Shell script to start and ssh to a linux VBox VM

vm-ubuntu.sh

#!/bin/bash

# Copy this script with run permission inside
#   /usr/local/bin/vm-ubuntu

# Script to start and ssh to a VM on Virtual Box
# It starts the VM in headless mode (if not already started)

# This script assumes an Ubuntu Virtual Box named "Ubuntu"
# is already created with NAT network mode with host port
# 2222 forwarded to guest port 22 (127.0.0.1:2222 => 10.0.2.15:22)
# and consists of a user account named "ranjan"

# If a stop option is provided, stop the VM
if [ "$1" == "stop" ];then
  VBoxManage controlvm Ubuntu poweroff
else
  # An error is expected if the vbox is started, so ignore the
  # error messages
  VBoxManage startvm Ubuntu --type headless 2> /dev/null

  # SSH to the VM with "ranjan"
  ssh -p 2222 [email protected]
fi