---
modeline: |
  vim: set ft=pandoc:
description: >
  The VirtualBox Packer builder is able to create VirtualBox virtual machines
  snapshots

  and export them in the OVF format, starting from an ISO image.
layout: docs
page_title: VirtualBox Snapshot - Builders
sidebar_title: VM
---

# VirtualBox Builder (from an existing VM)

Type: `virtualbox-vm`

The VirtualBox Packer builder is able to create
[VirtualBox](https://www.virtualbox.org/) virtual machines snapshots and
(optionally) export them in the OVF format, starting from an **existing**
virtual machine.

The builder builds a virtual machine snapshot by using an existing virtual
machine, booting it, provisioning software within the OS, then shutting it down.
The result of the VirtualBox builder is a new snapshot persisting all changes
from the applied provisioners.

## Basic Example

Here is a basic example. which serves to show the basic configuration:

```json
{
  "type": "virtualbox-vm",
  "communicator": "winrm",
  "headless": "{{user `headless`}}",
  "winrm_username": "vagrant",
  "winrm_password": "vagrant",
  "winrm_timeout": "2h",
  "shutdown_command": "shutdown /s /t 10 /f /d p:4:1 /c \"Packer Shutdown\"",
  "guest_additions_mode": "disable",
  "output_directory": "./builds-vm",
  "vm_name": "target-vm",
  "attach_snapshot": "Snapshot",
  "target_snapshot": "Target-Snapshot",
  "force_delete_snapshot": "true",
  "keep_registered": "false",
  "skip_export": "false"
}
```

It is important to add a `shutdown_command`. By default Packer halts the virtual
machine and the file system may not be sync'd. Thus, changes made in a
provisioner might not be saved.

## Configuration Reference

There are many configuration options available for the builder. In addition to
the items listed here, you will want to look at the general configuration
references for [ISO](#iso-configuration),
[HTTP](#http-directory-configuration),
[Floppy](#floppy-configuration),
[Export](#export-configuration),
[Boot](#boot-configuration),
[Shutdown](#shutdown-configuration),
[Run](#run-configuration),
[Communicator](#communicator-configuration)
configuration references, which are
necessary for this build to succeed and can be found further down the page.
In addition to the options listed here, a
[communicator](/docs/templates/communicator) can be configured for this
builder.


### Required:

@include 'builder/virtualbox/vm/Config-required.mdx'

### Optional:

@include 'builder/virtualbox/vm/Config-not-required.mdx'

@include 'builder/virtualbox/common/VBoxVersionConfig-not-required.mdx'

#### Optional:

@include 'builder/virtualbox/common/ShutdownConfig-not-required.mdx'

### Http directory configuration

@include 'common/HTTPConfig.mdx'

#### Optional:

@include 'common/HTTPConfig-not-required.mdx'

### Floppy configuration

@include 'common/FloppyConfig.mdx'

#### Optional:

@include 'common/FloppyConfig-not-required.mdx'

### Export configuration

#### Optional:

@include 'builder/virtualbox/common/ExportConfig-not-required.mdx'

### Output configuration

#### Optional:

@include 'builder/virtualbox/common/OutputConfig-not-required.mdx'

### Run configuration

#### Optional:

@include 'builder/virtualbox/common/RunConfig-not-required.mdx'

### Shutdown configuration

#### Optional:

@include 'builder/virtualbox/common/ShutdownConfig-not-required.mdx'

### Hardware configuration

#### Optional:

@include 'builder/virtualbox/common/HWConfig-not-required.mdx'

### VBox Manage configuration

#### Optional:

@include 'builder/virtualbox/common/VBoxManageConfig-not-required.mdx'

### Communicator configuration

#### Optional common fields:

@include 'helper/communicator/Config-not-required.mdx'

@include 'builder/virtualbox/common/CommConfig-not-required.mdx'

#### Optional SSH fields:

@include 'helper/communicator/SSH-not-required.mdx'

#### Optional WinRM fields:

@include 'helper/communicator/WinRM-not-required.mdx'


### Boot Configuration

@include 'common/bootcommand/BootConfig.mdx'

Please note that for the Virtuabox builder, the IP address of the HTTP server
Packer launches for you to access files like the preseed file in the example
above (`{{ .HTTPIP }}`) is hardcoded to 10.0.2.2. If you change the network
of your VM you must guarantee that you can still access this HTTP server.

The boot command is sent to the VM through the `VBoxManage` utility in as few
invocations as possible. We send each character in groups of 25, with a default
delay of 100ms between groups. The delay alleviates issues with latency and CPU
contention. If you notice missing keys, you can tune this delay by specifying
"boot_keygroup_interval" in your Packer template, for example:

```json
{
  "builders": [
    {
      "type": "virtualbox",
      "boot_keygroup_interval": "500ms"
      ...
    }
  ]
}
```

#### Optional:

@include 'common/bootcommand/BootConfig-not-required.mdx'

@include 'builders/virtualbox-ssh-key-pair.mdx'


## Guest Additions

Packer will automatically download the proper guest additions for the version of
VirtualBox that is running and upload those guest additions into the virtual
machine so that provisioners can easily install them.

Packer downloads the guest additions from the official VirtualBox website, and
verifies the file with the official checksums released by VirtualBox.

After the virtual machine is up and the operating system is installed, Packer
uploads the guest additions into the virtual machine. The path where they are
uploaded is controllable by `guest_additions_path`, and defaults to
"VBoxGuestAdditions.iso". Without an absolute path, it is uploaded to the home
directory of the SSH user.

## VBoxManage Commands

In order to perform extra customization of the virtual machine, a template can
define extra calls to `VBoxManage` to perform.
[VBoxManage](https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch09.html) is the command-line
interface to VirtualBox where you can completely control VirtualBox. It can be
used to do things such as set RAM, CPUs, etc.

Extra VBoxManage commands are defined in the template in the `vboxmanage`
section. An example is shown below that sets the VRAM within the virtual machine:

```json
{
  "vboxmanage": [["modifyvm", "{{.Name}}", "--vram", "64"]]
}
```

The value of `vboxmanage` is an array of commands to execute. These commands are
executed in the order defined. So in the above example, the memory will be set
followed by the CPUs.

Each command itself is an array of strings, where each string is an argument to
`VBoxManage`. Each argument is treated as a [configuration
template](/docs/templates/engine). The only available
variable is `Name` which is replaced with the unique name of the VM, which is
required for many VBoxManage calls.