SoftRAID and Virtual Machine running older macOS - SoftRAID Volumes https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/softraid-and-virtual-machine-running-older-macos/ SoftRAID Discussion Board en-US Sun, 26 Apr 2026 23:40:38 +0000 wpForo 60 RE: SoftRAID and Virtual Machine running older macOS https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/softraid-and-virtual-machine-running-older-macos/#post-24892 Sat, 18 Apr 2026 15:42:18 +0000 @smayer97 

I believe the correct terminology is shared. And yes.

]]> SoftRAID Volumes SoftRAID Support https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/softraid-and-virtual-machine-running-older-macos/#post-24892 RE: SoftRAID and Virtual Machine running older macOS https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/softraid-and-virtual-machine-running-older-macos/#post-24881 Fri, 17 Apr 2026 07:21:15 +0000 Let me ask a different way. If I create a HFS+ volume that the host mounts, will a VM running an older guest OS like macOS 10.12 or older be able mount the HFS+ volume within the VM?

 

]]> SoftRAID Volumes smayer97 https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/softraid-and-virtual-machine-running-older-macos/#post-24881 RE: SoftRAID and Virtual Machine running older macOS https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/softraid-and-virtual-machine-running-older-macos/#post-24868 Tue, 14 Apr 2026 16:32:54 +0000 I have not used a VM on an older macos, but it appears that if the VM can share the files, it inteprets that for you. You just do not have "direct" access.
Note: SoftRAID App will not work in a VM guest environment, as it needs to talk directly to the hardware. But if the volume mounts on the host OS, the guest VM can support sharing APFS files, it appears. Not my expertise.]]> SoftRAID Volumes SoftRAID Support https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/softraid-and-virtual-machine-running-older-macos/#post-24868 RE: SoftRAID and Virtual Machine running older macOS https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/softraid-and-virtual-machine-running-older-macos/#post-24861 Tue, 14 Apr 2026 08:51:30 +0000 Thx for clarifying some of that. 

So, for the software I need to run in the guest OS, it can only operate on files located on a HFS+ volume. How would the VM present space that are on the host volume? Do I actually need to create a HFS+ volume that I mount or does the guest OS see any VM shared area as "HFS+" of sort, since the guest OS only knows HFS+? 

]]> SoftRAID Volumes smayer97 https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/softraid-and-virtual-machine-running-older-macos/#post-24861 RE: SoftRAID and Virtual Machine running older macOS https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/softraid-and-virtual-machine-running-older-macos/#post-24856 Mon, 13 Apr 2026 07:41:49 +0000 @smayer97 

No. The guest OS does not directly access your internal APFS disk at all.

What actually happens in a VM

When you run a macOS VM:

  • The guest OS (e.g. 10.12 Sierra) does not see your internal drive directly
  • It only sees:
    • a virtual disk (created by the VM software), and/or
    • any shared folders the VM software exposes

So the fact that your internal drive is APFS is mostly irrelevant.

What about file access?

  • If you use shared folders (Parallels, VMware, etc.):
    • The host (modern macOS) reads APFS
    • The VM sees a virtualized filesystem interface, not APFS itself
    • So it can access files, even though it doesn’t understand APFS
  • If you try to mount the disk directly inside the VM:
    • Then yes — macOS 10.12 or earlier cannot read APFS
    • It would not mount or recognize the volume
  • The guest OS does not need APFS support to access your files
  • As long as you use VM sharing features, everything will work
]]> SoftRAID Volumes SoftRAID Support https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/softraid-and-virtual-machine-running-older-macos/#post-24856 RE: SoftRAID and Virtual Machine running older macOS https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/softraid-and-virtual-machine-running-older-macos/#post-24855 Sun, 12 Apr 2026 17:03:52 +0000 @softraid-support

My internal volume is already formatted as APFS, since it is running macOS 10.14 Mojave. If I install a VM with an older macOS, e.g. macOS 10.12 Sierra or earlier, the VM will not be able to access the APFS volume? And will only be able to access the HFS+ that I create or have, which may either be an internal volume or partition, or an external one?

I just want to be sure I understand, especially in contrast to you confirmed that the VM OS is agnostic to the driver.

 

]]> SoftRAID Volumes smayer97 https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/softraid-and-virtual-machine-running-older-macos/#post-24855 RE: SoftRAID and Virtual Machine running older macOS https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/softraid-and-virtual-machine-running-older-macos/#post-24849 Sun, 12 Apr 2026 15:49:37 +0000 SoftRAID Volumes SoftRAID Support https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/softraid-and-virtual-machine-running-older-macos/#post-24849 RE: SoftRAID and Virtual Machine running older macOS https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/softraid-and-virtual-machine-running-older-macos/#post-24834 Sat, 11 Apr 2026 23:39:36 +0000 You say, "...any volumes with APFS, then you have those issues to deal with. But that is not your question!" It sort of is as well.

IIRC, any boot volume with macOS 10.13 High Sierra or newer is automatically formatted/converted to APFS. If I infer from your wording, does this mean that the VM will not be able to access that volume if the guest OS does not support APFS? Or is there another issue I need to be aware of?

]]> SoftRAID Volumes smayer97 https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/softraid-and-virtual-machine-running-older-macos/#post-24834 RE: SoftRAID and Virtual Machine running older macOS https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/softraid-and-virtual-machine-running-older-macos/#post-24833 Sat, 11 Apr 2026 18:53:12 +0000 @smayer97 

Yes, because they are essentially mounting them as "network" devices, not native devices. 
And, From SoftRAID 5 forward, all SoftRAID volumes will mount all volumes to Tahoe, and vice versa. (there are some minor differences with SoftRAID 4, as we no longer support APM partition format). So nothing to be concerned about.

When we add more RAID levels, or any volumes with APFS, then you have those issues to deal with. But that is not your question!

]]> SoftRAID Volumes SoftRAID Support https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/softraid-and-virtual-machine-running-older-macos/#post-24833 RE: SoftRAID and Virtual Machine running older macOS https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/softraid-and-virtual-machine-running-older-macos/#post-24829 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 06:59:52 +0000 So just that I am clear and understand you, are you saying that the only thing that matters is the version of the SoftRAID driver the host OS is compatible with, and it has no be bearing on the guest OS? So, a driver version needed for macOS 15 Sequoia would still allow a guest Mac OS X 10.6.8 to still be able to access those same drives? In other words, the guest OS is driver agnostic?

]]> SoftRAID Volumes smayer97 https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/softraid-and-virtual-machine-running-older-macos/#post-24829