[Solved] Where do guest files get stored

[cat2005]

For a linux host system:

When you install virtualbox, then create your "virtual os" (images), where do you place the "virtual os"? Does it get placed somewhere automatically? Or, can you select where to put it, for example in your home directory or on an external usb harddrive?

[Perryg]

Your guests and their settings folder should be located at /home/.virtualbox/ I would not suggest trying to use the USB drive or any thumb drive to store the guest in. Notice the (.) before the name? Makes it hidden so if you use a terminal you would need to use ls -al to see it and if you use the file manager you would need to set it to show hidden files.

Edit: By the way if you are using the OSE version of VBox you do not have USB support. That's included in the PUEL version. If you need to have USB support you would need to uninstall the OSE version and install the PUEL version from http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads
If you have already created a guest it will still be there and will be detected even though you uninstall the OSE version as long as you do not do a purge.

[cat2005]

Perryg,

Actually, I am not using the OSE but I was forced to select something while creating my profile. I will be using the non-OSE version which should come with usb support, if I recall correctly.

Bearing that in mind, do you still suggest I keep the virtual images in "home"? I could still burn the image to cd / dvd and port it, right?

[Perryg]

You can store the VDI where ever you want (as long as there is enough space) and yes you can burn it to cd and copy it to another system. The preferences is where you set this up. I have all of my .virtualbox folder and content on a second terabyte drive. Didn't want to slow or bloat the main drive down. But I would stay clear of USB devices to store the images on. IMHO they are slow and not reliable, plus VB can not use a USB device to boot to. (look at the boot order in the guest settings).

[cat2005]

Thank you!

[cat2005]

Your guests and their settings folder should be located at /home/.virtualbox/

I just installed guest XP but can not find

/home/.virtualbox

I can find my /home of course, but can not find anything related to virtualbox within it.

[baf]

In terminal run:

VBoxManage list hdds

Then you will see the exact path and name.

[Perryg]

Also to add to what baf is showing you,
the . in the name makes it a hidden file/folder. If you are using a terminal to see these you need to use ls -a to see them, or if you are using a file manager you would need to set the view to show hidden files.

[cat2005]

Good Evening,

I "un-hid" my hidden files and found all the virtualbox stuff.

If I want to burn something to DVD as backup, then what exactly would I burn? By "backup" this is what I mean:

Later I might wipe my physical harddrive and reinstall both my host linux OS and virtualbox program. However, I do not want to go through the time and work of reinstalling the guest OS and its settings.

Inside, I found several items:

a) Folder named "HardDisks" (the vdi files are here - I know I at least need these)
b) Folder named "Machines" (only a few small files here, including snapshots)
c) File named "compreg.dat"
d) File named "VirtualBox.xml"
e) File named "xpti.dat"

Do I just burn item "a" or do I need to burn more than item "a"?

Thanks.

[Perryg]

All you actually need is the VDI file, but if you want to put it back like it was if something bad happens you would need them all.
You can backup the VDI and keep the settings on paper if space is an issue. Just remember that snapshots are really hard to put back and only use them when you must if you are not going to backup the entire folder.

[cat2005]

All you actually need is the VDI file, but if you want to put it back like it was if something bad happens you would need them all.
You can backup the VDI and keep the settings on paper if space is an issue. Just remember that snapshots are really hard to put back and only use them when you must if you are not going to backup the entire folder.

Perryg,

I should clarify.

When I said "settings" what I really meant was all the guest OS updates, patches, attached perpherirals, etc. "Settings", meaning window colors, mouse behavior, etc...those do not really concern me. What does concern me is saving the (guest) OS with all of its current updates, patches, attached perpherirals, etc.

Then, I could copy that guest OS on DVD and either: a) port it to another VM or b) keep it as a backup if I need to do a clean install of the host OS, thus have to do a clean install of virtualbox and everything else.

Would you still suggest the VDI alone, or all of them? Or would it not matter?

[Perryg]

You should backup all of them for an easier restore, but if you can only backup one thing you must backup the VDI because that is where all of the OS and everything is stored. The VDI is exactly like a hard drive. The other files are the control files that VBox uses to put this all together for you. (Snapshots are a different issue) These are more like a backup in the way they work. One way and then it is gone. Be careful using snapshots.