Running a virtual machine from a cloud service

I've been having problems with my Windows software synching between my iMac and MacBook. I just had this thought today; would it be possible to copy a configured VM on Microsoft OneDrive and access it from either device? I would make sure Parallels is quit on the iMac before opening the VM up on the MacBook, so there wouldn't be any issues with two devices trying to make changes to the VM at the same time. It seems this would work, assuming bandwidth and storage space were sufficient.

 

Incidentally, my iMac is having problems updating to 2023-06 KB5027231. I keep getting an install error. I could just ignore this if I could turn on "Pause Updates." But that box is greyed out, even after restarting. Separate issue, but if this is an easy fix and someone would chime in, I'd appreciate it.

 

IDK how it would react to onedrive, but that'd be a lot of data to constantly upload/download and there's likely a better way to do what you're trying to do. From experience though, if I try taking the same VM and copy it onto another Mac to use in Parallels, then the Mac will ask me to import it every time a fresh transfer has occurred. So doing Exactly what you're trying to do would likely result in that kind of response from Parallels. Also, if you have different versions of Parallels on the Macs, then you'll likely be asked to update the Guest OS' tools installation.

 

Thanks for the reply. I wasn't sure if the VM would update continuously, or only when shutting down. But your reply raised another question, I wonder if I could do the same thing if the VM was stored on a portable flash drive? (I can't test it yet, because my iMac is M1 and my MacBook is Intel.)

 

If you're facing difficulties with syncing your Windows software between your iMac and MacBook, here's a potential solution you can consider. You can try copying a configured virtual machine (VM) onto Microsoft OneDrive and access it from either device. Before opening the VM on your MacBook, ensure that Parallels is closed on your iMac to avoid any conflicts when making changes simultaneously.

By utilizing this approach, you can potentially overcome the syncing issues and have a consistent VM experience on both devices. However, it's important to ensure that you have sufficient bandwidth and storage space on OneDrive to accommodate the VM files.

Please note that while this solution may work, it's always advisable to have regular backups of your VM and important data to avoid any unforeseen data loss or compatibility issues.