best way to backup and compress the .vdi file ?

tomaskCZ1 · Post by **tomaskCZ1** » 3. Mar 2008, 20:29

What is the best way to properly backup with compression the .vdi file with the guest OS ?
Is tar.gz applicable or dd command with afterwards gz compression for example ?

stony999 · Post by **stony999** » 6. Mar 2008, 00:46

I usually do

Code: Select all

tar -czf xyz.vdi.tar.gz xyz.vdi

and it compresses a 4GB Windows machine to about 1.3 GB.[/code]

Post by **chungy** » 6. Mar 2008, 01:18

there's no need for tar on single files, just use gzip directly: "gzip file-to-compress"

tomaskCZ1 · Post by **tomaskCZ1** » 6. Mar 2008, 16:00

but "gzip file-to-compress" deletes the original file in the process, so do you use "gzip -c file-to-compress > backup.tgz" or any other method ?

As for the recovery is it 'gunzip -c > /path/file' then ?

Otherwise gzip compress the file nicely, I wonder if that gunzip method with rerouting the output is safe for the health of that file