Base boxes can now be packaged with `vagrant package` by specifying the `--base` parameter.

bin/vagrant-package

@@ -21,9 +21,10 @@ Package the current vagrant environment into a box.
 
 EOS
 
+  opt :base, "name of the VM to create a base package", :type => :string
   opt :include, "files to include in the package", :type => :strings
 
   run do |command|
-    Vagrant::Commands.execute(:package, command.argv[0], command.opts[:include])
+    Vagrant::Commands.execute(:package, command.argv[0], command.opts)
   end
 end

lib/vagrant/commands.rb

@@ -96,11 +96,24 @@ module Vagrant
     # Export and package the current vm
     #
     # This command requires that an instance be powered off
-    def package(out_path=nil, include_files=[])
-      env.require_persisted_vm
-      error_and_exit(:vm_power_off_to_package) unless env.vm.powered_off?
+    def package(out_path=nil, opts={})
+      opts[:include] ||= []
 
-      env.vm.package(out_path, include_files)
+      if !opts[:base]
+        # Packaging a pre-existing environment
+        env.require_persisted_vm
+      else
+        # Packaging a base box; that is a VM not tied to a specific
+        # vagrant environment
+        vm = VM.find(opts[:base])
+        vm.env = env if vm
+        env.vm = vm
+
+        error_and_exit(:vm_base_not_found, :name => opts[:base]) unless vm
+      end
+
+      error_and_exit(:vm_power_off_to_package) unless env.vm.powered_off?
+      env.vm.package(out_path, opts[:include])
     end
 
     # Manages the `vagrant box` command, allowing the user to add

lib/vagrant/environment.rb

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ module Vagrant
     attr_reader :root_path
     attr_reader :config
     attr_reader :box
-    attr_reader :vm
+    attr_accessor :vm
     attr_reader :ssh
     attr_reader :active_list
     attr_reader :commands

templates/errors.yml

@@ -111,6 +111,8 @@
   only supports VirtualBox 3.1.x. Please install the proper version to continue.
 :vm_failed_to_boot: |-
   Failed to connect to VM! Failed to boot?
+:vm_base_not_found: |-
+  The specified base VM "<%= name %>" was not found.
 :vm_not_running: |-
   VM is not running! Nothing to shut down!
 :vm_not_running_for_suspend: |-

test/vagrant/commands_test.rb

@@ -148,11 +148,41 @@ class CommandsTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
         @persisted_vm.stubs(:powered_off?).returns(true)
       end
 
+      context "with no base specified" do
         should "require a persisted vm" do
           @env.expects(:require_persisted_vm).once
           @commands.package
         end
+      end
 
+      context "with base specified" do
+        setup do
+          @vm = mock("vm")
+
+          Vagrant::VM.stubs(:find).with(@name).returns(@vm)
+          @vm.stubs(:env=).with(@env)
+          @env.stubs(:vm=)
+
+          @name = :bar
+        end
+
+        should "find the given base and set it on the env" do
+          Vagrant::VM.expects(:find).with(@name).returns(@vm)
+          @vm.expects(:env=).with(@env)
+          @env.expects(:vm=).with(@vm)
+
+          @commands.package("foo", { :base => @name })
+        end
+
+        should "error if the VM is not found" do
+          Vagrant::VM.expects(:find).with(@name).returns(nil)
+          @commands.expects(:error_and_exit).with(:vm_base_not_found, :name => @name).once
+
+          @commands.package("foo", { :base => @name })
+        end
+      end
+
+      context "shared (with and without base specified)" do
         should "error and exit if the VM is not powered off" do
           @persisted_vm.stubs(:powered_off?).returns(false)
           @commands.expects(:error_and_exit).with(:vm_power_off_to_package).once
@@ -169,7 +199,9 @@ class CommandsTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
           out_path = mock("out_path")
           include_files = mock("include_files")
           @persisted_vm.expects(:package).with(out_path, include_files).once
-        @commands.package(out_path, include_files)
+          @commands.package(out_path, {
+            :include => include_files
+          })
         end
 
         should "default to an empty array when not include_files are specified" do
@@ -178,6 +210,7 @@ class CommandsTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
           @commands.package(out_path)
         end
       end
+    end
 
     context "box" do
       setup do