Want to duplicate the VM

[HuaMin]

Hi,
I want to duplicate one existing VM running Win 08 server. I then have copied its vdi file from WIN08SERVER.vdi to WIN08SERVER_b.vdi. But when I created one new VM using this WIN08SERVER_b.vdi, I got this error. Any advice?
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/40211031/t258.png

[Perryg]

I would use clone if I were doing this. (full not linked)

[HuaMin]

How to clone the VM together with its .vdi file? Thanks.

[Perryg]

In the VirtualBox main manager (with the guest shut down and not saved state) right click on the guest and then click on clone.
Just remember to not select linked clone.

Or use the command line (VBoxManage) described in your VirtualBox users manual.

[HuaMin]

Many thanks Perry. It is OK for this.

BTW, how about the way that I expect to use the same VMs in another Windows host machine? Is it OK that I copy the .vdi files of them to other Windows host?

[Perryg]

It's a lot easier to copy the folder that has all of the guests files, then use the add feature of VirtualBox.

[HuaMin]

You mean to copy all of the relevant files in the folder and then use 'Add VM' in other Windows host?

[Perryg]

I mean that you copy the VM folder with supporting control file and snapshots if any and not just the VDI file. Then yes " 'Add VM' in other Windows host"

[HuaMin]

Thanks a lot. BTW, what do you think to that the cloning does take very long time (10 hours) for the VM of 250 Gb which is running Win 08 server inside?

[mpack]

It doesn't matter what the VM has inside since the VM (I assume) is not running.

Also, did cloning really take 10 hours, or was that just the estimate when you left it? And what was the actual size of the hard disk - unless the VM uses fixed size disks then the max size (which I guess is the 250GB figure) is not very useful for time calculations.

[HuaMin]

Yes, it really took at least 8/9 hours to finish the cloning of one VM with the size of 250 GB and is having Win 08 server inside. Is it really too long time? Is it abnormal or acceptable?

[mpack]

As I said above, time calculations are not possible unless I know the actual disk size, rather than the max size. I would also need to know the nature of the disk medium you are copying data from and to (e.g. reads and writes to USB and network drives is usually slower, if it's both read and write then it may be especially slow). If I can't calculate expected time I can't say whether your time is unexpected.

[HuaMin]

Thanks. Both From and To places are in the same external WD HD.

[mpack]

If "external" means USB then you can expect it to take a long time.