How to use the command 'qm import disk' (with examples)

The command qm import disk, which is an alias of qm disk import, is used in virtualization environments to attach or import a specific disk image file to a virtual machine (VM). This command is part of a suite of tools that help system administrators manage virtual disks efficiently in environments such as Proxmox. Importing disks is crucial for tasks that involve migrating virtual machines, upgrading storage, or restoring VMs from backups.

Use case 1: Importing a QCOW2 Disk Image into a Virtual Machine

Code:

qm import disk 101 /var/lib/vz/images/my-drive.qcow2 local-lvm

Motivation:

This command is motivated by the need to attach an existing disk image, saved in the QCOW2 format, into an existing virtual machine (VM) that has an ID of 101. Often, administrators need to move or clone workloads between environments, and attaching a pre-configured disk can save significant time compared to setting up a VM from scratch.

Explanation:

• qm: This is the command line tool used in Proxmox for managing virtual machines.
• import disk: This action indicates that a disk is being imported into a VM.
• 101: This is the VM ID for which the disk is being imported. Virtual machines are usually identified by numbers in a Proxmox environment.
• /var/lib/vz/images/my-drive.qcow2: This is the path to the disk image you want to import. QCOW2 is a popular format for storing disk images due to features like compression and snapshots.
• local-lvm: This specifies the storage pool where the disk image will be imported. Local LVM is a storage type that uses Logical Volume Management.

Example output:

Formatting '/var/lib/vz/images/vm-101-disk-0.raw', fmt=raw size=107374182400
new disk at: 'local-lvm:vm-101-disk-0'

Use case 2: Importing a VMDK Disk Image to a VM in a Different Storage Location

Code:

qm import disk 102 /mnt/backup/vm-image.vmdk my-nfs

Motivation:

In this use case, a system administrator has a VMware disk image in VMDK format that needs to be imported into a VM running on Proxmox, specifically to a storage pool that resides in an NFS (Network File System) share. This setup is common in environments where storage is decoupled from compute resources, offering flexibility in managing data across networked storage solutions.

Explanation:

• qm: This is the command tool used to interact with Proxmox VM configurations.
• import disk: Indicates that you’re adding a disk to a virtual machine.
• 102: This is the unique identifier for the VM to which the disk will be imported.
• /mnt/backup/vm-image.vmdk: This represents the file path of the VMDK file located on a mounted backup directory.
• my-nfs: This is the destination storage pool name where the disk will be imported. ‘my-nfs’ suggests the use of network-attached storage, which allows for accessible and scalable data management.

Example output:

Starting disk import for VM 102...
Converting VMDK to raw format...
Disk 'my-nfs:vm-102-disk-1' created successfully.

Conclusion:

The qm import disk command is an essential tool in a virtualized infrastructure for efficiently managing virtual disks. Whether you’re transitioning VMs from different virtualization technologies or simply scaling resources by adding new storage, this command provides a streamlined process for incorporating various disk image formats into the Proxmox environment. The examples highlight scenarios where importing disks can optimize workflow, saving time, and simplifying VM management tasks.