Add VDI immutable setting to the GUI

[Tomasz Szlagowski]

Let's say I've got 512 MB ram and want to try 3 different linux livecds. To be able to work with them, I need to add a virtual disk and create a swap partition on it. I create such a disk and add it to one of the 3 virtual machines (each for different mounted iso).

Currently it's impossible to add the same disk to another machine without releasing it first (correct me if I'm wrong).

I've got 3 options:
a) create 3 disks, - waste of disk space
b) have 1 machine and change the iso to mount every time i want another distro, - pain in the ass
c) release and reattach the disk every time i want another distro. - pain in the ass

What I'd like to see in VirtualBox:
Instead of not allowing to attach an already attached disk, give a warning that you shouldn't do that. When running a machine with such shared disk give an error (when the disk is used by another one) or a warning (if it isn't).

[Josh Wright]

Have you looked at using an immutable type disk? Seems like it pretty much meets your needs, as you don't have to make persistent changes to the disk across VM startups.

[Tomasz Szlagowski]

Replying to JshWright:

Have you looked at using an immutable type disk? Seems like it pretty much meets your needs, as you don't have to make persistent changes to the disk across VM startups.

yeah, it seems you're right. thanks a lot. why is this option kinda hidden then? it should be in the gui disk manager.

[Josh Wright]

I dunno, seems pretty well documented in the relevant section of the User Manual...

[Technologov]

+1. I would like to see it in the GUI, too.

-Technologov

[bitcrazed]

I would like to vote-up/request the addition of a feature in the new VM/disk wizard/GUI that will allow me to create a new VM/VDI as a differencing disk using a previously created VDI as the master.

This is a pretty essential feature that is already well catered for in most other virtualization products but is oddly lacking from VirtualBox' GUI, forcing users to dig around in the command-line tools for clues.

[Frank Mehnert]

That was implemented in VBox 4.1.