How to run VirtualBox virtual machines from the command line

By Jack Wallen | October 5, 2016, 8:15 AM PST

VirtualBox virtual machines can be run without working with the GUI. See how to take advantage of the VBoxManage command to start, pause, and power down your VMs.

If you're using VirtualBox as a virtual machine (VM) server in your data center, chances are you're going to want to know how to run those VMs without having to rely on the VirtualBox GUI. This makes it much easier to run your VMs without having to be at the host machine (you can ssh into the host and then manage the VMs) or without having a number of GUI windows open to clutter your server desktops (or be readily available for prying eyes).

To make this happen, you'll use a very powerful command that comes with VirtualBox called VBoxManage; it allows you to manage a number of aspects of your VMs. I'll show how to use VBoxManage to start, stop, and pause your VMs. I assume you have VirtualBox installed, and your VMs are ready to run on the host machine.

SEE: Building the Software Defined Data Center (ZDNet/TechRepublic special feature)
Before you fire up a VM



If you go directly to the VBoxManage command and fire up a VM, you'll probably find that VM isn't reachable via network—this renders the VM worthless, especially if it is a server.

In order to get the networking of your headless VM up and running, you have to install the VirtualBox extension pack. Here's how.
Download the extension pack that matches your VirtualBox release.
Open the VirtualBox GUI.
Click File | Preferences.
Go to the Extensions section.
Click the downward-pointing arrow (Figure A).
Navigate to where you saved the Extension Pack and select the .vbox-extpack file.
Click Open.
When prompted, type your admin password for the host machine.
Click OK.

Figure A
Image: Jack Wallen
Installing the VirtualBox Extension Pack

You're ready to run your VMs, which will include the ability to

Microsoft becomes the latest major player to exit the smartwatch industry

By Shawn Knight on October 3, 2016, 4:45 PM


Last month it was revealed that three of the largest Android Wear partners – LG, Huawei and Motorola – had no intentions of launching any new smartwatches or fitness trackers this fall. Now, it seems as though Microsoft has hopped off the wearables bandwagon as well.

As of today, Microsoft has scrubbed every mention of its Band line of wearables from its online store and pulled the Band SDK from its developer portal. Best Buy has followed suit as well and according to The Verge, Amazon will no longer carry the wearable once its current supply runs dry.

A Microsoft spokesperson told ZDNet that they have sold through their existing Band 2 inventory and have no plans to release another Band device this year. That said, the spokesperson did say that Microsoft will continue to support Band 2 customers through the Microsoft Store and their customer support channels. Microsoft will also continue to invest in the Microsoft Health platform, we’re told.

ZDNet also heard last month that Microsoft had disbanded (no pun intended) the small group that was working to get Windows 10 onto the wearable.

Microsoft entered the wearables industry in late 2014 with Band, its fitness-tracking smartband. A year later (last October), the Redmond-based company launched its second-generation Band 2.

With three major Android players and Microsoft now having pulled out of the market, one can only wonder how long smartwatches will persist without a killer, must-have app.

How to install and run Dropbox from a headless Linux server

By Jack Wallen | September 30, 2016, 10:35 PM PST

If you have a headless Linux server that needs access to files from a Dropbox account, here's what to do.

There may come a time when you need to sync a Dropbox account to a Linux server running without a GUI. When that time comes, you'll be glad that it's pretty easy to do with the help of a few scripts.

I'll walk you through the process of getting Dropbox up and running on a headless CentOS 7 server. This will be done entirely through the command line, so get your fingers ready to type.

SEE:

DevOps: The smart person's guide

This comprehensive guide covers DevOps, an increasingly popular organizational structure for delivering rapid software deployments in the enterprise.

By James Sanders | October 2, 2016, 4:47 PM PST

In the age of constant security vulnerabilities and subsequent security patches, and the rapid and frequent addition of features to software, DevOps—a workflow that emphasizes communication between software developers and IT pros managing production environments—is at the forefront when considering how to shape an IT department to fit an organization's internal needs and best serve its customers.

This guide is a quick introduction to DevOps, as well as a "living" guide that