Support #357
Converting Raw Image Files To a VirtualBox VDI File
Description
The VirtualBox command-line interface (VBoxManage) provides an easy way to convert raw disk images to the VDI/VMDK format and vice versa.
- Acquire a raw image of the sdb device:
sudo dd if=/dev/sdb of=/path/to/sdb.img
- To use it with VirtualBox we need to convert it to the VDI format:
VBoxManage convertfromraw sdb.img sdb.vdi --format VDI
- To use it with VMware we need to convert it to the VMDK format:
VBoxManage convertfromraw sdb.img sdb.vmdk --format VMDK
- Convert VDI to VMDK format:
VBoxManage clonehd sdb.vdi sdb.vmdk --format VMDK
- Convert VMDK to VDI format:
VBoxManage clonehd sdb.vmdk sdb.vdi --format VDI
- Convert to the RAW image:
VBoxManage clonehd sdb.vdi sdb.img --format RAW
- Alternative solution to get back raw image after applying modifications is to use qemu-img command from qemu package:
qemu-img convert -f vmdk sdb.vmdk -O raw sdb.img
- Now we can write image to the device:
sudo dd if=/path/to/sdb.img of=/dev/sdb
Usage¶
Here is a current VBoxManage command usage:
user@dev7:~$ VBoxManage
Oracle VM VirtualBox Command Line Management Interface Version 4.2.16_Ubuntu
(C) 2005-2013 Oracle Corporation
All rights reserved.
Usage:
VBoxManage [<general option>] <command>
General Options:
[-v|--version] print version number and exit
[-q|--nologo] suppress the logo
[--settingspw <pw>] provide the settings password
[--settingspwfile <file>] provide a file containing the settings password
Commands:
list [--long|-l] vms|runningvms|ostypes|hostdvds|hostfloppies|
bridgedifs|hostonlyifs|dhcpservers|hostinfo|
hostcpuids|hddbackends|hdds|dvds|floppies|
usbhost|usbfilters|systemproperties|extpacks|
groups
showvminfo <uuid>|<name> [--details]
[--machinereadable]
showvminfo <uuid>|<name> --log <idx>
registervm <filename>
unregistervm <uuid>|<name> [--delete]
createvm --name <name>
[--groups <group>, ...]
[--ostype <ostype>]
[--register]
[--basefolder <path>]
[--uuid <uuid>]
modifyvm <uuid|name>
[--name <name>]
[--groups <group>, ...]
[--ostype <ostype>]
[--memory <memorysize in MB>]
[--pagefusion on|off]
[--vram <vramsize in MB>]
[--acpi on|off]
[--pciattach 03:04.0]
[--pciattach 03:04.0@02:01.0]
[--pcidetach 03:04.0]
[--ioapic on|off]
[--pae on|off]
[--hpet on|off]
[--hwvirtex on|off]
[--hwvirtexexcl on|off]
[--nestedpaging on|off]
[--largepages on|off]
[--vtxvpid on|off]
[--synthcpu on|off]
[--cpuidset <leaf> <eax> <ebx> <ecx> <edx>]
[--cpuidremove <leaf>]
[--cpuidremoveall]
[--hardwareuuid <uuid>]
[--cpus <number>]
[--cpuhotplug on|off]
[--plugcpu <id>]
[--unplugcpu <id>]
[--cpuexecutioncap <1-100>]
[--rtcuseutc on|off]
[--monitorcount <number>]
[--accelerate3d on|off]
[--accelerate2dvideo on|off]
[--firmware bios|efi|efi32|efi64]
[--chipset ich9|piix3]
[--bioslogofadein on|off]
[--bioslogofadeout on|off]
[--bioslogodisplaytime <msec>]
[--bioslogoimagepath <imagepath>]
[--biosbootmenu disabled|menuonly|messageandmenu]
[--biossystemtimeoffset <msec>]
[--biospxedebug on|off]
[--boot<1-4> none|floppy|dvd|disk|net>]
[--nic<1-N> none|null|nat|bridged|intnet|hostonly|
generic]
[--nictype<1-N> Am79C970A|Am79C973|
82540EM|82543GC|82545EM|
virtio]
[--cableconnected<1-N> on|off]
[--nictrace<1-N> on|off]
[--nictracefile<1-N> <filename>]
[--nicproperty<1-N> name=[value]]
[--nicspeed<1-N> <kbps>]
[--nicbootprio<1-N> <priority>]
[--nicpromisc<1-N> deny|allow-vms|allow-all]
[--nicbandwidthgroup<1-N> none|<name>]
[--bridgeadapter<1-N> none|<devicename>]
[--hostonlyadapter<1-N> none|<devicename>]
[--intnet<1-N> <network name>]
[--natnet<1-N> <network>|default]
[--nicgenericdrv<1-N> <driver>
[--natsettings<1-N> [<mtu>],[<socksnd>],
[<sockrcv>],[<tcpsnd>],
[<tcprcv>]]
[--natpf<1-N> [<rulename>],tcp|udp,[<hostip>],
<hostport>,[<guestip>],<guestport>]
[--natpf<1-N> delete <rulename>]
[--nattftpprefix<1-N> <prefix>]
[--nattftpfile<1-N> <file>]
[--nattftpserver<1-N> <ip>]
[--natbindip<1-N> <ip>
[--natdnspassdomain<1-N> on|off]
[--natdnsproxy<1-N> on|off]
[--natdnshostresolver<1-N> on|off]
[--nataliasmode<1-N> default|[log],[proxyonly],
[sameports]]
[--macaddress<1-N> auto|<mac>]
[--mouse ps2|usb|usbtablet
[--keyboard ps2|usb
[--uart<1-N> off|<I/O base> <IRQ>]
[--uartmode<1-N> disconnected|
server <pipe>|
client <pipe>|
file <file>|
<devicename>]
[--lpt<1-N> off|<I/O base> <IRQ>]
[--lptmode<1-N> <devicename>]
[--guestmemoryballoon <balloonsize in MB>]
[--audio none|null|oss|alsa|pulse]
[--audiocontroller ac97|hda|sb16]
[--clipboard disabled|hosttoguest|guesttohost|
bidirectional]
[--draganddrop disabled|hosttoguest
[--vrde on|off]
[--vrdeextpack default|<name>
[--vrdeproperty <name=[value]>]
[--vrdeport <hostport>]
[--vrdeaddress <hostip>]
[--vrdeauthtype null|external|guest]
[--vrdeauthlibrary default|<name>
[--vrdemulticon on|off]
[--vrdereusecon on|off]
[--vrdevideochannel on|off]
[--vrdevideochannelquality <percent>]
[--usb on|off]
[--usbehci on|off]
[--snapshotfolder default|<path>]
[--teleporter on|off]
[--teleporterport <port>]
[--teleporteraddress <address|empty>
[--teleporterpassword <password>]
[--teleporterpasswordfile <file>|stdin]
[--tracing-enabled on|off]
[--tracing-config <config-string>]
[--tracing-allow-vm-access on|off]
[--usbwebcam on|off]
[--usbcardreader on|off]
[--autostart-enabled on|off]
[--autostart-delay <seconds>]
clonevm <uuid>|<name>
[--snapshot <uuid>|<name>]
[--mode machine|machineandchildren|all]
[--options link|keepallmacs|keepnatmacs|
keepdisknames]
[--name <name>]
[--groups <group>, ...]
[--basefolder <basefolder>]
[--uuid <uuid>]
[--register]
import <ovf/ova>
[--dry-run|-n]
[--options keepallmacs|keepnatmacs]
[more options]
(run with -n to have options displayed
for a particular OVF)
export <machines> --output|-o <name>.<ovf/ova>
[--legacy09|--ovf09|--ovf10|--ovf20]
[--manifest]
[--vsys <number of virtual system>]
[--product <product name>]
[--producturl <product url>]
[--vendor <vendor name>]
[--vendorurl <vendor url>]
[--version <version info>]
[--eula <license text>]
[--eulafile <filename>]
startvm <uuid>|<name>...
[--type gui|sdl|headless]
controlvm <uuid>|<name>
pause|resume|reset|poweroff|savestate|
acpipowerbutton|acpisleepbutton|
keyboardputscancode <hex> [<hex> ...]|
setlinkstate<1-N> on|off |
nic<1-N> null|nat|bridged|intnet|hostonly|generic
[<devicename>] |
nictrace<1-N> on|off |
nictracefile<1-N> <filename> |
nicproperty<1-N> name=[value] |
nicpromisc<1-N> deny|allow-vms|allow-all |
natpf<1-N> [<rulename>],tcp|udp,[<hostip>],
<hostport>,[<guestip>],<guestport> |
natpf<1-N> delete <rulename> |
guestmemoryballoon <balloonsize in MB> |
usbattach <uuid>|<address> |
usbdetach <uuid>|<address> |
clipboard disabled|hosttoguest|guesttohost|
bidirectional |
draganddrop disabled|hosttoguest |
vrde on|off |
vrdeport <port> |
vrdeproperty <name=[value]> |
vrdevideochannelquality <percent> |
setvideomodehint <xres> <yres> <bpp>
[[<display>] [<enabled:yes|no> |
[<xorigin> <yorigin>]]] |
screenshotpng <file> [display] |
setcredentials <username>
--passwordfile <file> | <password>
<domain>
[--allowlocallogon <yes|no>] |
teleport --host <name> --port <port>
[--maxdowntime <msec>]
[--passwordfile <file> |
--password <password>] |
plugcpu <id> |
unplugcpu <id> |
cpuexecutioncap <1-100>
discardstate <uuid>|<name>
adoptstate <uuid>|<name> <state_file>
snapshot <uuid>|<name>
take <name> [--description <desc>] [--pause] |
delete <uuid>|<name> |
restore <uuid>|<name> |
restorecurrent |
edit <uuid>|<name>|--current
[--name <name>]
[--description <desc>] |
list [--details|--machinereadable]
showvminfo <uuid>|<name>
closemedium disk|dvd|floppy <uuid>|<filename>
[--delete]
storageattach <uuid|vmname>
--storagectl <name>
[--port <number>]
[--device <number>]
[--type dvddrive|hdd|fdd]
[--medium none|emptydrive|additions|
<uuid>|<filename>|host:<drive>|iscsi]
[--mtype normal|writethrough|immutable|shareable|
readonly|multiattach]
[--comment <text>]
[--setuuid <uuid>]
[--setparentuuid <uuid>]
[--passthrough on|off]
[--tempeject on|off]
[--nonrotational on|off]
[--discard on|off]
[--bandwidthgroup <name>]
[--forceunmount]
[--server <name>|<ip>]
[--target <target>]
[--tport <port>]
[--lun <lun>]
[--encodedlun <lun>]
[--username <username>]
[--password <password>]
[--initiator <initiator>]
[--intnet]
storagectl <uuid|vmname>
--name <name>
[--add ide|sata|scsi|floppy|sas]
[--controller LSILogic|LSILogicSAS|BusLogic|
IntelAHCI|PIIX3|PIIX4|ICH6|I82078]
[--sataportcount <1-30>]
[--hostiocache on|off]
[--bootable on|off]
[--remove]
bandwidthctl <uuid|vmname>
add <name> --type disk|network
--limit <megabytes per second>[k|m|g|K|M|G] |
set <name>
--limit <megabytes per second>[k|m|g|K|M|G] |
remove <name> |
list [--machinereadable]
(limit units: k=kilobit, m=megabit, g=gigabit,
K=kilobyte, M=megabyte, G=gigabyte)
showhdinfo <uuid>|<filename>
createhd --filename <filename>
[--size <megabytes>|--sizebyte <bytes>]
[--diffparent <uuid>|<filename>
[--format VDI|VMDK|VHD] (default: VDI)
[--variant Standard,Fixed,Split2G,Stream,ESX]
modifyhd <uuid>|<filename>
[--type normal|writethrough|immutable|shareable|
readonly|multiattach]
[--autoreset on|off]
[--compact]
[--resize <megabytes>|--resizebyte <bytes>]
clonehd <uuid>|<filename> <uuid>|<outputfile>
[--format VDI|VMDK|VHD|RAW|<other>]
[--variant Standard,Fixed,Split2G,Stream,ESX]
[--existing]
convertfromraw <filename> <outputfile>
[--format VDI|VMDK|VHD]
[--variant Standard,Fixed,Split2G,Stream,ESX]
[--uuid <uuid>]
convertfromraw stdin <outputfile> <bytes>
[--format VDI|VMDK|VHD]
[--variant Standard,Fixed,Split2G,Stream,ESX]
[--uuid <uuid>]
getextradata global|<uuid>|<name>
<key>|enumerate
setextradata global|<uuid>|<name>
<key>
[<value>] (no value deletes key)
setproperty machinefolder default|<folder> |
vrdeauthlibrary default|<library> |
websrvauthlibrary default|null|<library> |
vrdeextpack null|<library> |
autostartdbpath null|<folder> |
loghistorycount <value>
usbfilter add <index,0-N>
--target <uuid>|<name>|global
--name <string>
--action ignore|hold (global filters only)
[--active yes|no] (yes)
[--vendorid <XXXX>] (null)
[--productid <XXXX>] (null)
[--revision <IIFF>] (null)
[--manufacturer <string>] (null)
[--product <string>] (null)
[--remote yes|no] (null, VM filters only)
[--serialnumber <string>] (null)
[--maskedinterfaces <XXXXXXXX>]
usbfilter modify <index,0-N>
--target <uuid>|<name>|global
[--name <string>]
[--action ignore|hold] (global filters only)
[--active yes|no]
[--vendorid <XXXX>|""]
[--productid <XXXX>|""]
[--revision <IIFF>|""]
[--manufacturer <string>|""]
[--product <string>|""]
[--remote yes|no] (null, VM filters only)
[--serialnumber <string>|""]
[--maskedinterfaces <XXXXXXXX>]
usbfilter remove <index,0-N>
--target <uuid>|<name>|global
sharedfolder add <vmname>|<uuid>
--name <name> --hostpath <hostpath>
[--transient] [--readonly] [--automount]
sharedfolder remove <vmname>|<uuid>
--name <name> [--transient]
guestproperty get <vmname>|<uuid>
<property> [--verbose]
guestproperty set <vmname>|<uuid>
<property> [<value> [--flags <flags>]]
guestproperty enumerate <vmname>|<uuid>
[--patterns <patterns>]
guestproperty wait <vmname>|<uuid> <patterns>
[--timeout <msec>] [--fail-on-timeout]
guestcontrol <vmname>|<uuid>
exec[ute]
--image <path to program> --username <name>
[--passwordfile <file> | --password <password>]
[--domain <domain>] [--verbose] [--timeout <msec>]
[--environment "<NAME>=<VALUE> [<NAME>=<VALUE>]"]
[--wait-exit] [--wait-stdout] [--wait-stderr]
[--dos2unix] [--unix2dos]
[-- [<argument1>] ... [<argumentN>]]
copyfrom
<guest source> <host dest> --username <name>
[--passwordfile <file> | --password <password>]
[--domain <domain>] [--verbose]
[--dryrun] [--follow] [--recursive]
copyto|cp
<host source> <guest dest> --username <name>
[--passwordfile <file> | --password <password>]
[--domain <domain>] [--verbose]
[--dryrun] [--follow] [--recursive]
createdir[ectory]|mkdir|md
<guest directory>... --username <name>
[--passwordfile <file> | --password <password>]
[--domain <domain>] [--verbose]
[--parents] [--mode <mode>]
stat
<file>... --username <name>
[--passwordfile <file> | --password <password>]
[--domain <domain>] [--verbose]
updateadditions
[--source <guest additions .ISO>] [--verbose]
[--wait-start]
debugvm <uuid>|<name>
dumpguestcore --filename <name> |
info <item> [args] |
injectnmi |
log [--release|--debug] <settings> ...|
logdest [--release|--debug] <settings> ...|
logflags [--release|--debug] <settings> ...|
osdetect |
osinfo |
getregisters [--cpu <id>] <reg>|all ... |
setregisters [--cpu <id>] <reg>=<value> ... |
show [--human-readable|--sh-export|--sh-eval|
--cmd-set]
<logdbg-settings|logrel-settings>
[[opt] what ...] |
statistics [--reset] [--pattern <pattern>]
[--descriptions]
metrics list [*|host|<vmname> [<metric_list>]]
(comma-separated)
metrics setup
[--period <seconds>] (default: 1)
[--samples <count>] (default: 1)
[--list]
[*|host|<vmname> [<metric_list>]]
metrics query [*|host|<vmname> [<metric_list>]]
metrics enable
[--list]
[*|host|<vmname> [<metric_list>]]
metrics disable
[--list]
[*|host|<vmname> [<metric_list>]]
metrics collect
[--period <seconds>] (default: 1)
[--samples <count>] (default: 1)
[--list]
[--detach]
[*|host|<vmname> [<metric_list>]]
hostonlyif ipconfig <name>
[--dhcp |
--ip<ipv4> [--netmask<ipv4> (def: 255.255.255.0)] |
--ipv6<ipv6> [--netmasklengthv6<length> (def: 64)]]
create |
remove <name>
dhcpserver add|modify --netname <network_name> |
--ifname <hostonly_if_name>
[--ip <ip_address>
--netmask <network_mask>
--lowerip <lower_ip>
--upperip <upper_ip>]
[--enable | --disable]
dhcpserver remove --netname <network_name> |
--ifname <hostonly_if_name>
extpack install [--replace] <tarball> |
uninstall [--force] <name> |
cleanup