virtualbox.org

Hello

I need help to run my virtual machines copied to another drive or another folder. I like to install an operating system, it updates (security updates for windows) and then make copies for you need not have to install new machine and upgraded all over again.

Therefore, the following error when trying to add new machines in existing other folders or drives appears:

I've read this tutorial "Moving a VM". But the google translation (English to Portuguese) did not allow me unable to move my virtual machines and successfully open.

Sorry for bad english, I'm using google translator.

If they have a totorial with pictures how to open virtual machines into new folders or drives, I agredecer much (be happy)

Thanks again anyone who can help me.

This is the name of the error that appears when trying to open a copied virtual machine: uuid already exists virtualbox

Can anyone help me open the copy I made of my virtual machine?

OK, that's a common error and fixable. Each virtual disk file has an identification number, a serial number, inside it, just like real hard drives do. That's the UUID number.

Virtualbox will not allow you to have more than one virtual disk file with the same UUID serial number installed in its system. This helps to avoid various kinds of trouble that the developers imagined up, such as if the filename or path of the virtual disk file gets changed, or in your case, the virtual disk file gets copied to another drive. Virtualbox prevents you from attaching the copy to the Virtualbox system, which it sounds like you're trying to do, because it has the same UUID as the original.

You can certainly make a backup of your Virtual disk drive by copying it to another physical disk (although, with version 4 it's much better to have the virtual disk in the same folder as the rest of the guest files and copy the whole folder, so the guest settings are backed up, too.)

But you can't re-attach the copy to Virtualbox without disconnecting the original, because they have the same UUID. You'd open the Storage settings of your guest, right-click the original virtual drive and choose Remove Attachment, then remove the virtual drive file from the Virtual Media Manager found in Virtualbox's File menu. Be careful not to delete, just remove. Your original virtual disk file will still be in its present location. Now, go to the guest Storage settings and use the Add Disk button to attach your backup virtual disk file. Now your guest will boot from the backup. Repeat this process to switch back to the original virtual disk.

If you're doing this to confirm that the backup copied correctly, by the way, you can do so without disconnecting and reconnecting by just file-comparing the original and backup disk files while the guest is shut down.

Bear in mind that VMs also have UUIDs, meaning you can't register the same VM twice.

Until recently, VirtualBox had a bug that meant it remembered the location of disk files even after the VM was removed. The fix was to shut VirtualBox down for 30 seconds between the remove and the re-register.

scottgus1 wrote:OK, that's a common error and fixable. Each virtual disk file has an identification number, a serial number, inside it, just like real hard drives do. That's the UUID number.

scottgus1,

Very well explained . Now I know why ( why , because of) error. Unable to turn off and on a copy of the same machine . It worked. It worked .

If by chance ( unluckily) my actual computer data loss , burn , fall or lightning happen a third world war ( ehehehe personal joke) and I need to format my computer ( install my real machine from scratch ) , and I have a copy security , just do the procedure that you taught me ( Machine > add). Worked here! Thank you !








What is the function of the option? It used for?> Virtual Media Manager:



What is the function of the option? It used for?

I can manually clone several machines in this part? Or to use machines sticks I have to use the> button to clone?


But still have some questions or have problems :

Here ( i ) have a problem because I like to run two machines in SSD ( very fast ) hard , but he has little space ( 250 GB ) and just the other less important machines I use in traditional HD ( very slow , super slow, as our is slow ! )

Thus ( so) , I have two drives ( SSD and HD ) and when I go to clone a machine for later use , it always clone the SSD , but I lack space! So as I ClONO to another drive which is slower HD ? Ie wanted to clone machines to HD disk and not the SSD. How do I clone for HD ?

Actually , I really wanted ( main goal ) is to clone multiple machines , but as I have said earlier errors .

So to have several machines , it is okay to use the command ( menu option ) clone ? Has no way of manually making copies ?

Thanks if you can help me again!

What I'd do, Menfis, is use Mpack's CloneVDI (viewtopic.php?f=6&t=22422) to copy and compact your virtual disk files to wherever you want them to be. That tool has an option to change the UUID so you can run both disks at the same time in Virtualbox. (Keep in mind that changing the disk UUID may cause need for reactivation of the guest OS or software. Be sure you have the licenses available.) CloneVDI can also clone snapshotted virtual disks into single-disk clones, too, I think.
I'd disconnect the virtual disk from the original machine I want to clone, so it doesn't have any disks. Then clone the machine using Virtualbox. Only the machine settings will clone, not the disk, so the host SSD space won't fill up. Unregister the cloned machine from Virtualbox, move the clone's folder to the platter disk drive, then re-register it. Now clone the original virtual disk with CloneVDI, compact it, and only if you want to run the clone and the original at the same time change the disk UUID. Set to compact the clone if desired, then save the clone to the machine folder on the platter disk. Attach the cloned virtual disk to the cloned machine in Virtualbox, and you're ready to go.

scottgus1 wrote:What I'd do, Menfis, is use Mpack's CloneVDI (viewtopic.php?f=6&t=22422) to copy and compact your virtual disk files to wherever you want them to be. That tool has an option to change the UUID so you can run both disks at the same time in Virtualbox. (Keep in mind that changing the disk UUID may cause need for reactivation of the guest OS or software. Be sure you have the licenses available.) CloneVDI can also clone snapshotted virtual disks into single-disk clones, too, I think.
I'd disconnect the virtual disk from the original machine I want to clone, so it doesn't have any disks. Then clone the machine using Virtualbox. Only the machine settings will clone, not the disk, so the host SSD space won't fill up. Unregister the cloned machine from Virtualbox, move the clone's folder to the platter disk drive, then re-register it. Now clone the original virtual disk with CloneVDI, compact it, and only if you want to run the clone and the original at the same time change the disk UUID. Set to compact the clone if desired, then save the clone to the machine folder on the platter disk. Attach the cloned virtual disk to the cloned machine in Virtualbox, and you're ready to go.

scottgus1,

Many thanks again for the information. Thank same! thank you! I now have several options (know how) to move and restore virtual machines.

Thank you! Your response was very helpful to my problem!