]
                            [--gueststatisticsinterval <seconds>]
                            [--audio none|null|coreaudio]
                            [--audiocontroller ac97|sb16]
                            [--clipboard disabled|hosttoguest|guesttohost|
                                         bidirectional]
                            [--vrdp on|off]
                            [--vrdpport default|<ports>]
                            [--vrdpaddress <host>]
                            [--vrdpauthtype null|external|guest]
                            [--vrdpmulticon on|off]
                            [--vrdpreusecon on|off]
                            [--vrdpvideochannel on|off]
                            [--vrdpvideochannelquality <percent>]
                            [--usb on|off]
                            [--usbehci on|off]
                            [--snapshotfolder default|<path>]
                            [--teleporter on|off]
                            [--teleporterport <port>]
                            [--teleporteraddress <address|empty>
                            [--teleporterpassword <password>]

VBoxManage import

VBoxManage import           <ovf> [--dry-run|-n] [more options]
                            (run with -n to have options displayed
                             for a particular OVF)

VBoxManage export

VBoxManage export           <machines> --output|-o <ovf>
                            [--legacy09]
                            [--vsys <number of virtual system>]
                                    [--product <product name>]
                                    [--producturl <product url>]
                                    [--vendor <vendor name>]
                                    [--vendorurl <vendor url>]
                                    [--version <version info>]
                                    [--eula <license text>]
                                    [--eulafile <filename>]

VBoxManage startvm

VBoxManage startvm          <uuid>|<name>
                            [--type gui|vrdp|headless]

VBoxManage controlvm

VBoxManage controlvm        <uuid>|<name>
                            pause|resume|reset|poweroff|savestate|
                            acpipowerbutton|acpisleepbutton|
                            keyboardputscancode <hex> [<hex> ...]|
                            injectnmi|
                            setlinkstate<1-N> on|off |
                            nic<1-N> null|nat|bridged|intnet|hostonly
                                     [<devicename>] |
                            nictrace<1-N> on|off
                            nictracefile<1-N> <filename>
                            guestmemoryballoon <balloonsize in MB>]
                            gueststatisticsinterval <seconds>]
                            usbattach <uuid>|<address> |
                            usbdetach <uuid>|<address> |
                            vrdp on|off |
                            vrdpport default|<ports> |
                            vrdpvideochannelquality <percent>
                            setvideomodehint <xres> <yres> <bpp> [display] |
                            setcredentials <username> <password> <domain>
                                           [--allowlocallogon <yes|no>] |
                            teleport --host <name> --port <port>
                                   [--maxdowntime <msec>] [--password password]
                            plugcpu <id>
                            unplugcpu <id>

VBoxManage discardstate

VBoxManage discardstate     <uuid>|<name>

VBoxManage adoptstate

VBoxManage adoptstate       <uuid>|<name> <state_file>

VBoxManage snapshot

VBoxManage snapshot         <uuid>|<name>
                            take <name> [--description <desc>] [--pause] |
                            delete <uuid>|<name> |
                            restore <uuid>|<name> |
                            restorecurrent |
                            edit <uuid>|<name>|--current
                                 [--name <name>]
                                 [--description <desc>] |
                            showvminfo <uuid>|<name>

VBoxManage openmedium

VBoxManage openmedium       disk|dvd|floppy <filename>
                            [--type normal|immutable|writethrough] (disk only)
                            [--uuid <uuid>]
                            [--parentuuid <uuid>] (disk only)

VBoxManage closemedium

VBoxManage closemedium      disk|dvd|floppy <uuid>|<filename>
                            [--delete]

VBoxManage storageattach

VBoxManage storageattach    <uuid|vmname>
                            --storagectl <name>
                            --port <number>
                            --device <number>
                            [--type dvddrive|hdd|fdd]
                            [--medium none|emptydrive|
                                      <uuid>|<filename>|host:<drive>]
                            [--passthrough on|off]
                            [--forceunmount]

VBoxManage storagectl

VBoxManage storagectl       <uuid|vmname>
                            --name <name>
                            [--add ide|sata|scsi|floppy|sas]
                            [--controller LSILogic|LSILogicSAS|BusLogic|
                                          IntelAHCI|PIIX3|PIIX4|ICH6|I82078]
                            [--sataideemulation<1-4> <1-30>]
                            [--sataportcount <1-30>]
                            [--hostiocache on|off]
                            [--remove]

VBoxManage showhdinfo

VBoxManage showhdinfo       <uuid>|<filename>

VBoxManage createhd

VBoxManage createhd         --filename <filename>
                            --size <megabytes>
                            [--format VDI|VMDK|VHD] (default: VDI)
                            [--variant Standard,Fixed,Split2G,Stream,ESX]
                            [--type normal|writethrough] (default: normal)
                            [--comment <comment>]
                            [--remember]

VBoxManage modifyhd

VBoxManage modifyhd         <uuid>|<filename>
                            [--type normal|writethrough|immutable]
                            [--autoreset on|off]
                            [--compact]

VBoxManage clonehd

VBoxManage clonehd          <uuid>|<filename> <outputfile>
                            [--format VDI|VMDK|VHD|RAW|<other>]
                            [--variant Standard,Fixed,Split2G,Stream,ESX]
                            [--type normal|writethrough|immutable]
                            [--remember] [--existing]

VBoxManage convertfromraw

VBoxManage convertfromraw   <filename> <outputfile>
                            [--format VDI|VMDK|VHD]
                            [--variant Standard,Fixed,Split2G,Stream,ESX]
VBoxManage convertfromraw   stdin <outputfile> <bytes>
                            [--format VDI|VMDK|VHD]
                            [--variant Standard,Fixed,Split2G,Stream,ESX]

VBoxManage addiscsidisk

VBoxManage addiscsidisk     --server <name>|<ip>
                            --target <target>
                            [--port <port>]
                            [--lun <lun>]
                            [--encodedlun <lun>]
                            [--username <username>]
                            [--password <password>]
                            [--type normal|writethrough|immutable]
                            [--intnet]

VBoxManage getextradata

VBoxManage getextradata     global|<uuid>|<name>
                            <key>|enumerate

VBoxManage setextradata

VBoxManage setextradata     global|<uuid>|<name>
                            <key>
                            [<value>] (no value deletes key)

VBoxManage setproperty

VBoxManage setproperty      hdfolder default|<folder> |
                            machinefolder default|<folder> |
                            vrdpauthlibrary default|<library> |
                            websrvauthlibrary default|null|<library> |
                            loghistorycount <value>

VBoxManage usbfilter

VBoxManage usbfilter        add <index,0-N>
                            --target <uuid>|<name>|global
                            --name <string>
                            --action ignore|hold (global filters only)
                            [--active yes|no] (yes)
                            [--vendorid <XXXX>] (null)
                            [--productid <XXXX>] (null)
                            [--revision <IIFF>] (null)
                            [--manufacturer <string>] (null)
                            [--product <string>] (null)
                            [--remote yes|no] (null, VM filters only)
                            [--serialnumber <string>] (null)
                            [--maskedinterfaces <XXXXXXXX>]
 
VBoxManage usbfilter        modify <index,0-N>
                            --target <uuid>|<name>|global
                            [--name <string>]
                            [--action ignore|hold] (global filters only)
                            [--active yes|no]
                            [--vendorid <XXXX>|""]
                            [--productid <XXXX>|""]
                            [--revision <IIFF>|""]
                            [--manufacturer <string>|""]
                            [--product <string>|""]
                            [--remote yes|no] (null, VM filters only)
                            [--serialnumber <string>|""]
                            [--maskedinterfaces <XXXXXXXX>]
 
VBoxManage usbfilter        remove <index,0-N>
                            --target <uuid>|<name>|global

VBoxManage sharedfolder

VBoxManage sharedfolder     add <vmname>|<uuid>
                            --name <name> --hostpath <hostpath>
                            [--transient] [--readonly]
 
VBoxManage sharedfolder     remove <vmname>|<uuid>
                            --name <name> [--transient]

VBoxManage vmstatistics

VBoxManage vmstatistics     <vmname>|<uuid> [--reset]
                            [--pattern <pattern>] [--descriptions]

VBoxManage guestproperty

VBoxManage guestproperty    get <vmname>|<uuid>
                            <property> [--verbose]
 
VBoxManage guestproperty    set <vmname>|<uuid>
                            <property> [<value> [--flags <flags>]]
 
VBoxManage guestproperty    enumerate <vmname>|<uuid>
                            [--patterns <patterns>]
 
VBoxManage guestproperty    wait <vmname>|<uuid> <patterns>
                            [--timeout <msec>] [--fail-on-timeout]

VBoxManage guestcontrol

VBoxManage guestcontrol     execute <vmname>|<uuid>
                            <path to program>
                            --username <name> --password <password>
                            [--arguments "<arguments>"]
                            [--environment "<NAME>=<VALUE> [<NAME>=<VALUE>]"]
                            [--flags <flags>] [--timeout <msec>]
                            [--verbose] [--wait-for exit,stdout,stderr||]

VBoxManage metrics

VBoxManage metrics          list [*|host|<vmname> [<metric_list>]]
                                                 (comma-separated)
 
VBoxManage metrics          setup
                            [--period <seconds>] (default: 1)
                            [--samples <count>] (default: 1)
                            [--list]
                            [*|host|<vmname> [<metric_list>]]
 
VBoxManage metrics          query [*|host|<vmname> [<metric_list>]]
 
VBoxManage metrics          enable
                            [--list]
                            [*|host|<vmname> [<metric_list>]]
 
VBoxManage metrics          disable
                            [--list]
                            [*|host|<vmname> [<metric_list>]]
 
VBoxManage metrics          collect
                            [--period <seconds>] (default: 1)
                            [--samples <count>] (default: 1)
                            [--list]
                            [--detach]
                            [*|host|<vmname> [<metric_list>]]

VBoxManage hostonlyif

VBoxManage hostonlyif       ipconfig <name>
                            [--dhcp |
                            --ip<ipv4> [--netmask<ipv4> (def: 255.255.255.0)] |
                            --ipv6<ipv6> [--netmasklengthv6<length> (def: 64)]]

VBoxManage dhcpserver

VBoxManage dhcpserver       add|modify --netname <network_name> |
                                       --ifname <hostonly_if_name>
                                [--ip <ip_address>
                                 --netmask <network_mask>
                                 --lowerip <lower_ip>
                                 --upperip <upper_ip>]
                                [--enable | --disable]
 
VBoxManage dhcpserver       remove --netname <network_name> |
                                   --ifname <hostonly_if_name>

You can find the script used to format the VBoxManage output for this page at http://bitbucket.org/andunix/scripts/src/tip/bin/vbox2drupal.py.