NOTES HOW TO START VBOX INSTANCE with DESKTOP SHORTCUT

NOTES.txt

How to create a desktop shortcut to start vbox
# Make sure you have this in your $profile

$env:PATH += ";C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox"

# get the name of your instance by running 

`vboxmanage list vms`

# Put the below script in a folder in your documents (call it "start-linux-server.ps1" 

# make sure to change the name of the vmName to your instance name

```bash

$vmName = "NAME_OF_YOUR_INSTANCE"
Write-Host "Starting $vmName..." -ForegroundColor Cyan
& "C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\VBoxManage.exe" startvm $vmName --type headless

# 2. Wait for SSH to become available
while (-not (Test-NetConnection -ComputerName "192.168.56.101" -Port 22 -InformationLevel Quiet)) {
    Start-Sleep -Seconds 2
}

# 3. Connect via SSH
# Note: This assumes you have port forwarding set up (Host 2222 -> Guest 22)
Write-Host "SSH is ready! Connecting..." -ForegroundColor Green

#make sure the command below has the correct host alias for your identity file

ssh student-linux
Write-Host "`nScript finished. Press any key to close this window..." -ForegroundColor Gray
$null = $Host.UI.RawUI.ReadKey("NoEcho,IncludeKeyUp")

```

# right click the desktop and create new desktop shortcut

# paste the following into the path 

powershell.exe -NoExit -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "C:\Users\PATH\TO\SCRIPT\start-linux.ps1"