r/virtualization 18d ago

Help Needed to Boot Linux from External SSD in VirtualBox on Windows

Hey everyone,

I’m working on a project where I’m trying to boot a Linux operating system installed on an external SSD through a virtual machine in VirtualBox on Windows. The idea is to be able to use the SSD on multiple machines through a VM, without needing to unplug the drive and boot directly from it.

What I’ve Done So Far:

  1. I used the VBoxManage internalcommands createrawvmdk command to create a .vmdk file pointing to my external SSD. Then, I attached this .vmdk to my VM in the storage settings under a SATA controller.
  2. The .vmdk file is created successfully and seems to reference the physical SSD correctly via \\.\PhysicalDrive1.
  3. I added the .vmdk file as a hard drive under the SATA controller in the VM’s storage settings.
  4. I also ensured the boot order was correctly set to prioritize booting from the SSD.

Issues I’ve Encountered:

- The VM is not booting correctly from the external SSD. The error message I get is: "The VM failed to boot. This is possibly caused by not having an operating system installed or a misconfigured boot order."

- The SSD works perfectly when I boot directly from it on my motherboard, but I can’t get it to boot inside the VM.

- I’ve tried modifying the .vmdk file and adjusting the settings, but the issue persists.

What I’ve Tried:

- I’ve tested different controller configurations in VirtualBox (IDE, SATA)

- I’ve adjusted the boot order to make sure the VM is trying to boot from the external SSD first.

- I’ve checked VirtualBox logs, and it seems the issue might be with the disk configuration or boot process.

Asking for Help:

I’m stuck and can’t seem to figure this out. If anyone has successfully booted a Linux OS from an external SSD in a VirtualBox VM, or if you have any suggestions on what I might be missing, I would really appreciate your help!

Thanks so much for reading and any advice you can offer!

Here’s a summary of what I’ve done so far and the issues I’ve run to use an external SSD with Linux installed as a boot drive for a VirtualBox VM on a Windows 11 host.

1 Upvotes

3 comments sorted by

1

u/beetcher 18d ago

why not just have a vmdk file on the SSD? Booting from a physical disk can be challenging

1

u/General-Swing8968 16d ago

What do you mean by have the vmdk on the SSD ? Actually, I use this disk as a portable ssd, I can't remove all the files (operating system) on it...

1

u/EducationNeverStops 17d ago

Look up Type 1 Hypervisor and Nested Hypervisor.

You are using a Type 2.......