clone virtual machine in VirtualBox

Goal of this procedure:
Source: machine called EntLnx10 with disk EntLnx_10.vdi
Target: machine called EntLnx09 with disk EntLnx_09.vdi


Here is what we do:

• start up Virtualbox program.
• Go to File > Virtual Media Manager (or press Ctrl-D)
• Select the EntLnx_10.vdi and click Release button.
• Select the EntLnx_10.vdi and click Remove button.
• Select the Keep button (!!)

Now start a commandline and give the command (also see example below):


  [path]\VBoxManage.exe clonehd [path]\sourcedisk.vdi [path]\targetdisk.vdi


This starts copying the disk, which might take a while.


D:\Virtual Machines>"c:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\VBoxManage.exe" clonehd "d:\Virtual Machines\EntLnx_10.vdi" "d:\Virtual Machines\EntLnx_09.vdi"
Oracle VM VirtualBox Command Line Management Interface Version 3.2.12
(C) 2005-2010 Oracle Corporation
All rights reserved.


0%...10%...20%...30%...40%...50%...60%...70%...80%...90%...100%
Clone hard disk created in format 'VDI'. UUID: 65a30476-0a44-4dea-aee8-9e0e95a12e7c


Now add the new disk to Virtualbox:

• Go to File > Virtual Media Manager (or press Ctrl-D)
• Click Add and select the new vdi file. Click Ok.

Now create a new virtual machine, and select in this process the 'existing' new vdi file as harddisk.


Start up the EntLnx09 machine.


Good luck!