diff --git a/org.jdrupes.vmoperator.runner.qemu/config-sample.yaml b/org.jdrupes.vmoperator.runner.qemu/config-sample.yaml
index a798b6e..8ecddf3 100644
--- a/org.jdrupes.vmoperator.runner.qemu/config-sample.yaml
+++ b/org.jdrupes.vmoperator.runner.qemu/config-sample.yaml
@@ -83,11 +83,14 @@
     # There are no default drives. The supported types are "ide-cd"
     # and "raw". All types support a "bootindex" property.
     # Type "raw" can have a property "file" (if backed by a file on
-    # the host) or a property "device" (if backed by a device).    
+    # the host) or a property "device" (if backed by a device).
+    # Alternatively you can use "resource", which automatically be
+    # interpreted as file or device as appropriate
+    # (see https://docs.oracle.com/en/java/javase/17/docs/api/java.base/java/nio/file/Files.html#isRegularFile(java.nio.file.Path,java.nio.file.LinkOption...)).    
     # "drives":
     # - "type": "ide-cd"
     #   "bootindex": (undefined)
-    #   "file": (undefined)
+    #   "resource": (undefined)
       
     # "spice":
     #   "port": 5900
diff --git a/org.jdrupes.vmoperator.runner.qemu/src/org/jdrupes/vmoperator/runner/qemu/Configuration.java b/org.jdrupes.vmoperator.runner.qemu/src/org/jdrupes/vmoperator/runner/qemu/Configuration.java
index 5b6fae8..ce7e8b3 100644
--- a/org.jdrupes.vmoperator.runner.qemu/src/org/jdrupes/vmoperator/runner/qemu/Configuration.java
+++ b/org.jdrupes.vmoperator.runner.qemu/src/org/jdrupes/vmoperator/runner/qemu/Configuration.java
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ class Configuration implements Dto {
         public String rtcClock = "rt";
         public int powerdownTimeout = 900;
         public Network[] network = { new Network() };
-        public Drive[] drives;
+        public Drive[] drives = new Drive[0];
         public Spice spice;
 
         /**
@@ -173,6 +173,7 @@ class Configuration implements Dto {
         public Integer bootindex;
         public String device;
         public String file;
+        public String resource;
     }
 
     /**
@@ -202,9 +203,29 @@ class Configuration implements Dto {
             vm.maximumCpus = vm.currentCpus;
         }
 
+        checkDrives();
+
         return true;
     }
 
+    private void checkDrives() {
+        for (Drive drive : vm.drives) {
+            if (drive.file != null || drive.device != null) {
+                continue;
+            }
+            if (drive.resource == null) {
+                logger.severe(
+                    () -> "Drive configuration is missing its resource.");
+
+            }
+            if (Files.isRegularFile(Path.of(drive.resource))) {
+                drive.file = drive.resource;
+            } else {
+                drive.device = drive.resource;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     @SuppressWarnings("PMD.AvoidDeeplyNestedIfStmts")
     private boolean checkRuntimeDir() {
         // Runtime directory (sockets)