[vbox-dev] Storage Question: --device parameter redundant ?

[Alexey Eromenko]

I added a new hard disk to my VM:
C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox>VBoxManage storageattach "Other-Test VM" --st
oragectl "IDE Controller" --port 0 --device 1 --type hdd --medium F:\myvdi.vdi

Why is --device parameter even needed ?
Only for IDE controller?
Other controllers (SATA) do not have it anyway, and it's functionality
can be mapped to --port parameter.

Old behavior:
--port 0 --device 0 = Primary Master
--port 0 --device 1 = Primary Slave
--port 1 --device 0 = Secondary Master
--port 1 --device 1 = Secondary Slave

Since in VBox IDE controller consists of 4 ports, it can be mapped to
--port parameter, as follows:
--port 0 --device 0 = Primary Master
--port 1 --device 0 = Primary Slave
--port 2 --device 0 = Secondary Master
--port 3 --device 0 = Secondary Slave

Isn't it easier to remove --device altogether in future version of
VirtualBox, in favor of using only --port ?

In real hardware IDE controller consists of 2 IDE devices, not 4 IDE devices.

A standard PC has 2 such IDE controllers in chipset (total 4 IDE
devices), but then if VBox will want to have several IDE controllers
in future, --storagectl could be used to address this.
Anyway --device parameter looks redundant to either --port or to --storagectl.

-- 
-Alexey Eromenko "Technologov"