FreeBSD on VirtualBox

freebsd-vbox.md

# pre-flight check
VBoxManage list ostypes | grep FreeBSD

# new VM
VM=FreeBSD
zfs create tank/vm/vkotal/$VM
VBoxManage createvm --basefolder /tank/vm/vkotal --name $VM --ostype FreeBSD_64 --register

# CPU
VBoxManage --nologo modifyvm $VM --cpus 8

# ~5GB HDD
VBoxManage storagectl $VM --name "SATA Controller" --add sata --controller IntelAHCI
VBoxManage createhd --filename /tank/vm/vkotal/$VM/$VM.vdi --size 5120 --format VDI --variant Fixed
VBoxManage storageattach $VM --storagectl "SATA Controller" --port 0 --device 0 --type hdd \
    --medium /tank/vm/vkotal/$VM/$VM.vdi
VBoxManage list hdds | grep $VM

# DVD with the ISO
wget ftp://ftp.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/releases/ISO-IMAGES/13.0/FreeBSD-13.0-RELEASE-amd64-disc1.iso
VBoxManage storagectl $VM --name "IDE Controller" --add ide
VBoxManage storageattach $VM --storagectl "IDE Controller" --port 0 --device 0 --type dvddrive \
    --medium FreeBSD-13.0-RELEASE-amd64-disc1.iso

# boot order
VBoxManage modifyvm $VM --boot1 dvd --boot2 disk --boot3 none --boot4 none

# RAM size
VBoxManage modifyvm $VM --memory 4000 --vram 16

# '--type gui' fails with:
# VBoxManage: error: The virtual machine 'FreeBSD' has terminated unexpectedly during startup because of signal 6
# VBoxManage: error: Details: code NS_ERROR_FAILURE (0x80004005), component MachineWrap, interface IMachine
#
# running with '--type headless' executes the machine
# this was caused by empty $DISPLAY (lack of X11 forwarding in SSH)
VBoxManage startvm $VM --type gui


# once the install is over, power off the machine and detach the DVD:
VBoxManage controlvm $VM poweroff
VBoxManage storagectl $VM --name "IDE Controller" --remove
# or change the boot order:
VBoxManage modifyvm $VM --boot1 disk --boot2 none --boot3 none --boot4 none

# assign non-default RDP port
ln -s /tank/vm/vkotal/FreeBSD /var/vm/port/55665
VBoxManage modifyvm $VM --vrdeport 55665 --vrdemulticon on --vrde on

# start by using rdesktop/console
VBoxManage --nologo startvm $VM --type headless
VBoxManage --nologo controlvm $VM vrde on

# Getting the RDP port
VBoxManage --nologo showvminfo $VM | grep "VRD" | grep 'enabled'

# connect to the console
rdesktop -r clipboard:PRIMARYCLIPBOARD -k en-us vbox-machine:<PORT_NUMBER>

# Setup SSH forwarding
SSHPORT=59948
ln -s /tank/vm/vkotal/FreeBSD /var/vm/port/$SSHPORT
VBoxManage --nologo modifyvm $VM --natpf1 "ssh,tcp,,$SSHPORT,,22"