Failed to Start VM in Headless Mode on Windows 10 for Ansible & Molecule

Failed to Start VM in Headless Mode on Windows 10: Ansible & Molecule Incompatibility

In this article, we will discuss the issue of starting a virtual machine (VM) in headless mode on Windows 10, specifically when using Ansible and Molecule. We will cover the key concepts related to this topic and provide a detailed context to help you understand and reproduce the error.

Background

Headless mode is a feature that allows a VM to run without displaying a graphical user interface (GUI). This mode is particularly useful when running automated tests or deployments, as it allows for faster and more efficient execution. However, some users have reported issues when trying to start a VM in headless mode on Windows 10, specifically when using Ansible and Molecule.

Reproducing the Error

To reproduce the error, you can run the following command:

This command will start the VM in headless mode. However, you may encounter the following error:

This error occurs because the virtualization technology required to run VMs in headless mode is not enabled on your system.

Enabling Virtualization Technology

To enable virtualization technology on your Windows 10 system, you need to follow these steps:

1. Restart your computer and press the F2 key during startup to enter the BIOS setup.
2. Navigate to the Processor submenu and enable Intel VT-x or AMD-V, depending on your processor type.
3. Save the changes and exit the BIOS setup.
4. Restart your computer.

After enabling virtualization technology, you should be able to start the VM in headless mode without encountering the error.

Using Ansible and Molecule

Ansible and Molecule are popular tools for automating the deployment and testing of applications. However, some users have reported issues when trying to use these tools to start a VM in headless mode on Windows 10.

To use Ansible and Molecule to start a VM in headless mode on Windows 10, you need to follow these steps:

1. Install VirtualBox and Vagrant on your system.
2. Create a new Ansible playbook and define the VM configuration in the inventory file.
3. Add the following lines to your playbook to start the VM in headless mode:
   - name: Start VM in headless mode hosts: all tasks: - name: Start VM in headless mode local_action: module: community.general.vagrant name: <VM name> state: present args: "-no-gui"

   This playbook will start the VM in headless mode using Vagrant.

4. Run the playbook using the following command:
   ansible-playbook playbook.yml

   This command will start the VM in headless mode using Ansible and Vagrant.

• Headless mode is a feature that allows a VM to run without displaying a GUI.
• The error "VT-x is not available (VERR\_VMX\_NO\_VMX)" occurs when virtualization technology is not enabled on your system.
• To enable virtualization technology on Windows 10, you need to enable Intel VT-x or AMD-V in the BIOS setup.
• To use Ansible and Molecule to start a VM in headless mode on Windows 10, you need to install VirtualBox and Vagrant, define the VM configuration in the inventory file, and add the "-no-gui" argument to the playbook.

References

• Oracle VirtualBox User Manual: https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch09.html#idp585736240
• Ansible Documentation: https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/scenario_guides/guide_vagrant.html
• Molecule Documentation: https://molecule.readthedocs.io/en/stable/