Hello,
please, could someone explain the advantages and disadvantages of the VDI, VHD and VMDK file formats in Virtualbox?
To clarify the question: I know, what VHD and VMDK are; I'm not new in the virtual world
VDI vs VHD vs VMDK
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Re: VDI vs VHD vs VMDK
Try a search (use google, not internal search). The same question was asked quite recently.
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Re: VDI vs VHD vs VMDK
Hello mpack,
thank you for the input.
I only found this one: http://grok.lsu.edu/article.aspx?articleid=14214, which doesn't say more than I know...
This one: http://www.sysprobs.com/convert-vdi-vmd ... orkstation tells how to convert to each other - I know at least 3 methods more...
Let me ask my question in another way. I have to build a mission-critical VM running Windows XP SP3 i386 on VirtualBox on a Windows 7 SP1 x64 driven host. One virtual HDD sized at ~70 GB.
Which virtual hard disk format should I use?
I'm thinking on VHD because it can be handled (mounted, compressed,..) by the host OS without any other tools. It's open source and there are many tools to open it. According to my experience it's very stable format.
On the other hand, VDI is a native VirtualBox's file format; it can be compressed by VBoxManage, but it's a proprietary file format which can't be opened using third-party tools like 7zip or WinImage (I hope. I'm wrong). I don't have any experience if it's stable and on repairing the VDIs...
On the third hand, VMDK is open source, too. And I'm experienced with VMware products and repairing of VMDKs...
You see, I don't know what to do
thank you for the input.
I only found this one: http://grok.lsu.edu/article.aspx?articleid=14214, which doesn't say more than I know...
This one: http://www.sysprobs.com/convert-vdi-vmd ... orkstation tells how to convert to each other - I know at least 3 methods more...
Let me ask my question in another way. I have to build a mission-critical VM running Windows XP SP3 i386 on VirtualBox on a Windows 7 SP1 x64 driven host. One virtual HDD sized at ~70 GB.
Which virtual hard disk format should I use?
I'm thinking on VHD because it can be handled (mounted, compressed,..) by the host OS without any other tools. It's open source and there are many tools to open it. According to my experience it's very stable format.
On the other hand, VDI is a native VirtualBox's file format; it can be compressed by VBoxManage, but it's a proprietary file format which can't be opened using third-party tools like 7zip or WinImage (I hope. I'm wrong). I don't have any experience if it's stable and on repairing the VDIs...
On the third hand, VMDK is open source, too. And I'm experienced with VMware products and repairing of VMDKs...
You see, I don't know what to do
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Re: VDI vs VHD vs VMDK
If you are creating a new machine under VirtualBox, why would you not use .vdi? I cannot think of a single reason to even consider.
Bill
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Re: VDI vs VHD vs VMDK
Hello BillG,BillG wrote:If you are creating a new machine under VirtualBox, why would you not use .vdi? I cannot think of a single reason to even consider.
are there any 3rd-party tools which can handle (open, edit, mount,..) VDI images?
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Re: VDI vs VHD vs VMDK
I meant you should use google to search this site (forums.virtualbox.org), not other sites of unknown provenance. I can tell you that the first link contains no original material, it essentially quotes the relevant sections of the old VBox user manual (the same section in the actual VBox user manual has since been corrected due to some technically misleading statements).saxa wrote:I only found this one: http://grok.lsu.edu/article.aspx?articleid=14214, which doesn't say more than I know...
This one: http://www.sysprobs.com/convert-vdi-vmd ... orkstation tells how to convert to each other - I know at least 3 methods more...
The recent discussion I was referring to is here.
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Re: VDI vs VHD vs VMDK
These tools handle VMDKs, not VDIs.vbox4me2 wrote:Recovering / accessing a (broken) VDI / VMDK
Re: VDI vs VHD vs VMDK
Have you tried?
[This space is intentionally left blank]
If you can read this, you can read the VirtualBox Manual, the Forum FAQ, and the QuickClick FAQ
-=[ Search this forum with Keywords, VirtualBox solutions at you're fingertips]=-
If you can read this, you can read the VirtualBox Manual, the Forum FAQ, and the QuickClick FAQ
-=[ Search this forum with Keywords, VirtualBox solutions at you're fingertips]=-
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- Posts: 6
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Re: VDI vs VHD vs VMDK
Yes, I've tried. I need a tool to mount the VDIs on Windows. Wouldn't say 'no' to such tool for Linux.vbox4me2 wrote:Have you tried?