diff --git a/builder/virtualbox/iso/step_type_boot_command.go b/builder/virtualbox/common/step_type_boot_command.go
similarity index 92%
rename from builder/virtualbox/iso/step_type_boot_command.go
rename to builder/virtualbox/common/step_type_boot_command.go
index 3e087f0df..d22584951 100644
--- a/builder/virtualbox/iso/step_type_boot_command.go
+++ b/builder/virtualbox/common/step_type_boot_command.go
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
-package iso
+package common
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"github.com/mitchellh/multistep"
-	vboxcommon "github.com/mitchellh/packer/builder/virtualbox/common"
 	"github.com/mitchellh/packer/packer"
 	"log"
 	"strings"
@@ -23,7 +22,6 @@ type bootCommandTemplateData struct {
 // This step "types" the boot command into the VM over VNC.
 //
 // Uses:
-//   config *config
 //   driver Driver
 //   http_port int
 //   ui     packer.Ui
@@ -31,11 +29,14 @@ type bootCommandTemplateData struct {
 //
 // Produces:
 //   <nothing>
-type stepTypeBootCommand struct{}
+type StepTypeBootCommand struct {
+	BootCommand []string
+	VMName      string
+	Tpl         *packer.ConfigTemplate
+}
 
-func (s *stepTypeBootCommand) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction {
-	config := state.Get("config").(*config)
-	driver := state.Get("driver").(vboxcommon.Driver)
+func (s *StepTypeBootCommand) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction {
+	driver := state.Get("driver").(Driver)
 	httpPort := state.Get("http_port").(uint)
 	ui := state.Get("ui").(packer.Ui)
 	vmName := state.Get("vmName").(string)
@@ -43,12 +44,12 @@ func (s *stepTypeBootCommand) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction
 	tplData := &bootCommandTemplateData{
 		"10.0.2.2",
 		httpPort,
-		config.VMName,
+		s.VMName,
 	}
 
 	ui.Say("Typing the boot command...")
-	for _, command := range config.BootCommand {
-		command, err := config.tpl.Process(command, tplData)
+	for _, command := range s.BootCommand {
+		command, err := s.Tpl.Process(command, tplData)
 		if err != nil {
 			err := fmt.Errorf("Error preparing boot command: %s", err)
 			state.Put("error", err)
@@ -90,7 +91,7 @@ func (s *stepTypeBootCommand) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction
 	return multistep.ActionContinue
 }
 
-func (*stepTypeBootCommand) Cleanup(multistep.StateBag) {}
+func (*StepTypeBootCommand) Cleanup(multistep.StateBag) {}
 
 func scancodes(message string) []string {
 	// Scancodes reference: http://www.win.tue.nl/~aeb/linux/kbd/scancodes-1.html
diff --git a/builder/virtualbox/iso/builder.go b/builder/virtualbox/iso/builder.go
index f0acf83be..cbfac90cb 100644
--- a/builder/virtualbox/iso/builder.go
+++ b/builder/virtualbox/iso/builder.go
@@ -320,7 +320,11 @@ func (b *Builder) Run(ui packer.Ui, hook packer.Hook, cache packer.Cache) (packe
 			BootWait: b.config.BootWait,
 			Headless: b.config.Headless,
 		},
-		new(stepTypeBootCommand),
+		&vboxcommon.StepTypeBootCommand{
+			BootCommand: b.config.BootCommand,
+			VMName:      b.config.VMName,
+			Tpl:         b.config.tpl,
+		},
 		&common.StepConnectSSH{
 			SSHAddress:     vboxcommon.SSHAddress,
 			SSHConfig:      vboxcommon.SSHConfigFunc(b.config.SSHConfig),
diff --git a/builder/virtualbox/ovf/builder.go b/builder/virtualbox/ovf/builder.go
index c41f9a1a4..eeacdf1e8 100644
--- a/builder/virtualbox/ovf/builder.go
+++ b/builder/virtualbox/ovf/builder.go
@@ -89,6 +89,11 @@ func (b *Builder) Run(ui packer.Ui, hook packer.Hook, cache packer.Cache) (packe
 			BootWait: b.config.BootWait,
 			Headless: b.config.Headless,
 		},
+		&vboxcommon.StepTypeBootCommand{
+			BootCommand: b.config.BootCommand,
+			VMName:      b.config.VMName,
+			Tpl:         b.config.tpl,
+		},
 		&common.StepConnectSSH{
 			SSHAddress:     vboxcommon.SSHAddress,
 			SSHConfig:      vboxcommon.SSHConfigFunc(b.config.SSHConfig),
diff --git a/builder/virtualbox/ovf/config.go b/builder/virtualbox/ovf/config.go
index 4d93a59a0..885687b67 100644
--- a/builder/virtualbox/ovf/config.go
+++ b/builder/virtualbox/ovf/config.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ type Config struct {
 	vboxcommon.VBoxManagePostConfig `mapstructure:",squash"`
 	vboxcommon.VBoxVersionConfig    `mapstructure:",squash"`
 
+	BootCommand          []string `mapstructure:"boot_command"`
 	SourcePath           string   `mapstructure:"source_path"`
 	GuestAdditionsMode   string   `mapstructure:"guest_additions_mode"`
 	GuestAdditionsPath   string   `mapstructure:"guest_additions_path"`
@@ -115,6 +116,13 @@ func NewConfig(raws ...interface{}) (*Config, []string, error) {
 		}
 	}
 
+	for i, command := range c.BootCommand {
+		if err := c.tpl.Validate(command); err != nil {
+			errs = packer.MultiErrorAppend(errs,
+				fmt.Errorf("Error processing boot_command[%d]: %s", i, err))
+		}
+	}
+
 	validates := map[string]*string{
 		"guest_additions_path": &c.GuestAdditionsPath,
 		"guest_additions_url":  &c.GuestAdditionsURL,
diff --git a/builder/vmware/iso/host_ip.go b/builder/vmware/common/host_ip.go
similarity index 91%
rename from builder/vmware/iso/host_ip.go
rename to builder/vmware/common/host_ip.go
index 98a6d26df..f920043e7 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/iso/host_ip.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/common/host_ip.go
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-package iso
+package common
 
 // Interface to help find the host IP that is available from within
 // the VMware virtual machines.
diff --git a/builder/vmware/iso/host_ip_ifconfig.go b/builder/vmware/common/host_ip_ifconfig.go
similarity index 98%
rename from builder/vmware/iso/host_ip_ifconfig.go
rename to builder/vmware/common/host_ip_ifconfig.go
index 300107007..2a985aada 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/iso/host_ip_ifconfig.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/common/host_ip_ifconfig.go
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-package iso
+package common
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
diff --git a/builder/vmware/iso/host_ip_ifconfig_test.go b/builder/vmware/common/host_ip_ifconfig_test.go
similarity index 93%
rename from builder/vmware/iso/host_ip_ifconfig_test.go
rename to builder/vmware/common/host_ip_ifconfig_test.go
index 51ccc272c..a69104e69 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/iso/host_ip_ifconfig_test.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/common/host_ip_ifconfig_test.go
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-package iso
+package common
 
 import "testing"
 
diff --git a/builder/vmware/iso/host_ip_vmnetnatconf.go b/builder/vmware/common/host_ip_vmnetnatconf.go
similarity index 90%
rename from builder/vmware/iso/host_ip_vmnetnatconf.go
rename to builder/vmware/common/host_ip_vmnetnatconf.go
index 0ba0a3727..e07227a5e 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/iso/host_ip_vmnetnatconf.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/common/host_ip_vmnetnatconf.go
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-package iso
+package common
 
 import (
 	"bufio"
@@ -8,8 +8,6 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"regexp"
 	"strings"
-
-	vmwcommon "github.com/mitchellh/packer/builder/vmware/common"
 )
 
 // VMnetNatConfIPFinder finds the IP address of the host machine by
@@ -18,7 +16,7 @@ import (
 type VMnetNatConfIPFinder struct{}
 
 func (*VMnetNatConfIPFinder) HostIP() (string, error) {
-	driver := &vmwcommon.Workstation9Driver{}
+	driver := &Workstation9Driver{}
 
 	vmnetnat := driver.VmnetnatConfPath()
 	if vmnetnat == "" {
diff --git a/builder/vmware/iso/host_ip_vmnetnatconf_test.go b/builder/vmware/common/host_ip_vmnetnatconf_test.go
similarity index 93%
rename from builder/vmware/iso/host_ip_vmnetnatconf_test.go
rename to builder/vmware/common/host_ip_vmnetnatconf_test.go
index 873a7fa2b..9f3114a92 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/iso/host_ip_vmnetnatconf_test.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/common/host_ip_vmnetnatconf_test.go
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-package iso
+package common
 
 import "testing"
 
diff --git a/builder/vmware/iso/step_type_boot_command.go b/builder/vmware/common/step_type_boot_command.go
similarity index 91%
rename from builder/vmware/iso/step_type_boot_command.go
rename to builder/vmware/common/step_type_boot_command.go
index 4dbc7f82d..ac1da0131 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/iso/step_type_boot_command.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/common/step_type_boot_command.go
@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
-package iso
+package common
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"github.com/mitchellh/go-vnc"
 	"github.com/mitchellh/multistep"
-	vmwcommon "github.com/mitchellh/packer/builder/vmware/common"
 	"github.com/mitchellh/packer/packer"
 	"log"
 	"net"
@@ -26,18 +25,20 @@ type bootCommandTemplateData struct {
 // This step "types" the boot command into the VM over VNC.
 //
 // Uses:
-//   config *config
 //   http_port int
 //   ui     packer.Ui
 //   vnc_port uint
 //
 // Produces:
 //   <nothing>
-type stepTypeBootCommand struct{}
+type StepTypeBootCommand struct {
+	BootCommand []string
+	VMName      string
+	Tpl         *packer.ConfigTemplate
+}
 
-func (s *stepTypeBootCommand) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction {
-	config := state.Get("config").(*config)
-	driver := state.Get("driver").(vmwcommon.Driver)
+func (s *StepTypeBootCommand) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction {
+	driver := state.Get("driver").(Driver)
 	httpPort := state.Get("http_port").(uint)
 	ui := state.Get("ui").(packer.Ui)
 	vncIp := state.Get("vnc_ip").(string)
@@ -88,12 +89,12 @@ func (s *stepTypeBootCommand) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction
 	tplData := &bootCommandTemplateData{
 		hostIp,
 		httpPort,
-		config.VMName,
+		s.VMName,
 	}
 
 	ui.Say("Typing the boot command over VNC...")
-	for _, command := range config.BootCommand {
-		command, err := config.tpl.Process(command, tplData)
+	for _, command := range s.BootCommand {
+		command, err := s.Tpl.Process(command, tplData)
 		if err != nil {
 			err := fmt.Errorf("Error preparing boot command: %s", err)
 			state.Put("error", err)
@@ -113,7 +114,7 @@ func (s *stepTypeBootCommand) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction
 	return multistep.ActionContinue
 }
 
-func (*stepTypeBootCommand) Cleanup(multistep.StateBag) {}
+func (*StepTypeBootCommand) Cleanup(multistep.StateBag) {}
 
 func vncSendString(c *vnc.ClientConn, original string) {
 	// Scancodes reference: https://github.com/qemu/qemu/blob/master/ui/vnc_keysym.h
diff --git a/builder/vmware/iso/builder.go b/builder/vmware/iso/builder.go
index 7c90b298d..574b2fb24 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/iso/builder.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/iso/builder.go
@@ -348,7 +348,11 @@ func (b *Builder) Run(ui packer.Ui, hook packer.Hook, cache packer.Cache) (packe
 			DurationBeforeStop: 5 * time.Second,
 			Headless:           b.config.Headless,
 		},
-		&stepTypeBootCommand{},
+		&vmwcommon.StepTypeBootCommand{
+			BootCommand: b.config.BootCommand,
+			VMName:      b.config.VMName,
+			Tpl:         b.config.tpl,
+		},
 		&common.StepConnectSSH{
 			SSHAddress:     driver.SSHAddress,
 			SSHConfig:      vmwcommon.SSHConfigFunc(&b.config.SSHConfig),
diff --git a/builder/vmware/vmx/builder.go b/builder/vmware/vmx/builder.go
index 61c5f9da6..1d44f4485 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/vmx/builder.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/vmx/builder.go
@@ -76,6 +76,11 @@ func (b *Builder) Run(ui packer.Ui, hook packer.Hook, cache packer.Cache) (packe
 			DurationBeforeStop: 5 * time.Second,
 			Headless:           b.config.Headless,
 		},
+		&vmwcommon.StepTypeBootCommand{
+			BootCommand: b.config.BootCommand,
+			VMName:      b.config.VMName,
+			Tpl:         b.config.tpl,
+		},
 		&common.StepConnectSSH{
 			SSHAddress:     driver.SSHAddress,
 			SSHConfig:      vmwcommon.SSHConfigFunc(&b.config.SSHConfig),
diff --git a/builder/vmware/vmx/config.go b/builder/vmware/vmx/config.go
index 75fb6440f..575bc7a5b 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/vmx/config.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/vmx/config.go
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ type Config struct {
 	vmwcommon.ToolsConfig    `mapstructure:",squash"`
 	vmwcommon.VMXConfig      `mapstructure:",squash"`
 
+	BootCommand    []string `mapstructure:"boot_command"`
 	FloppyFiles    []string `mapstructure:"floppy_files"`
 	RemoteType     string   `mapstructure:"remote_type"`
 	SkipCompaction bool     `mapstructure:"skip_compaction"`
@@ -82,6 +83,13 @@ func NewConfig(raws ...interface{}) (*Config, []string, error) {
 		}
 	}
 
+	for i, command := range c.BootCommand {
+		if err := c.tpl.Validate(command); err != nil {
+			errs = packer.MultiErrorAppend(errs,
+				fmt.Errorf("Error processing boot_command[%d]: %s", i, err))
+		}
+	}
+
 	if c.SourcePath == "" {
 		errs = packer.MultiErrorAppend(errs, fmt.Errorf("source_path is required"))
 	} else {
diff --git a/website/source/docs/builders/virtualbox-ovf.html.markdown b/website/source/docs/builders/virtualbox-ovf.html.markdown
index b9fbf7064..90acd7489 100644
--- a/website/source/docs/builders/virtualbox-ovf.html.markdown
+++ b/website/source/docs/builders/virtualbox-ovf.html.markdown
@@ -52,6 +52,19 @@ each category, the available options are alphabetized and described.
 
 ### Optional:
 
+* `boot_command` (array of strings) - This is an array of commands to type
+  when the virtual machine is first booted. The goal of these commands should
+  be to type just enough to initialize the operating system installer. Special
+  keys can be typed as well, and are covered in the section below on the boot
+  command. If this is not specified, it is assumed the installer will start
+  itself.
+
+* `boot_wait` (string) - The time to wait after booting the initial virtual
+  machine before typing the `boot_command`. The value of this should be
+  a duration. Examples are "5s" and "1m30s" which will cause Packer to wait
+  five seconds and one minute 30 seconds, respectively. If this isn't specified,
+  the default is 10 seconds.
+
 * `export_opts` (array of strings) - Additional options to pass to the `VBoxManage export`.
   This can be useful for passing product information to include in the resulting
   appliance file.
diff --git a/website/source/docs/builders/vmware-vmx.html.markdown b/website/source/docs/builders/vmware-vmx.html.markdown
index b733473e7..d32978969 100644
--- a/website/source/docs/builders/vmware-vmx.html.markdown
+++ b/website/source/docs/builders/vmware-vmx.html.markdown
@@ -51,6 +51,19 @@ each category, the available options are alphabetized and described.
 
 ### Optional:
 
+* `boot_command` (array of strings) - This is an array of commands to type
+  when the virtual machine is firsted booted. The goal of these commands should
+  be to type just enough to initialize the operating system installer. Special
+  keys can be typed as well, and are covered in the section below on the boot
+  command. If this is not specified, it is assumed the installer will start
+  itself.
+
+* `boot_wait` (string) - The time to wait after booting the initial virtual
+  machine before typing the `boot_command`. The value of this should be
+  a duration. Examples are "5s" and "1m30s" which will cause Packer to wait
+  five seconds and one minute 30 seconds, respectively. If this isn't specified,
+  the default is 10 seconds.
+
 * `floppy_files` (array of strings) - A list of files to place onto a floppy
   disk that is attached when the VM is booted. This is most useful
   for unattended Windows installs, which look for an `Autounattend.xml` file