VDI or VHD?

Discussions related to using VirtualBox on Windows hosts.
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jnl2
Posts: 32
Joined: 4. Feb 2015, 00:17
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: OSE Debian
Guest OSses: MS Windows 7 64bit
Location: San Rafael, CA

VDI or VHD?

Post by jnl2 »

When building a VM, what are the benefits and drawbacks of configuring it to utilize a VDI or VHD?

Thank you.
Host: Windows 7 64bit w/ Win updates. VBox Guest Extension and Additions included.
Client: Windows 7 64bit w/ Win updates.

RAM: 8GBs total. 4Gb devoted to client.
HD: 900GB total. Min 400GB devoted to client and dynamic
BillG
Volunteer
Posts: 5106
Joined: 19. Sep 2009, 04:44
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Windows 10,7 and earlier
Location: Sydney, Australia

Re: VDI or VHD?

Post by BillG »

I can't think of any valid reason to create a .vhd file rather than .vdi. Why are you considering it?
Bill
scottgus1
Site Moderator
Posts: 20945
Joined: 30. Dec 2009, 20:14
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Windows, Linux

Re: VDI or VHD?

Post by scottgus1 »

VDI is the native virtual disk format for Virtualbox, so VB will know how to use it best.

Virtualbox can use a VHD (Microsoft's virtual disk format). But VHD has a design flaw that puts important info about how to access the disk file at the end of the file, which info has to be moved if the disk file ever has to get bigger. That end-of-the-file data is prone to getting lost, thus killing the virtual disk.
jnl2
Posts: 32
Joined: 4. Feb 2015, 00:17
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: OSE Debian
Guest OSses: MS Windows 7 64bit
Location: San Rafael, CA

Re: VDI or VHD?

Post by jnl2 »

Interesting.

Thank you.
Host: Windows 7 64bit w/ Win updates. VBox Guest Extension and Additions included.
Client: Windows 7 64bit w/ Win updates.

RAM: 8GBs total. 4Gb devoted to client.
HD: 900GB total. Min 400GB devoted to client and dynamic
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