Linux on a usb to boot virtually

cynicalpsycho · 12-27-2009, 08:38 PM

Scenario:
You've set up a linux OS to boot from a portable flash drive with persistent changes.
Would it be possible to boot that drive into virtual box on the fly without converting it first?

Skaperen · 12-27-2009, 09:35 PM

Yes. There are two ways to do that. One is to copy the entire raw USB drive into a file, and start the virtual machine with that file as the drive to boot from. Changes would have to be copied back to the USB drive if you want them there. The other (easier) way is to attach the USB drive to the virtual machine, either as a drive, or as a USB device.

I have done this with SD cards (because good SD cards that are faster than USB memory sticks are available).

cynicalpsycho · 12-28-2009, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skaperen

The other (easier) way is to attach the USB drive to the virtual machine, either as a drive, or as a USB device.

How do I attach the actual usb to the vm? I went through the settings and the only way I could see for me to attach is by using a disk image... vdi's, vhd's vmdk's etc...