How to import VE 12.1.2 into Virtualbox 5.1

Just wanted to share the steps for running BIG-IP VE in VirtualBox. This was tested on 12.1.2 running inside of Virtualbox 5.1

Prerequisites

• Virtualbox instance (5.1.12)
• 12.1.2 VE image (BIGIP-12.1.2.0.0.249.ALL-scsi.ova)

Procedure 

1. Create a "working folder" for your Virtualbox OVA
2. mkdir ~/virtualbox-ve
3. Copy your OVA to this folder
4. Extract the files from the OVA
5. tar xvf BIGIP-12.1.2.0.0.249.ALL-scsi.ova
6. Make a copy of the OVF in case you need to revert
7. cp BIGIP-12.1.2.0.0.249-scsi.ovf BIGIP-12.1.2.0.0.249-scsi.ovf.original
8. Delete the manifest file
9. rm BIGIP-12.1.2.0.0.249-scsi.mf
10. Find the disk2 definition in the OVF file using your favorite CLI editor (vi).

<item>
	<rasd:AddressOnParent>0</rasd:AddressOnParent>
	<rasd:ElementName>disk2</rasd:ElementName>
	<rasd:HostResource>ovf:/disk/vmdisk2</rasd:HostResource>
	<rasd:InstanceID>6</rasd:InstanceID>
	<rasd:Parent>3</rasd:Parent>
	<rasd:ResourceType>17</rasd:ResourceType>
</item>

1. Change the disk2 AddressOnParent from 0 to 1
2. Change the disk2 Parent from 3 to 4
3. Remove the secondary SCSI controller definition by removing this section from the OVF:

<item>
     <rasd:Address>1</rasd:Address>
     <rasd:Description>SCSI Controller</rasd:Description>
     <rasd:ElementName>scsiController1</rasd:ElementName>
     <rasd:InstanceID>3</rasd:InstanceID>
     <rasd:ResourceSubType>lsilogic</rasd:ResourceSubType>
     <rasd:ResourceType>6</rasd:ResourceType>
</item>

1. Save the OVF file in the editor and quit.
2. Import the image via the OVF file (not the OVA!) You can try repackaging this into an OVA but YMMV.
3. Change the network adapter types to virtio-net.
4. Start up the imported VM.