Description: The ‘list’ command in VBoxManage provides a list of virtual machines (VMs) and their states. VBoxManage is a command-line tool that is part of Oracle VM VirtualBox, a virtualization software that allows multiple operating systems to run on a single physical hardware. This command is fundamental for system administrators and developers, as it offers a clear and concise view of all available virtual machines, including information about their current state, such as whether they are running, stopped, or in an error state. Additionally, it allows for efficient management and monitoring of VMs, facilitating the administration of virtualized environments. The command’s output includes details such as the virtual machine name, its unique identifier, and its state, enabling users to make informed decisions about managing their virtual resources. In summary, ‘VBoxManage list’ is an essential tool for managing virtual machines in virtualization environments, providing an accessible and powerful interface for interacting with virtualization software.
History: VBoxManage is part of Oracle VM VirtualBox, which was initially released in 2007 by Innotek GmbH. In 2008, Sun Microsystems acquired Innotek, and subsequently, Oracle Corporation acquired Sun in 2010. Since then, VirtualBox has significantly evolved, incorporating new features and improvements in virtual machine management, including command-line functionality that allows users to interact with the software in a more flexible and automated manner.
Uses: The ‘list’ command is primarily used to obtain a quick summary of the status of all virtual machines in a virtualization environment. It is useful for system administrators who need to monitor multiple VMs, as well as for developers working in testing and development environments. It can also be used in automation scripts to manage the lifecycle of virtual machines.
Examples: An example of using the command would be to run ‘VBoxManage list vms’ in the terminal, which would return a list of all registered virtual machines along with their identifiers. Another example would be ‘VBoxManage list runningvms’, which would show only the virtual machines that are currently running.
