![]() If the source VM has any snapshot information that you want to copy you first need to merge the snapshot(s) into the source VM’s disk image files.With respect to copying the important thing to understand about snapshots is that there is no easy way to copy them, so if your source VM has any snapshot information that you want to copy you first need to merge the snapshot(s) into the source VM’s disk images. If there are no snapshots the VM’s disk image file accumulates file system changes just like normal disks - the VM’s Current State is merged into the disk image automatically when you close the VM.When you create a snapshot, changes to the file system accumulate in the current snapshot file, older snapshot files and disk image files are effectively read-only.You return to a previous snapshot by deleting the current state and all newer snapshots.A snapshot bookmarks the state of the VM (specifically the VM file system) at the point in time the snapshot is made.XML configuration files defining the VM (virtual hardware parameters).Zero or more Snapshots (also VDI files).One or more virtual hard disk image files (VDI files).Before starting it helps to have a basic understanding of VirtualBox virtual machines. This article explains how to copy an existing VM containing an installed and configured guest OS. The good news is that the underlying technology is just great and with a little understanding copying and cloning VMs is quite easy. A couple of the VirtualBox commands are poorly named.There is no single VirtualBox command for VM cloning.The details may vary if you use a Linux or some other host OS.Ĭloning and copying VirtualBox VMs is not as straight forward or obvious as it is with VMWare Desktop and this subject has created a lot of confusion in the support forums. The techniques described in this article were tested on a Windows XP Pro SP2 host operating system using VirtualBox version 2.0.4. After the first snapshot has been added.Only Windows 7 64-bit guests (XP, Vista and Win7 32-bit guests are all fine).Window 7 64-bit Intel i5 host and Windows 7 64-bit (Intel i7) host.Here are the circumstances under which I was able replicate this problem (I didn’t try any other scenarios): The chkdsk problems seemed to change with each chkdsk, the problems seemed to snowball. ova (Virtual Applicance) that had been previously exported from VirtualBox I experienced Windows chkdsk errors after creating a snapshot. This note is off-topic but it may be of help to anyone experiencing this problem (sorry, I don’t have a solution, apart from don’t put 64-bit Windows VMs into. Problems with 64-bit Windows 7 Guests with. Opening a Microsoft Office 2010 or 2013 for the first time on the clone triggered the Microsoft Office software activation wizard.The first time the clone was started Windows 8 displayed the introduction to Windows 8 that you get when you first login.If you select the Remove Only option the old VM will be left on disk and you can restore it later using the the Machine→Add… command.Īfter cloning Windows 8 I noticed a couple of (seemly benign oddities): Optionally delete the old VM (right-click on the VM and run the Remove… command). ![]() Start the new (cloned) VM and run precautionary disk checks ( chkdsk or fsck).Take a snapshot of the cloned VM (a roll-back checkpoint and to minimize incremental backups)).do not Reinitialize the MAC address Clone type: Full clone Snapshots: Current machine state. If you opted for step 1, set the name to the VM’s original name.Right-click on the VM and run the Clone… command:.Optionally rename the VM so you can reuse its current name for cloned VM (you can change the VM name from the Basic tab of the General settings).Here’s the procedure to merge and compact all the snapshots to a new VM containing a single VDI file: VirtualBox has come along since I fist posted this article back in 2008 (Version 2.0.4) - the latest version of VirtualBox (4.1.2) adds a Clone command which largely renders the techniques described below redundant and hugely simplifies matters (although they will still be useful if you are interested in fine-grain snapshot management). Verified this technique with VirtualBox 4.3.4. Update December 2013: An easier way to merge snapshots This article explains how to clone and copy VirtualBox VMs (virtual machines).
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