Solved To Zip a .vdi file of VirtualBox

[KianWilliam]

Greetings:
I have virtualbox with a few VMs. (Naturally host win7 ultimate)
I want to back them up in my flash, could I just zip vdi files and simply copy and paste the vdi file in my flash?
e.g ubuntu 14.5 GB turns into 4.7GB as zip file.
Thanks a head
KianWilliam

 

[samuria]

There should be no problem it may be worth doing a test by zipping then unzip and make sure it works

 

[Alejandro85]

You definitely can copy and backup the vdi file, but it's not the best way. The reason is that it only contains the hard disk image, but not the rest of the settings of the VM, which you should recreate from scratch.

Instead use the import/export appliance option of VirtualBox. This creates a new file (a .ova or .ovf format) that contains not only the hard disk images, but all the configuration and settings (like processor, memory, virtualized hardware and so on) that conforms the VM. This file can latter be reimported when restoring the VM, even if using another hypervisor, not just VirtualBox (it's a standard format).

Just export the VM, backup the resulting file, then delete the VM. You can restore from the .ova/.ovf file alone.

 

[KianWilliam]

Thank you for the response.
Which format is best for an .ovf file? While creating it do I have to check write manifest file?
Also Could I zip an .ovf file?
My host is win7 ultimate, planning to change os to win10 in 7 or 9 months, that is why little by little I am collecting my files
in flash so that I shall import them in the new operating system.
regards
KianWilliam

 

[Alejandro85]

I generally use the latest supported format, unless you're planning to use another hypervisor without support for those. Also, use .ova for keeping it all in a single file. I would generally also include the manifest file, although I'm not entirely sure of what it actually does, it seems to be necessary for some kinds of imports or as a checksum, but unclear to me, and Google as contradicting results.
Of course you can zip a .ovf file, just like any other file. I would expect similar compression rates as with the plain .vdi zip, as the disk image is the bulk of its content.

 

[KianWilliam]

ok, thank you very much.
KianWilliam