To build an Allura vagrant box:
$ mkdir ~/vagrant_allura && cd ~/vagrant_allura
# Get the base box, see http://www.vagrantbox.es/
# 12.04 is LTS, so will be good to stick with for some time
$ vagrant box add ubuntu-1204-server-amd64 http://cloud-images.ubuntu.com/precise/current/precise-server-cloudimg-vagrant-amd64-disk1.box
$ vagrant init ubuntu-1204-server-amd64
# Get a copy of the provisioning scripts (note, Vagrantfile may change from release to release and may need manual updating)
$ cp -R /var/local/allura/vagrant/* .
# At this point you can make whatever changes you want to the provisioning
# scripts. Currently, the .pp puppet file runs first and sets some stuff up
# and then allura_setup.sh runs and does more.
# Provision the box (this will take a while)
$ vagrant up
# If you get an error, you can run `vagrant ssh` to get in and debug, and then `vagrant destroy` to start over
# Package the Allura box
$ vagrant package --vagrantfile Vagrantfile.pkg
# Test your new box
$ mkdir ~/vagrant_allura_test && cd ~/vagrant_allura_test
$ vagrant box add allura ~/vagrant_allura/package.box
$ vagrant init allura
$ vagrant up
$ vagrant ssh
# Do whatever testing you want...
# If everything checks out, you can rename your package.box and upload it