Transferring Files to and from Virtual Machinesvirtualbox150

This page provides data on transferring files between different types of virtual machines provided by the SCS. It is often useful to be able to transfer files between the guest machine and the host automobile. On this page, you will find instructions for the following methods:

Creating a Shared Folder in VirtualBox
Shared Folders on SCS Lab Computers using Course VMs
Shared Folders on Personal Computers
Dragging and Dropping Files in VirtualBox
Managing Files with NextCloud

Creating a Shared Folder in VirtualBox

A shared folder is a folder that makes its files available on both the guest automobile and the host machine at the same time. Creating a shared folder between the guest and the host allows you to easily manage files that should exist nowadays on both machines. The course virtual machines are gear up to use shared folders right abroad, just if you are using the virtual automobile on your personal computer, then y'all will need to specify which folder to use every bit shared storage.

Shared Folders on SCS Lab Computers using Course VMs

If you are using a course VM on a lab computer, it is probable that a shared folder has already been ready for you. On the desktop of your course VM, you lot should notice a binder titled SharedFolders. Inside this binder, you lot will find whatever folders that accept been shared between the course VM and lab computers.

You should see 2 folders that take already been configured for you: Z_DRIVE and Temp.

Z_DRIVE gives yous access to your Windows Business relationship Z:\ drive. This is storage that is persistent to your SCS account and available as a network drive on the lab computers.

Temp gives y'all access to the folder found at D:\temp on the lab figurer. Files stored in this folder are local to the machine, pregnant that they can be accessed faster but will delete from the arrangement when yous log out.

If you are working with information that you will need to utilize once again, use the Z_DRIVE for your shared folder. If you need a faster read/write speed, use the Temp folder, but remember to support your files, or they will be deleted when you log off the computer.

Shared Folders on Personal Computers

If you are using your own personal machine, you will need to configure VirtualBox to look in the right place for your shared files.

  • Video Tutorial (Windows)
  • Quick Start Guide

First, click on the guest machine you intend to share files with. From there, y'all tin can select the guest Settings and navigate to Shared Folders on the left side carte. To create a new shared folder, either click the New Folder icon on the correct bill of fare or right-click the empty list of shared folders and click Add Shared Folder. From here, there are six options:

  • Folder Path: The folder proper noun on the host car. Click the driblet-downward carte du jour and navigate to the binder you would like to share.
  • Folder Proper noun: This is the name of the folder as it will appear on the guest motorcar.
  • Read-Merely: If you lot check read-just, the guest machine volition exist unable to write changes to the folder. This is valuable when you lot only desire to send files to the virtual machine, just do not desire to risk having the files modified by the guest.
  • Auto-Mountain: When any external storage is connected to a computer, information technology must be mounted in club to exist used. It is recommended that you turn on auto-mounting unless you are familiar with the procedure of mounting a drive yourself.
  • Mount Bespeak: Unless you already know about mount points, leave this blank.
  • Make Permanent: If you check this, the shared folder volition be a permanent motorcar folder. If it is not checked, the binder will not exist shared after a shutdown.

On the class virtual machines, when you load into the desktop, you should run into a folder labelled SharedFolders. In there, you volition encounter any folders that are currently mounted and being shared.

Dragging and Dropping Files in VirtualBox

If you lot only demand to transfer a few files rapidly, you can simply drag and drop the files in. On the top bar of the running guest machine, click on Devices > Drag and Drop and brand certain that Bidirectional is selected. This ways that you will be able to drag files from the host to the invitee and from the guest to the host. Once bidirectional drag and drib is checked, you lot should be able to begin dragging and dropping files.

Note: Sometimes when dragging files into the course VM, y'all may not be able to elevate them into the file browser directly. If you encounter this issue, you should drag your files onto the Desktop and motility the files around from in that location. Y'all should run into the cursor modify when it is ready to drop files.

Y'all can also drag files from the guest car into the host. To do this, merely open up the file browser on the host to where you would like to drop the files and drag the files from the virtual machine into the file browser of the host. File transfers should be pretty quick; if the virtual machine seems stuck when transferring, only cancel the transfer and endeavour over again.

Managing Files with NextCloud

On any virtual machine, including VirtualBox, VMWare, or the virtual machines hosted on the SCS OpenStack, you can access the SCS NextCloud services to move files between multiple machines and your SCS Windows Business relationship storage. NextCloud offers you all of your SCS storage in i remote location, like to how yous might use other file hosting services similar Dropbox or Google Drive. Earlier trying to utilize NextCloud, y'all should bank check that you can access the service by logging in here.

If y'all tin can admission the NextCloud services, y'all can scan the various file storage services available to you:

  • Linux Home: These are the files from your SCS Linux Account
  • Windows Home: These are the files from your SCS Windows Account and your lab Z:\ drive.
  • NextCloud: In addition to the other storage accounts provided to you by the SCS, you lot can also upload up to 20GB of files straight to NextCloud.

With NextCloud, you lot tin can upload your files from any motorcar with an internet connection and download them onto any other machine with an internet connection. For example, you tin can movement project files off of your virtual machine, onto the NextCloud storage, so download them on your personal laptop. Alternatively, you can upload files from your personal PC onto the NextCloud storage, identify them into the Windows Home folder, and access those files from either the lab Z:\ bulldoze or download them on a virtual machine like VirtualBox or OpenStack.

Uploading Files to NextCloud from a Lab Reckoner

If yous would like to upload files from a lab reckoner, the easiest way to do this is to identify the files you lot would like to transfer into your Z:\ drive. These files will exist automatically backup into your NextCloud storage under the Windows Dwelling house folder. Later that, you can movement them into the main NextCloud storage or choose to proceed them in your Z:\bulldoze.

Uploading Files to NextCloud from a VM or Other PC

If yous would like to upload files from either a VM or any other calculator, you can log in to the NextCloud service using any of the bachelor interfaces, such every bit the spider web interface. Printing the "+" icon in the top left of the file browser and select Upload File. From here, you can choose to keep it in the main NextCloud storage, movement it into your Windows Business relationship storage (the Windows Dwelling binder), or into your Linux Account storage (the Linux Home folder).

Downloading NextCloud Files to a VM or Other PC

In one case your files are uploaded, y'all will exist able to download those files onto any machine, which can connect to NextCloud. Kickoff, log in to your preferred NextCloud interface (e.g. the web interface). Navigate to the folder which contains the files you would similar to download. Once you are in the target folder, click the checkbox adjacent to each file you would similar to download. Above the file listing, you should notice the context bar changing to tell yous how many files y'all have selected and a push labelled Actions. Click Actions > Download.

If you selected a unmarried file, it will prompt you to confirm the download. If you have chosen more one file, NextCloud will identify all of the selected files into a cipher annal. Before y'all tin can employ the files, yous will demand to extract them from the archive. In one case you have downloaded your file or extracted your archive, you are fix to use your files on your machine.

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