Creating a Vagrant Box

Libraries: If you want this lab, consider one of these libraries.
Cloud

Creating a Vagrant Box

Although a number of base Vagrant boxes are available on the Vagrant box repository, there may be times where we need to create our own virtual machine image that Vagrant can use to provision new environments. And while some of this configuration is provider-specific, there are still a number of tasks that all base boxes require in order to work with Vagrant out of the box.

Get started Contact sales

Lab Info

Level

Beginner

Last updated

Nov 03, 2025

Duration

15m

Challenge

Install Needed Packages
1. Switch to root:
  
  sudo -i
2. Install the linux-headers package for the appropriate release, build-essential and dkms. Note: Please wait several minutes for the dpkg lock to release if you have trouble installing the software.:
  
  apt-get install linux-headers-$(uname -r) build-essential dkms -y
Challenge

Configure Vagrant Users
1. Create a new vagrant user:
  
  useradd vagrant -m -G sudo -s /bin/bash
2. Set the default password for both vagrant and root users to vagrant:
  
  passwd vagrant passwd root
3. Ensure the vagrant user can use passwordless sudo:
  
  visudo vagrant ALL=(ALL:ALL) NOPASSWD: ALL
  
  Save and exit visudo.

Challenge

Add the Vagrant Public Key

Switch to the vagrant user:
```
su - vagrant
```
Create an .ssh directory:
```
mkdir .ssh
```

Pull down the public key and add it to the authorized_keys file:

wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/hashicorp/vagrant/master/keys/vagrant.pub
mv vagrant.pub .ssh/authorized_keys

Set the permissions for the new directory and file:

sudo chmod 700 .ssh
sudo chmod 600 .ssh/authorized_keys

About the author

Pluralsight Skills

Pluralsight Skills gives leaders confidence they have the skills needed to execute technology strategy. Technology teams can benchmark expertise across roles, speed up release cycles and build reliable, secure products. By leveraging our expert content, skill assessments and one-of-a-kind analytics, keep up with the pace of change, put the right people on the right projects and boost productivity. It's the most effective path to developing tech skills at scale.

Real skill practice before real-world application

Hands-on Labs are real environments created by industry experts to help you learn. These environments help you gain knowledge and experience, practice without compromising your system, test without risk, destroy without fear, and let you learn from your mistakes. Hands-on Labs: practice your skills before delivering in the real world.

Learn by doing

Engage hands-on with the tools and technologies you’re learning. You pick the skill, we provide the credentials and environment.

Follow your guide

All labs have detailed instructions and objectives, guiding you through the learning process and ensuring you understand every step.

Turn time into mastery

On average, you retain 75% more of your learning if you take time to practice. Hands-on labs set you up for success to make those skills stick.