VirtualBox Raw Disk Access

[jk121960]

Hi, I posted this on VirtualBox and got no response,

First I am using the downloaded version on my machine 4.1.4 not OSE. Is there a way to create a raw disk reference using UUID or disk-id, debian changes it's device paths when you reboot. Because of this my rawdisk references are no longer valid, so I have to look what the boot up names the devies and them change my VM's references to match each time I boot up. I've had to create variations so that I can do this but it seems like it could be avoided if we could use UUID or disk-id.

Any help would be appreciated
thanks

--jerry

[fanderal]

Is there a way to create a raw disk reference using UUID or disk-id, debian changes it's device paths when you reboot. Because of this my rawdisk references are no longer valid

Its not a Debian issue... the issue is how the raw disk was set up in VBox's Media Manager. Have you checked "Using a raw host hard disk from a guest" in the manual section on Advanced storage configuration?

[jk121960]

Not blaming Debian as a matter of fact I was hoping I could use UUID or ID with the Raw disk creation, I have been creating them and have read documentation but didn't see anything about alternate methods only device path. If you know of another way please drop in a link.

thanks for your response.

--jerry

[fanderal]

I was hoping I could use UUID or ID

In VBox, everything (ISO image, VM, HD, optical drive, etc) is assigned a UUID. However, VBox's UUIDs are not the same as Grub's UUIDs, and disk-ID is a harddisk/partition identification method used by Grub, not VBox. The UUIDs for VBox are in the host's home directory: ~/.VirtualBox/VirtualBox.xml and ~/.VirtualBox/Machines/VM-Name/VM-Name.xml

I have been creating them and have read documentation but didn't see anything about alternate methods only device path.

I don't believe there are alternative methods to a device path. After creating (formatting) the HD or partition, it must be attached to the VM (Debian) either through the GUI or a terminal... have you done that?

Or... is your question about how to specify the exact the path?

Advanced storage configuration: Chapter*9.*Advanced topics

[jk121960]

Interestingly even though I prefer VBox, I opened up VMWare and their implementation does allow for using by-id and by-uuid. VBox is quicker and less quirky but that is an important fact if you use physical hard drives.

Just thought I would pass that on.

--jerry