Install VM guest on external hard disk.

Discussions related to using VirtualBox on Windows hosts.
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BobbyLin
Posts: 6
Joined: 15. Nov 2021, 05:25

Install VM guest on external hard disk.

Post by BobbyLin »

Hi all,
I using NB with win10 OS,
I want create virtualbox vm machine on external hard disk.
But when I create finish, then I can't running it.

Who can help me to fix it ?

Guest OS : Ubuntu
External hard disk: 4TB

Thanks all.
scottgus1
Site Moderator
Posts: 20965
Joined: 30. Dec 2009, 20:14
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Windows, Linux

Re: Install VM guest on external hard disk.

Post by scottgus1 »

BobbyLin wrote:then I can't running it.
I'll bet the error message you received was a tad more detailed. :lol: Could you please share what it was?
BobbyLin
Posts: 6
Joined: 15. Nov 2021, 05:25

Re: Install VM guest on external hard disk.

Post by BobbyLin »

Oh ~ Sorry , the attachment is what problem it.
Attachments
0.jpg
0.jpg (68.45 KiB) Viewed 11861 times
scottgus1
Site Moderator
Posts: 20965
Joined: 30. Dec 2009, 20:14
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Windows, Linux

Re: Install VM guest on external hard disk.

Post by scottgus1 »

Having the VM stored on an external disk is no problem, as long as you don't unplug the external disk while the VM is running.

The messages in the screenshot are from Ubuntu, displayed in a perfectly-running Virtualbox VM. Thus Virtualbox is working and the Ubuntu OS is having some issues.

You can solve these issues by troubleshooting Ubuntu directly. However, we can offer a couple suggestions.

You can ignore the "Failed to send host log message" error: that's an Ubuntu driver glitch trying to drive the VMSVGA industry-standard virtual video card for the VM. The VM will continue to boot if there are no other problems.

The "recovering journal" and "clearing" messages appear to be related to a disk check. It could be normal occasional Ubuntu behavior, or after a hard crash of the Ubuntu OS, or maybe from moving/copying the VM's disk file but the file did not move/copy completely. Just guesses.

Does the VM continue to boot up to its desktop?
BobbyLin
Posts: 6
Joined: 15. Nov 2021, 05:25

Re: Install VM guest on external hard disk.

Post by BobbyLin »

I never remove the external disk , when I running the VM.

No , not boot up to its desktop~~

Always at splash screen ....
scottgus1
Site Moderator
Posts: 20965
Joined: 30. Dec 2009, 20:14
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VBox Version: PUEL
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Re: Install VM guest on external hard disk.

Post by scottgus1 »

Start the VM from full power off, not save-state. Run until you see the problem happen, then shut down the VM from within the VM OS if possible. If not possible, close the Virtualbox window for the VM with the Power Off option set.

Please right-click the VM in the main Virtualbox window's VM list, choose Show Log. Save the far left tab's log, zip the log file, and post the zip file, using the forum's Upload Attachment tab.
BobbyLin
Posts: 6
Joined: 15. Nov 2021, 05:25

Re: Install VM guest on external hard disk.

Post by BobbyLin »

This is the log , for the VM
Attachments
Ubuntu-18.04-2021-11-28-23-33-52.rar
(29.09 KiB) Downloaded 4 times
scottgus1
Site Moderator
Posts: 20965
Joined: 30. Dec 2009, 20:14
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Windows, Linux

Re: Install VM guest on external hard disk.

Post by scottgus1 »

This log was from a save-stated VM, not one that was fully shut down.

Please note:
scottgus1 wrote:Start the VM from full power off, not save-state.
And try again.
BobbyLin
Posts: 6
Joined: 15. Nov 2021, 05:25

Re: Install VM guest on external hard disk.

Post by BobbyLin »

Sorry, I try again.
I start the VM from full power off,
and can't shut down the VM from the VM OS,
so I click the close button, choose the power off.
Attachments
Ubuntu-18.04-2021-11-29-10-44-27.rar
(29.73 KiB) Downloaded 5 times
scottgus1
Site Moderator
Posts: 20965
Joined: 30. Dec 2009, 20:14
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Windows, Linux

Re: Install VM guest on external hard disk.

Post by scottgus1 »

Thanks for the full log. The VM 'hardware' runs fine with no errors as far as I can see. The Guest Additions starts up, too, indicating that the core of the Ubuntu OS is running successfully. This appears to be a problem inside the Ubuntu OS, not with Virtualbox.

Troubleshoot as if the Ubuntu OS were the only OS on a physical PC. Use Ubuntu's help channels and forums to find out how to troubleshoot this. To me it looks like the Ubuntu desktop cannot start. One reason this happens is if the Ubuntu disk has filled up completely.
BobbyLin
Posts: 6
Joined: 15. Nov 2021, 05:25

Re: Install VM guest on external hard disk.

Post by BobbyLin »

Thanks.
I find when I install VM not on external hard disk, it's all find.
When I install on external hard disk, I need into advanced option & modify /etc/gdm3/custom.conf
to open WaylandEnable=false.

But I find when I using external hard disk , that I can't using VBoxGuestAdditions,
can't mount on IDE.
scottgus1
Site Moderator
Posts: 20965
Joined: 30. Dec 2009, 20:14
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Windows, Linux

Re: Install VM guest on external hard disk.

Post by scottgus1 »

As long as the host has full access to a physical disk, internal or external, the disk used should never influence the VM OS's operation, unless the disk is so glacially slow that the OS starts timing out. Guest Additions should install regardless of VM location.

What kind of internal and external drives are you using? Is the external drive connected through USB 2 or 3, etc?

If the full log you posted was from the external disk VM, can you move that VM to the internal drive and have it run correctly?

Or can you make a new smaller VM that always works on internal and always fails on external? If so, please provide a VM log for the failing run and the succeeding run, from full shutdown each time. Also, zip and post each VM's .vbox file.
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