Disc access speed: c drive v. host network drive

[LesDes]

Does anyone have an idea how disc access speeds compare?

For software running in the VM, ss there a significant difference between using the "local" c: drive of the VM or the drive of the host machine of the VM, accessed as a UNC (\\server\...)

Thanks.

[Sasquatch]

So you are asking if the use of the virtual drive is as fast as a network share? The virtual drive is about as fast as your actual hard drive. There is some overhead because of the wrapper and other stuff to access the VDI files. But it should be faster than a network link, exept if it's on a gigabit network. Then it might be the same. Only way to verify this, is by running a few benchmark tests.

[LesDes]

So you are asking if the use of the virtual drive is as fast as a network share? .

Yes and no - yes it is a network share but it is not pointing to an other drive on the network, rather to the self same drive as where the virtual drive is located = the hard drive of the server on which VirtualBox is running the VM.

[Sasquatch]

So you are asking if the use of the virtual drive is as fast as a network share? .

Yes and no - yes it is a network share but it is not pointing to an other drive on the network, rather to the self same drive as where the virtual drive is located = the hard drive of the server on which VirtualBox is running the VM.

I am aware of that, but it will still go through your loopback interface, possibly accessing the physical NIC first, and that will be your limit. Like I said, test it with some benchmark program or other program that can show the transfer speed.

[LesDes]

Thank you for the clarification. Understood.