Migrate Windows Virtual Machine from VirtualBox to QEMU/QNAP Virtualization Station

I want to move my Windows XP VM (Virtual Machine) which runs on VirtualBox on OSX to QNAP Virtualization Station running on QNAP TS-251A. The latter is a variant of QEMU. With the new architecture, I may use Windows XP from Chromebox. There is no need to have a dedicated Windows machine.

Virtualizer

Following are the most important difference between the two virtualizers:

VirtualBox

• Intel 82371 AB/EB PCI Bus Master IDE Controller
• Intel 82801 AA AC’97 Audio Controller
• Intel PRO/1000 T Server Adapter
• Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller

Virtualization Station

• Intel 82371 SB PCI Bus Master IDE Controller
• Legacy Audio Drivers
• Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI Fast Ethernet NIC
• Intel Core i7 (Nehalem Class Core i7)
• Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller
• Standard Universal PCI to USB Host Controller

What’s Wrong?

When I launch the Windows XP VM which is imported from a VirtualBox OVA (Open Virtualization Format) file, it is always BSoD (Blue Screen of Death).

How to Fix?

atlaswu: Parallels Desktop 虛擬機轉移到 QNAP 發生藍屏 helps me to looks for incompatibility issue and 0x0badc0de: Converting a Windows Virtual Machine from VirtualBox to QEMU and KVM using libguestfs tools specify the ide and processor drivers are the key.

Here is what I got after several experiments. Five key points:

1. Change the IDE ATA/ATAPI Controller from Intel 82371 AB/EB PCI Bus Master IDE Controller to Intel 82371 SB PCI Bus Master IDE Controller in VirtualBox.
2. Disable the Intel Processor in Virtualization Station.
3. Configure to emulate Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI Fast Ethernet NIC and Intel Core i7 (Nehalem Class Core i7) in Virtualization Station [Settings].
4. Assign Legacy Audio Drivers to replace Audio Device on High Definition Bus in Windows XP on Virtualization Station.
5. Install the Virtio Drivers and QNAP Guest Agent in QNAP Guest Tools Installer.

Detail steps:

Create an OVA with Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller

1. Launch the Device Manager In Windows XP in VirtualBox.
2. Change the Intel 82371 AB/EB PCI Bus Master IDE Controller to Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller by manually assigning the specified driver.
3. Turn off Windows XP completely.
4. In VirtualBox, use [File] → [Export Appliance…] to create an “Open Virtualization Format 1.0 OVA” file.

Import to Virtualization Station and VM Settings

1. Import above OVA file into Virtualization Station.
2. Create a snapshot of the new VM before everything.
3. In [Settings]→[General], set following items:
   1. [CPU] as “Intel Core i7 (Nehalem Class Core i7)”
   2. [OS Type] as “Windows”
   3. [Version] as “Windows XP”
4. In [Settings]→[Network], set following items:
   1. Adapter 1 [Model] as “Realtek Fast Ethernet”.
5. In [Settings]→[CD/DVD], set following items:
   1. Add a CD/DVD ROM device on “IDE”.
6. In [Settings]→[Video], set following items:
   1. [Type] as “Cirrus”

Disable the Intel Processor

The Windows mouse pointer is difficult to use at first boot. It’s related to the USB driver. If reboot before disabling the newly found Intel Processor, it would bring up BSoD while launching Windows XP. Restore to the previous snapshot and try again.

While launching “Device Manager”, “Found New Hardware Wizard” will be launched automatically and the following devices are identified automatically and correctly.

• Intel 82371 SB PCI Bus Master IDE Controller
• Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI Fast Ethernet NIC
• Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller
• Standard Universal PCI to USB Host Controller

The following devices are identified automatically but incorrectly.

• Audio Device on High Definition Bus
• Intel Processor

Just stop Intel Processor and reboot. If two cores are assigned for the VM, there will be two to stop.

During the first reboot, BSoD shows up once but never in the next loading.

Install QNAP Guest Tools

Once the “HID-Compliance Mouse” is installed, the mouse pointer would work as normal. Sometimes it is identified on the 2nd reboot.

When Windows XP is login successfully, click on [Insert Guest Tool CD] next to the [Information]→[CD/DVD] in Virtualization Station. The “QNAP Guest Tools Installer” should be launched automatically. Install the “Virtio Drivers” and “QNAP Guest Agent” both.

The “QNAP Guest Tools Installer” will become not responding. Use “Windows Task Manager” to terminate. Then reboot Windows.

Now let the “Found New Hardware Wizard” search online and install drivers.

Configure Audio Driver Manually

Open “Device Manager” and assign Legacy Audio Drivers to replace Audio Device on High Definition Bus. Change to preferred screen resolution and reboot.

What’s Missing

Even I have installed the Virtio Drivers, there are two error drivers in “Device Manager”.

• VirtIO Baloon Driver
• VirtIO-Serial Driver

Reference

1. 0x0badc0de: Converting a Windows Virtual Machine from VirtualBox to QEMU and KVM using libguestfs tools
2. atlaswu: Parallels Desktop 虛擬機轉移到 QNAP 發生藍屏
3. oVirt: Spice
4. QEMU
5. QNAP: How to use Virtualization Station 3?
6. QNAP TS-251A
7. QNAP Virtualization Station
8. VirtualBox
9. Wiki: Blue Screen of Death