How to use the command 'VBoxManage showvminfo' (with examples)

VBoxManage showvminfo is a command-line utility provided by Oracle’s VirtualBox, a popular open-source virtualization software. This command is used to display detailed information about VirtualBox virtual machines (VMs), which can help you understand and manage your virtual environment more effectively. By using various options with this command, you can retrieve different types of information about your VMs, such as basic details, full configurations, or logs.

Use case 1: Show information about a particular virtual machine

Code:

VBoxManage showvminfo vm_name|uuid

Motivation:

Understanding the basic configuration and status of a virtual machine is essential for system administrators and developers who need to monitor the resources and ensure that VMs are running optimally. This use case is particularly useful when verifying the setup of a new VM or when troubleshooting general issues.

Explanation:

• VBoxManage: The command-line tool for controlling VirtualBox.
• showvminfo: Subcommand to display information about virtual machines.
• vm_name|uuid: The name or the universally unique identifier (UUID) of the VM that you want to query.

Example output:

Name:            Ubuntu_Server
Guest OS:        Ubuntu (64-bit)
UUID:            12345678-90ab-cdef-1234-567890abcdef
Config file:     /path/to/VBox/Ubuntu_Server.vbox
Memory size:     2048MB
...

Use case 2: Show more detailed information about a particular virtual machine

Code:

VBoxManage showvminfo --details vm_name|uuid

Motivation:

For in-depth troubleshooting or configuration reviews, it’s crucial to access detailed information about a VM. This extended information includes intricate settings like network interfaces, shared folders, and storage controllers, providing a comprehensive overview that is necessary for configuring advanced setups or diagnosing complex problems.

Explanation:

• --details: An option that instructs showvminfo to provide a detailed report of the VM, including exhaustive configuration settings.
• vm_name|uuid: The specific VM you are querying, by its name or UUID.

Example output:

Name:            Ubuntu_Server
Guest OS:        Ubuntu (64-bit)
UUID:            12345678-90ab-cdef-1234-567890abcdef
Config file:     /path/to/VBox/Ubuntu_Server.vbox
Memory size:     2048MB
Number of CPUs:  2
Network:         Enabled, NAT
Storage Controller: SATA
...

Use case 3: Show information in a machine-readable format

Code:

VBoxManage showvminfo --machinereadable vm_name|uuid

Motivation:

Automation scripts and integration tools often need VM information in a format that is easily parsed by machines. A machine-readable output makes it simpler to incorporate VM data into automated monitoring solutions, configuration management tools, or continuous integration pipelines.

Explanation:

• --machinereadable: An option to output VM information in a format that can be easily parsed by scripts or programs.
• vm_name|uuid: The identifier for the VM in question, which can be its name or UUID.

Example output:

name="Ubuntu_Server"
guest_os="Ubuntu (64-bit)"
uuid="12345678-90ab-cdef-1234-567890abcdef"
memory_size="2048"
cpu_count="2"
...

Use case 4: Specify password ID if the virtual machine is encrypted

Code:

VBoxManage showvminfo --password-id password_id vm_name|uuid

Motivation:

When dealing with sensitive data, VMs might be encrypted. To access or modify information within these VMs, a password ID is required. This use case is crucial for environments that handle confidential information and need to ensure that only authorized personnel can access VM details.

Explanation:

• --password-id: Specifies the ID of the password that grants access to the encrypted VM.
• password_id: The unique identifier for the stored password.
• vm_name|uuid: The target VM which is encrypted.

Example output:

Encryption: Enabled
Password ID: eid_12345
...

Use case 5: Specify the password file if the virtual machine is encrypted

Code:

VBoxManage showvminfo --password path/to/password_file vm_name|uuid

Motivation:

In automated environments, it may be necessary to use a password file for secure access to encrypted VMs. This avoids the need for manual password entry and facilitates batch processing or automated scripts for managing VMs.

Explanation:

• --password: Specifies the path to the file containing the password for the encrypted VM.
• path/to/password_file: The file path where the password is stored securely.
• vm_name|uuid: The encrypted VM you want to access.

Example output:

Encryption: Enabled
Password: ********
...

Use case 6: Show the logs of a specific virtual machine

Code:

VBoxManage showvminfo --log vm_name|uuid

Motivation:

Logs are invaluable for diagnosing problems related to VM operation and performance. Accessing VM logs can help identify the root causes of unexpected behavior or performance degradation, making this use case a critical tool for IT professionals handling VM maintenance and troubleshooting.

Explanation:

• --log: Requests the logs associated with the specified VM, providing detailed operational information.
• vm_name|uuid: The particular VM whose logs you wish to view.

Example output:

Log output for VM 'Ubuntu_Server'
00:00:00.100 Host System information:
00:00:00.100   Host: Windows 10 64-bit
...
00:05:12.345 VM state change detected. State: Running

Conclusion:

The VBoxManage showvminfo command is a versatile tool that allows administrators and developers to manage and troubleshoot VirtualBox VMs by providing comprehensive information and logs about each virtual machine. Whether for basic user insights or advanced automated system setups, understanding these different use cases empowers users to effectively utilize the features of VirtualBox to optimize their virtual environments.