[vbox-dev] Attaching .vdi image as a removable disk

[Klaus Espenlaub]

On 24.02.2013 21:45, Mark Cranness wrote:
> On Monday, February 25, 2013 12:20 AM, prabhjeet kaur  wrote:
>> How any dormant (power off mode)  image( .vdi format ) can be attach to a currently running  virtual machine as a removable
> media
>> so that it can be scanned for viruses in power off mode through current running virtual machine .
>
> Not as removable media, but it can be done:
>
> - Power off both VMs
> - Detach the image from the first VM (Machine>  Settings>  Storage>  (Disk "-" tool))
> - Attach to the second VM (Machine>  Settings>  Storage>  (Select Controller)>  Click Add Hard Disk tool>  "Existing Disk">
> Navigate to the VDI file.
> - Boot second VM, use disk partition  programs to mount or add the new disk so it can be seen
> - Scan for viruses
> - Repeat first 3 steps above to re-attach the disk back to the first VM.
>
> Note: As you ADD images to the Storage tree, note the icon/picture that VirtualBox uses. If a blue gear cog is displayed that
> means a new differencing disk has been created and any changes made to the scanned disk will be private to the scanning VM.

Note that VirtualBox supports hard disk hot plug/unplug with the SATA 
controller. The feature is only available from command line, and depends 
on guest OS support to be truly safe (in Windows it's the well-known 
"Safely Remove Hardware" tool).

Klaus