virtualbox.org

Hi All
Reading the user manual before downloading Virtualbox and I am wondering about the section on USB usage. My plan is to run my VMs off the USB connected external hard drive. The manual says Virtualbox disconnects the USB device from the host when activated in the VM.

I believe what it is saying is that the USB device is disconnected when the VM guest connects to the device. As long as I don't give it access to the ext. HDD, everything should be ok, right? Just one of those questions that pops up while reading a document.

The manual I am referring to was found on the Documentations page, User manual, under 1. First Steps \ Features Overview. Great Hardware Support. The link in the paragraph USB Device Support for USB settings has the statement that it will disconnect the host from the device.

Thank you all for the advise.

David

If you connect a USB device to the VM then that device will be disconnected from the host. If you don't then it won't.

I assume you know that performance will be terrible when running a VM off a USB drive.

If I understand what you are really doing here the host still has control of the USB external drive.
You are just using it to house your virtual machines and not as a device to the guest.
Yes it will work, and yes unless it is esata it will be slow but it will work. Just do not map it to the guest or weird things will happen.