How to Import a VDI File Into VirtualBox: Step-by-Step Guide

Do you know how to Import a VDI File Into VirtualBox? A Virtual Disk Image (VDI) file is a copy of a real hard disk that is stored in a computer. It gives you the space you need on your hard drive to set up a virtual desktop environment. Oracle VirtualBox is an open-source hypervisor, which is a program that lets you create and run virtual machines on your system. The VDI file format can be used for disk space with VirtualBox. The Virtual Disk Image file can be downloaded from different places and opened in the VirtualBox root file.

It gives you the space you need on your system to run a virtual desktop environment. If you use VMware and want to switch to the Open-Source side of the Force by using VirtualBox, you might run into trouble if you try to import an existing VDI file into VirtualBox. So, in this blog post, we’ll explain how to Import a VDI File Into VirtualBox. Before going straight to the solution, you should know what a VDI file is and what Virtualbox is. Let’s begin.

What is a VDI file?

VirtualBox is an open-source virtualization program. It was made by the company Innotek GmbH. Then, in 2008, Sun Microsystems bought it, and in 2010, Oracle did the same. Oracle VM VirtualBox is what it is called now. VirtualBox can be put on Windows, Linux, MacOS, Solaris, OpenSolaris, and other operating systems. The Virtual Drive Image (.vdi) file is saved in a format called VDI or Virtual Drive Format. It’s one of the few disk image files that Oracle VM VirtualBox can work with.

VDI files are virtual drive files that can be mounted on Linux, Windows, and other operating systems as a separate hard disk. With these files, a user can run programs made for different Operating Systems on the same hard drive. For.vdi format, there is a lot of information to share. Most of the time, files with the.vdi extension are used by the Oracle VM VirtualBox desktop virtualization program.

It’s important to know that the VDI files this software uses are virtual drive files that can be mounted as a separate hard drive on Windows, Mac, and Unix. Another name for a VDI file is a Virtual desktop infrastructure file, which is used to host the desktop environment on a server. It’s basically when desktop images are run on a virtual machine and then given to customers over the network.

Why You Might Need to Import a VDI File

1. Virtual Machine Migration: If you want to move a virtual machine from one virtualization platform to another, like from VMware to VirtualBox or vice versa, you may need to import the VDI file to make the virtual machine work in the new environment.
2. Backup and Disaster Recovery: You can back up your virtual machines with VDI files. By importing a VDI file, you can return a virtual machine to a state it was in before data was lost, it got corrupted, or the hardware broke.
3. Software Testing and Development: It can be helpful to test and develop software by importing VDI files. Developers can make a standard virtual machine with a certain set of software and then share it with other people by giving them the VDI file. By importing the VDI file, other people can test or develop in the same virtual environment.
4. Deploying a Virtual Appliance: Many software companies sell their apps in VDI format as virtual appliances. By importing these VDI files, you can quickly deploy and use these virtual machines that have already been set up for things like web hosting, database management, and network security.
5. Learning and training: Bringing in VDI files can be helpful for learning and training. Teachers and students can use virtual machines that have already been set up to learn about different operating systems, software, or technologies without having to use real hardware.

How to Download VDI Files for VirtualBox

1. Go to the VirtualBox Official website
2. Click on the “VirtualBox 6.1.28” link under the “Downloads” section.
3. The download will start automatically.
4. Once the download is complete, open the file and follow the on-screen instructions to install VirtualBox.
5. Once VirtualBox is installed, open it and create a new virtual machine.
6. In the “Hard Disk” section, select the “Use an existing virtual hard disk file” option and click on the “Browse” button.
7. Navigate to the folder where you downloaded the VDI file and select it.
8. Click on the “Open” button.
9. The VDI file will now be imported into VirtualBox.

How to Open VDI File Into VirtualBox

1. Copy the VDI file to where VirtualBox keeps its virtual hard drives.
2. Start VirtualBox and make a new virtual machine. Pick an operating system from the list and click the Next button.
3. Select Use existing hard disk under Virtual Hard Disk, then click on the folder icon on the right.
4. Now, a window called Virtual Media Manager pops up. Click the “Add” button, then find the VDI file you want to open and click “Open.”
5. Again, a Virtual Hard Disk window pops up and shows your new VDI. Click Next to continue.
6. Your new virtual machine is now running.

System Requirements for Importing VDI Files

The benefits of using VDI files

1. Resource efficiency: VDI files let you use and manage storage space in a smart way. They can grow or shrink as needed, which makes the best use of disk space.
2. Snapshot and Rollback: VDI files support snapshots, which let you save the current state of a virtual machine (VM) and go back to it if you need to. This is very helpful for testing, making changes, and finding problems.
3. Portability: VDI files are portable, which makes it easy to move virtual machines between hosts or share them with other people. This makes it easier to be flexible and work together.
4. Isolation: VDI files wrap up the whole disk of a virtual machine, keeping it separate from the host system. This separation makes things safer and more stable.
5. Backup and Restore: VDI files make it easier to back up and restore. You can make a copy of the VDI file to back up the whole virtual machine, and to restore it, all you have to do is reattach the file.

Questions and Answers