VBoxRawdisk
VBoxRawdisk is a macOS utility that helps VirtualBox users create raw-disk VMDK files so a physical drive or selected partitions can be used in a VM.
What is VBoxRawdisk?
VBoxRawdisk is a macOS utility for people who use Oracle VM VirtualBox and need to connect a real physical disk or selected disk partitions to a virtual machine. Developed by Bryan Christianson, it provides a simpler interface for the raw-disk setup steps that VirtualBox otherwise requires through command-line tools. The app scans attached drives, shows disk details in a Disk Utility-style view, and reads your existing VirtualBox virtual machine list so you can choose where the generated VMDK should be used. It can create raw-disk mapping files, optionally attach them to a VM with the appropriate controller setup, and optionally start the virtual machine. This makes it mainly useful for advanced testing, migration, and dual-use disk workflows where the same operating system or data disk may be used both natively and inside VirtualBox.
Key features
- Scan attached physical drives and display their key disk details
- Create raw-disk VMDK mapping files for use with VirtualBox
- Work with an entire physical disk or selected partitions
- Read existing VirtualBox virtual machines so you can target the right VM
- Optionally attach the generated VMDK to a compatible VM controller
- Optionally start the selected virtual machine after setup
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Safety overview
Status: Use with caution
VBoxRawdisk is legitimate software, but it works with physical disks at a low level and may request administrator access so VirtualBox can use the selected device files. That access is normal for this task, but choosing the wrong disk or partitions can damage data or make a system unbootable. Use it only if you understand your VirtualBox storage setup, make sure important data is backed up first, and avoid using disks that contain files you cannot afford to lose.
Recommendation: Keep VBoxRawdisk if you actively use VirtualBox raw-disk setups or physical-disk passthrough on your Mac. If you do not use that workflow, you can remove it without affecting macOS itself, though any convenience it provides for creating and attaching raw-disk mappings will be lost.
Common paths
/Applications/VBoxRawdisk.app
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