I don't encounter the issue anymore. And I didn't even specify '-connect qemu:///system' to virt-install.
To triple check, I even started an old vm with vbox before attempting a virt-install. Still no way to reproduce anymore.
Given that if the issue ever comes back, using either -connect qemu:///system, LIBVIRT_DEFAULT_URI or uri_default should work around it, I think it's safe to close this bug on the premise that the outdated vbox-4.1 was the culprit.
So, neither LIBVIRT_DEFAULT_URI or uri_default is set in my config.
But in order to confirm the bug I installed vbox 4.2 (instead of 4.1 when I first reported the bug) from deb http:// download. virtualbox. org/virtualbox/ debian precise non-free contrib
I don't encounter the issue anymore. And I didn't even specify '-connect qemu:///system' to virt-install.
To triple check, I even started an old vm with vbox before attempting a virt-install. Still no way to reproduce anymore.
Given that if the issue ever comes back, using either -connect qemu:///system, LIBVIRT_DEFAULT_URI or uri_default should work around it, I think it's safe to close this bug on the premise that the outdated vbox-4.1 was the culprit.
Thanks for the help.