Convert KVM to VirtualBox

Convert KVM to VirtualBox

[satimis]

Hi folks,

I need converting KVM (qcow2) to VirtualBox (vdi) from one PC to  
another PC.  Google didn't find many threads concerned, instead the  
other way around.  However it found only one;

How to Convert a KVM to a VDI
http://www.ehow.com/how_5856610_convert-kvm-vdi.html

If I read the article correctly it seems both KVM and VirtualBox are  
running on the same PC, VirtualBox running on KVM.

Do you have any idea/suggestion where can I find relevant documentation?

TIA.


B.R.
Stephen L

Re: Convert KVM to VirtualBox

[Alexander Graf]

Am 04.02.2010 um 02:42 schrieb satimis@pacific.net.hk:

> Hi folks,
>
> I need converting KVM (qcow2) to VirtualBox (vdi) from one PC to  
> another PC.  Google didn't find many threads concerned, instead the  
> other way around.  However it found only one;
>
> How to Convert a KVM to a VDI
> http://www.ehow.com/how_5856610_convert-kvm-vdi.html
>
> If I read the article correctly it seems both KVM and VirtualBox are  
> running on the same PC, VirtualBox running on KVM.
>
> Do you have any idea/suggestion where can I find relevant  
> documentation?

Just qemu-img convert the image to raw and use that as disk image in  
vbox. Make sure you configure your vm to the same hw as on kvm (apic,  
piix3, etc)

But seriously, why would anyone want to go this direction?

Alex

Re: Convert KVM to VirtualBox

[satimis]

Hi Alex,

Thanks for your advice.

> Just qemu-img convert the image to raw and use that as disk image in
> vbox. Make sure you configure your vm to the same hw as on kvm (apic,
> piix3, etc)

Could you please explain in more detail "... configure your vm to the  
same hw as on kvm (apic, piix3, etc)"?  The image file of vm is  
*.qcow2.  I'll run VirtualBox on KVM if possible.  The former is  
desktop virtualization.  Ah a further thought can convert vm across  
PCs?  That is VirtualBox is running on another PC.


> But seriously, why would anyone want to go this direction?

I can't get sound work on vm.  Therefore I expect trying VirturlBox to  
check whether it can sort out this problem.  I'll run VirtualBox on  
KVM if possible.  The former is desktop virtualization.


B.R.
Stephen

Re: Convert KVM to VirtualBox

[Alexander Graf]

satimis@pacific.net.hk wrote:
> Hi Alex,
>
> Thanks for your advice.
>
>> Just qemu-img convert the image to raw and use that as disk image in
>> vbox. Make sure you configure your vm to the same hw as on kvm (apic,
>> piix3, etc)
>
> Could you please explain in more detail "... configure your vm to the
> same hw as on kvm (apic, piix3, etc)"?  The image file of vm is
> *.qcow2.  I'll run VirtualBox on KVM if possible.  The former is
> desktop virtualization.  Ah a further thought can convert vm across
> PCs?  That is VirtualBox is running on another PC.

VBox doesn't work with KVM. They're basically rivaling products. Though
I'd love to see VBox adapt to make use of the KVM kernel module.

I'm sorry I can't help you on the configuration bits any more. The only
time I ever used VBox was to do a patch that allows VBox and KVM to
coexist. Just go through the virtual machine configuration things and
try out to change settings until it works.

>
>> But seriously, why would anyone want to go this direction?
>
> I can't get sound work on vm.  Therefore I expect trying VirturlBox to
> check whether it can sort out this problem.  I'll run VirtualBox on
> KVM if possible.  The former is desktop virtualization.

Nope, not possible atm.

Alex

Re: Convert KVM to VirtualBox

[Gildas Le Nadan]

Alexander Graf wrote:
> But seriously, why would anyone want to go this direction?
> 
> Alex

Hi Alex

Last time I checked the advantages of VirtualBox vs KVM were (for the 
technical part):
- sata support
- usb2 support
- audio hd support
- rdp/rdp+usb support
- a somewhat simpler network configuration method
and, icing on the cake, they have a CLI/API to ease 
administration/integration.

(Yes most of those are in the PUEL version, but still, it works and is 
free as in free beer)

Cheers,
Gildas

Re: Convert KVM to VirtualBox

[Yann Hamon]

> Hi folks,
Hello Satimis, 


> I need converting KVM (qcow2) to VirtualBox (vdi) from one PC to  
> another PC. 

I had to do this recently to run a KVM virtual machine on a Windows PC with virtualbox.

> Do you have any idea/suggestion where can I find relevant
> documentation?

Although you can convert to RAW and then to vdi with VBoxManage, I found it easier to just use vmware's VMDK format, which is very well used by both vmware and virtualbox - and you can use qemu-img to convert from one to the other.

Good luck


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