Configuring NAV2013 RTM with Oracle VirtualBox?

Andy_Smith

I apologize in advance if this isn't the correct forum for this particular question, but I'm trying to configure a NAV VM for validating some courseware that my firm is working on and I'm experiencing a combination of lack of familiarity with how the VMs are usually set up and a somewhat neophyte status with VirtualBox. I'm unfortunately using a slightly more up to date version of the 2013 release which is different enough that those that were previously involved with the courseware were using a different version (thus the need for me to validate that it is still correct) that didn't have the same file/directory structure and they are similarly uncertain how to set up this new release.

The installation comes with three main files:

80535A-NAV2013-MAIN-RTM-Allfiles
Base11A-WS08R2SP1
NAV2013-MAIN-RTM

All three have .VHD files associated, and the last one (NAV2013-MAIN-RTM) has a more involved directory structure that includes an XML file with some apparent drive mappings (since I use a primary drive SSD with limited room, I'm assuming that if this XML file is to be edited with the correct mappings for my storage drive).

I've tried creating a VM and linking to the Base11A VHD and if I do that I can get it to boot up with 2008 server, but it's an empty installation. Linking to the VHDs for allfiles or under the NAV2013 gives errors.

Has anybody else set this up on virtual box, and if so can you please give a neophyte level explanation of how to do this?

Andy_Smith

For search posterity for others with this issue, the answer to this query appears to be "you can't". MS releases the VHDs as a main regular VHD and a "differential" VHD. VirtualBox plays well with a regular VHD but appears to grind to an ignominious halt when attempting to link to a differential VHD. The solution in this case is either a) Use hyper-v instead, or b) get the person that gave you the virtual machine to merge the differential into the main and give you a merged VHD. At least until VirtualBox adds support for the differential VHDs.