[Solved] Virtualbox 6.0: vdi file size is huge
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[Solved] Virtualbox 6.0: vdi file size is huge
the problem:
we had a VBox of Windows XP which .ova file size is 26.5 DB,
has storage (Dynamically allocate) type IDE which virtual size is 100 GB, Actual size 73.5 GB (in settings)
when run this VM, check properties of volume C: ( this is only partition ), it is showing
Used Space 11.7 GB and Free Space 88.2
after import appliance file size of its .vdi is 73.2 GB
my question is why its file size of .vdi is 73.2 GB, this is huge.
for comparison only with above mentioned:
another Windows 7 machine has .vdi file size = 21.3 GB
storage type SATA, Dynamically allocated
Virtual Size = 60 GB
Actual Size = 21.40 GB
when run and check through properties, Used Space = 27.1 BG and Free Space 32.7 GB
question for help:
is it my some kind of understanding problem, or i can reduce the .vdi file size? if yes, how it can be done?
regards
we had a VBox of Windows XP which .ova file size is 26.5 DB,
has storage (Dynamically allocate) type IDE which virtual size is 100 GB, Actual size 73.5 GB (in settings)
when run this VM, check properties of volume C: ( this is only partition ), it is showing
Used Space 11.7 GB and Free Space 88.2
after import appliance file size of its .vdi is 73.2 GB
my question is why its file size of .vdi is 73.2 GB, this is huge.
for comparison only with above mentioned:
another Windows 7 machine has .vdi file size = 21.3 GB
storage type SATA, Dynamically allocated
Virtual Size = 60 GB
Actual Size = 21.40 GB
when run and check through properties, Used Space = 27.1 BG and Free Space 32.7 GB
question for help:
is it my some kind of understanding problem, or i can reduce the .vdi file size? if yes, how it can be done?
regards
Last edited by socratis on 31. Oct 2019, 13:25, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Marked as [Solved].
Reason: Marked as [Solved].
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Re: Virtualbox 6.0: vdi file size is huge
The VDI can occupy any amount of host space up to the designated capacity, i.e. 100GB. The exact amount depends on which sectors have been written to.
Perhaps you should give the reasons why you expect otherwise. E.g. explain why a hardware simulation of a disk would care about what a guest OS says is mapped to files (a software concept).
Perhaps you should give the reasons why you expect otherwise. E.g. explain why a hardware simulation of a disk would care about what a guest OS says is mapped to files (a software concept).
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Re: Virtualbox 6.0: vdi file size is huge
User Manual, 8.24 VBoxManage modifymedium, focus on the "--compact" option.Ahmed Haroon wrote:i can reduce the .vdi file size? if yes, how it can be done?
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.
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If you obfuscate any information requested, I will obfuscate my response. These are virtual UUIDs, not real ones.
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Re: Virtualbox 6.0: vdi file size is huge
thanks a lot for a very quick responsempack wrote:The VDI can occupy any amount of host space up to the designated capacity, i.e. 100GB. The exact amount depends on which sectors have been written to.
Perhaps you should give the reasons why you expect otherwise.
i have posted my VM for windows 7 for comparison which shows the .vdi size is near to the size of Used Space showing in properties
.vdi = 21.3 GB
used space = 27.1 GB
it is very confusing and disturbing at least for me.
regards
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Re: Virtualbox 6.0: vdi file size is huge
thanks a bunch, i will check and give feedbacksocratis wrote:User Manual, 8.24 VBoxManage modifymedium, focus on the "--compact" option.Ahmed Haroon wrote:i can reduce the .vdi file size? if yes, how it can be done?
regards
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Re: Virtualbox 6.0: vdi file size is huge
Or, non-masochists can try the compact feature in CloneVDI.socratis wrote:]8.24 VBoxManage modifymedium - focus on the "--compact" option.
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Re: Virtualbox 6.0: vdi file size is huge
Like I said, the size is related to capacity and which sectors have been written to. Not on what the guest OS says is used by files.Ahmed Haroon wrote: i have posted my VM for windows 7 for comparison which shows the .vdi size is near to the size of Used Space showing in properties
Hint: sectors don't blank themselves when you delete a file in the guest.
Make sure the guest isn't writing to disk unnecessarily, e.g. background defrag, background indexing.
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Re: Virtualbox 6.0: vdi file size is huge
Let me give you an example...Ahmed Haroon wrote:it is very confusing and disturbing at least for me.
VDI theoretical size = 50 GB.
Install guest OS with a 10 GB footprint:
- VDI real size: 10 GB.
- From the guest: 10 GB occupied, 40 GB free.
- VDI real size: 30 GB.
- From the guest: 30 GB occupied, 20 GB free.
- VDI real size: 30 GB.
- From the guest: 10 GB occupied, 40 GB free.
Right!!!mpack wrote:Or, non-masochists can try the compact feature in CloneVDI.
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.
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.
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Re: Virtualbox 6.0: vdi file size is huge
hey, thanks for detailed explanation to understand the situation will also check it on another machine, at the moment applying @socratis solution, hope this will help too.
regards
regards
Last edited by socratis on 30. Oct 2019, 14:34, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Removed unnecessary verbatim quote of the whole previous message.
Reason: Removed unnecessary verbatim quote of the whole previous message.
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Re: Virtualbox 6.0: vdi file size is huge
hi all,
my feedback below:
it has been done easily with CloneVDI utility, simple, nice and fast too... the VDI size is about 15 GB out of 73 GB !!
first I have used with generate new UUID and when I rename to original one and used it as is, start machine but it showed my error for UUID which I have to investigate how to solve this problem. anyway, I deleted cloned vdi and create it again with keep old UUID, after create completion, rename it to original and start machine and it smoothly started after complete interface loaded, shutdown and export appliance to .ova file and its size is 6.5 GB which was 26.5 GB
is there anything else to check / verify? how I can handle the situation arise with NEW UUID?
thanks to all caring friends to help me, guide me to solve the problem
with warmest regards
my feedback below:
it has been done easily with CloneVDI utility, simple, nice and fast too... the VDI size is about 15 GB out of 73 GB !!
first I have used with generate new UUID and when I rename to original one and used it as is, start machine but it showed my error for UUID which I have to investigate how to solve this problem. anyway, I deleted cloned vdi and create it again with keep old UUID, after create completion, rename it to original and start machine and it smoothly started after complete interface loaded, shutdown and export appliance to .ova file and its size is 6.5 GB which was 26.5 GB
is there anything else to check / verify? how I can handle the situation arise with NEW UUID?
thanks to all caring friends to help me, guide me to solve the problem
with warmest regards
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Re: Virtualbox 6.0: vdi file size is huge
The recipe of the VM refers to the attached VDI(s) both by UUID and by filename.
- If you want to simply replace the existing VDI in place, then keep the old UUID and the same filename. Then simply replace the old VDI with the clone VDI.
- If you want to replace the VDI, then after you're done with CloneVDI, release the old VDI from the VM, and attach the new-clone to the VM. I would move the clone VDI to the same folder as the recipe, the .vbox file, in the VM's directory.
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.
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.
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- Posts: 12
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Re: Virtualbox 6.0: vdi file size is huge
thanks @socratis for reply
I tried your 2nd option and it was showing it as " inaccessible" ... was not showing sizes in Settings -> Storage -> Virtual Size and Accurate Size then I moved to option to Keep Old UUID in CloneVDI utility.
as per my problem mentioned in OP, i have to use only new Cloned vdi, so it works perfectly
regards
I tried your 2nd option and it was showing it as " inaccessible" ... was not showing sizes in Settings -> Storage -> Virtual Size and Accurate Size then I moved to option to Keep Old UUID in CloneVDI utility.
as per my problem mentioned in OP, i have to use only new Cloned vdi, so it works perfectly
regards
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Re: Virtualbox 6.0: vdi file size is huge
Glad you got it going. Marking as [Solved].
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.
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.