SwiftVMDisks and Images
The disk#
Each machine has one disk. You pick its size when you create the machine, but it only takes up what the guest has written to it.
Growing the disk#
Shut the machine down, then choose Resize… under Storage in its settings, or run:
swiftvm resize web-server 64 # the new size in GBA disk can grow, but it can't shrink. Growing only makes the hardware bigger; what the guest does with the new space depends on the guest:
| Guest | After growing |
|---|---|
| Linux, made with Quick Create | Grows into the new space at its next start |
| Other Linux | Grow the partition and the file system in the guest, for example with growpart and resize2fs |
| macOS | The startup volume can't grow. Add a volume in the new space with Disk Utility in the guest |
So pick a generous size when you create a Mac.
Disc and disk images#
Disc images (ISO) and disk images (raw or ASIF) plug into a machine as USB drives, also while it runs.
Attach one under Disc and Disk Images in the machine's toolbar, in its settings, or with:
swiftvm attach web-server ~/Downloads/data.img
swiftvm attach web-server ~/Downloads/installer.iso --read-only
swiftvm eject web-server data.img- Disc images are always read-only.
- Eject a drive in the guest before ejecting it here, or the guest may lose what it was still writing.
- Drives can't change while a machine is suspended. Resume it first.
- A machine won't start while one of its images is missing. Put the image back, or eject it in the machine's settings.
Copies and snapshots#
Duplicates and snapshots are instant because APFS shares the unchanged parts of the disk. On a volume with another file system they are full copies.