SAV files and moving a VM

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ccw
Posts: 2
Joined: 8. Feb 2018, 18:01

SAV files and moving a VM

Post by ccw »

(VBox 5.1.14) I am looking to use vboxmanage modifymedium to move a VM to another drive location. The VM has a couple of snapshots and 3 SAV files. The VM is in the "Saved" state because there are some app settings (not vbox related) that are reset when the VM is shut down.

How does modifymedium... --move affect the sav files? Does it matter?

Aside from medium registration and attachment considerations, would cloning accomplish the same thing as --move ?

Thank you,
ccw
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39134
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: SAV files and moving a VM

Post by mpack »

A "sav" file is a memory dump, not a disk image, so modifymedium doesn't affect it in the slightest.

That said, the thought occurs: I'm not aware of a useful role for "modifymedium" in moving a VM. The recommended method of moving a VM can be found here: FAQ: How to move a VM.
socratis
Site Moderator
Posts: 27329
Joined: 22. Oct 2010, 11:03
Primary OS: Mac OS X other
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Win(*>98), Linux*, OSX>10.5
Location: Greece

Re: SAV files and moving a VM

Post by socratis »

mpack wrote:I'm not aware of a useful role for "modifymedium" in moving a VM.
Not a VM, but a medium, be it in a VM or not:
8.23. VBoxManage modifymedium wrote:The "--move <path>" option can be used to relocate a medium to a different location <path> on the host file system. The path can be either relative to the current directory or absolute.
It does absolutely bupkis for a VM, it only manages to fragment it, if you ask me...
Do NOT send me Personal Messages (PMs) for troubleshooting, they are simply deleted.
Do NOT reply with the "QUOTE" button, please use the "POST REPLY", at the bottom of the form.
If you obfuscate any information requested, I will obfuscate my response. These are virtual UUIDs, not real ones.
ccw
Posts: 2
Joined: 8. Feb 2018, 18:01

Re: SAV files and moving a VM

Post by ccw »

Thanks, guys!! I used the simple procedure in the link given and it worked fine.
1. Windows Copy the whole VM folder. So will have duplicate UUIDs.
2. Remove the old VM using the VBox Manager GUI.
3. Remove (whether to delete is optional) the old virtual disk files using the Virtual Media Manager GUI.
4. Use Machine>>Add in the VBox Manager GUI to register the new (copied in #1 above) VM.

Simple.
~ccw
btw, the SAV files are copied with the other folder contents, and starting the new copy of the VM appears to resume the last saved state.
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