How to backup Virtual Machine??

[Mel_3]

Looks like I have DOS 6.2 installed and working running on VirtualBox on a Windows XP system...
...and the old DOS application seems to be working.

Once I was able to get DOS 6.2 installed and working I was able to migrage the old custom application from an old 486 PC that was about to die...

So now we are up and working on somewhat modern hardware... on a Windows XP platform.

My Question...

1 - How can I back up the Virtual Machine along with it's Virtual hard disk and all the applications and data on the VM?
- I'd like to do the backup from Windows since DOS doesn't normally work with CD r/w drives...
- and I would like to just back up the entire virtual machine such that it could simply copied to a new system with Windows and Virtual Box...
- and just work... w/o having to go in and reinstall everything again.

2 - Is there a folder (or folders) that I can just copy to a CD using Windows... then copy it to a new machine later... in the event of system failur???

Thanks for any help on backing up virtual machines.

[vbox4me2]

VM's are simple flat files, ie. Machinename.VDI, you can copy this anywhere. Its best to re-create the VM(settings) elsewhere and then attach the VDI to it when moving the VM.

[Mel_3]

So there is onl one file to copy/move? myVirtualMachine.vdi?

And to move I first setup VirtualBox on my new machine with the same settings as before...

And then copy myVirtualMachine.vdi to the folder that it was originally located in... and then tell VirtualBox to "attach" it

Right?

Thanks for the help.

[vbox4me2]

Yep, thats all.

[abcuser]

Hi,
I like to use cloning. Cloning VDI files makes you possible to use both vdi (original and clone) files at the same time (in two virtual guests).

1. shut-down guest
2. from host execute command (I assume you have Windows XP host and default VirtualBox install folders)

"C:\Program Files\Sun\xVM VirtualBox\VBoxManage" clonehd "C:\Documents and Settings\[userid]\.VirtualBox\HardDisks\orignial_file.vdi" "C:\Documents and Settings\[userid]\.VirtualBox\HardDisks\cloned_file.vdi"

Note: replace [userid] with your userid, original.vdi with your vdi file and cloned_file.vdi with new name you like.

Regards

[Mel_3]

abcuser,

You said... " Cloning VDI files makes you possible to use both vdi (original and clone) files at the same time (in two virtual guests)."

Why would want to use both vdi (original and clone" files at the same time (in two virtual guest) ??

thanks for the help.

[pistolpete_1980]

Ok This sounds great and All, but what if the machine you want to back up has snap shots? how to you reintegrate them into your virtual machine when you recreate it?

[vbox4me2]

By making sure you backup all of it, the master xml, the machine xml and all VDI related files.