using a vdi made for VirtualBox 2.2.0 on older versions

[jeando]

Hello,

I'm currently working at Mandriva and we are using VirtualBox OSE for a project.

I have created a virtual machine using VirtualBox 2.2.0 (the one providen with Mandriva 2009.1) and my superiors would have like it to run on older Mandriva releases (mainly 2008.0). However on this older mandriva version, there's only VirtualBox 2.1.4 (it can be upgraded to 2.2.2 using VirtualBox download page, but we do not want to oblige our customers to do so).

So, how far is it possible to make a vdi made for VB 2.2.0 to run on VB 2.1.4 ?

Thanks.

[Sasquatch]

Should be possible. There aren't any settings different on 2.2 compared to 2.1, other than the name for using the Host Interface itself, and the addition of Host-Only networking. That should not prevent the OS to run on an older version. Just make sure that you create the same settings. Take care of the NIC too, if the MAC address is different, Windows Guests might cause a reactivation, and Linux Guests will create a new NIC name (eth0 becomes eth1).

[jeando]

It is working well on all VirtualBox 2.2.0. It is also working well on 2.2.2 (with adding an option to VBoxManage). However on the 2.1.4, there's an error message saying we have to upgrade VirtualBox.

Any options (mac address, nic... are well set). I'll checkout for the guest additions as soon as possible.

Thanks

[Sasquatch]

Hmm, never heard about that before. There were users who downgraded from 2.2.0 to 2.1.4 because of stability issues and they had no issues with that. Are you sure the VM Settings file isn't the same as the 2.2 install? They differ in version, so you can't use that. You really need to create a new VM with the existing VDI.

[jeando]

Yes the setting files aren't the same since I create them using a script and commands to VBoxManage.

Anyway I still haven't tested it again since I cannot access this computer for the moment.

Thanks, I'll tell more as soon as possible.