[windows] How to add a downloaded .box file to Vagrant?

How do I add a downloaded .box file to Vagrant's list of available boxes? The .box file is located on an external drive.

I tried running vagrant box add my-box d:/path/to/box, but Vagrant interprets the path as a URL.

This question is related to windows vagrant

The answer is


Just to add description for another one case. I've got to install similar Vagrant Ubuntu 18.04 based configurations to multiple Ubuntu machines. Downloaded bionic64 box to one using vagrant up with Vagrantfile where this box was specified, then copied folder .vagrant.d/boxes/ubuntu-VAGRANTSLASH-bionic64 to others.


Try to change directory to where the .box is saved

Run vagrant box add my-box downloaded.box, this may work as it avoids absolute path (on Windows?).


Alternatively to add downloaded box, a json file with metadata can be created. This way some additional details can be applied. For example to import box and specifying its version create file:

{
  "name": "laravel/homestead",
  "versions": [
    {
      "version": "7.0.0",
      "providers": [
        {
          "name": "virtualbox",
          "url": "file:///path/to/box/virtualbox.box"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Then run vagrant box add command with parameter:

vagrant box add laravel/homestead /path/to/metadata.json

You can point to the folder where vagrant and copy the box file to same location. Then after you may run as follows

vagrant box add my-box name-of-the-box.box
vagrant init my-box
vagrant up

Just to check status

vagrant status

Solution for Windows:

  • Open the cmd or powershell as admin
  • CD into the folder containing the .box file
  • vagrant box add --name name_of_my_box 'name_of_my_box.box'
  • vagrant box list should show the new box in the list

Solution for MAC:

  • Open terminal
  • CD into the folder containing the .box file
  • vagrant box add --name name_of_my_box "./name_of_my_box.box"
  • vagrant box list should show the new box in the list

First rename the Vagrantfile then

vagrant box add new-box name-of-the-box.box
vagrant init new-box
vagrant up

Just to check status

vagrant status

that's all


F:\PuppetLab\src\boxes>vagrant box add precise32 file:///F:/PuppetLab/src/boxes/precise32.box
==> box: Adding box 'precise32' (v0) for provider:
    box: Downloading: file:///F:/PuppetLab/src/boxes/precise32.box
    box: Progress: 100% (Rate: 1200k/s, Estimated time remaining: --:--:--)
==> box: Successfully added box 'precise32' (v0) for 'virtualbox'!