Error when using vboxmanage storageattach?

[N00bie]

This command runs fine:

Code: Select all

vboxmanage storageattach testvm --storagectl "IDE Controller" --port 0 --device 0 --type hdd --medium "~/VirtualBox VMs/testvm/testvm-disk01.vdi" 

However, when I try running this command:

Code: Select all

vboxmanage storageattach testvm --storagectl "IDE Controller" --port 1 --device 0 --type dvddrive --medium "~/VirtualBox VMs/ubuntu-14.04.3-server-amd64.iso"

The following is output:

VBoxManage: error: Could not find file for the medium '/Users/nate/~/VirtualBox VMs/ubuntu-14.04.3-server-amd64.iso' (VERR_FILE_NOT_FOUND)
VBoxManage: error: Details: code VBOX_E_FILE_ERROR (0x80bb0004), component MediumWrap, interface IMedium, callee nsISupports
VBoxManage: error: Context: "OpenMedium(Bstr(pszFilenameOrUuid).raw(), enmDevType, enmAccessMode, fForceNewUuidOnOpen, pMedium.asOutParam())" at line 178 of file VBoxManageDisk.cpp
VBoxManage: error: Invalid UUID or filename "~/VirtualBox VMs/ubuntu-14.04.3-server-amd64.iso"v

Why isn't the second command working?

[mpack]

Well, "file not found" says that the file doesn't exist, or you got the name wrong. You don't mention having checked?

I'm not familiar with OS X path conventions: what does "~" mean? If it's some kind of relative path designation then I'd avoid that. If the file is inside the VM folder you can omit the path I believe. Otherwise I would try a complete and unambiguous path.

[loukingjr]

As mpack surmised, in Linux/Unix, "~" is a shortcut meaning user directory. Should use the full path.

[N00bie]

As mpack surmised, in Linux/Unix, "~" is a shortcut meaning user directory. Should use the full path.

Hmm... Okay. Why wouldn't '~' work? Why does it work for the first command but not the second?

In any case, I changed it, and it worked!

Thanks!

[loukingjr]

apparently some commands will use tilde expansion, some do not. I have no idea why.

you're welcome.

[mpack]

It's because VirtualBox does its own path management, which makes paths behave the same across all platforms - but you have to adhere to the rules I already mentioned.