virtualbox.org

I know that what I'm trying to do is very common, so I'm sure instructions for accomplishing this is already somewhere on this forum, but I'm not having much luck finding them.

I'd like to create a new virtual machine, install Windows XP, and then save a snapshot immediately after the installation is done. Then I'll install all of the latest Windows updates (excluding Internet Explorer) and other things I want and take a second snapshot. That will be the snapshot I use for Internet Explorer 6. I then want to make two clones of that virtual machine and install Internet Explorer 7 on one clone and Internet Explorer 8 on the other. I suppose I would also want to take snapshots of both clones too so that if I change Internet Explorer's settings in either one, I can always revert back to the way it was. I'm not sure exactly how that will work. The other thing I'm wondering about is what will happen when I want to update my second snapshot (described near the beginning of this paragraph) by installing the latest Windows updates (again, excluding Internet Explorer) once they're released next month. How will that affect my other snapshots since they are children of this snapshot?

Does my thought process make sense or am I going about this the wrong way? Hopefully what I'm trying to do is clear and somebody can explain the correct way to go about doing this. Thanks very much!

Hi nrogers64,

you idea is really common for test environments:

* Create a golden image, including all software which is basically used in the test environment.
* take a snapshot and clone that snapshot 1-n times.
* each clone could now be updated to your test level.
for example: install some more software or patches

If you find out, that you have to update you golden image, you can do that. All children will keep
the older version.
If you will update your children and keep them in sync with your golden image, you have to create a
new snapschot of the golden image, create a clone and update that clone with all additional software,
which is not included in the golden image.
It is very helpful, to have a written and pictured documentation on that process. A "definitive software
library" with all installation material is also recommended.

Regarding your update question:
Any update to a snapshot is only stored in that snapshot. The snapshot technology will handle all differences
between the snapshots. The biggest problem is to understand the update process in your mind. Documentation
and a good defined process is the key.

regards
Chris

For testing purposes there is much much more simple way... You can install Utilu package that installs all (from version 1.0 to 8.0) Internet Explorer versions on single! Windows computer. Download Utilu IE package. In case you need the same for Mozilla Firefox there is also Utilu Mozilla Firefox package. Both packages install on separate directories and does NOT corrupt current browsers installed on computer.