How do I add a USB wifi adapter to my VM?

Discussions about using Linux guests in VirtualBox.
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n3xtgen
Posts: 3
Joined: 3. Jul 2015, 14:24

How do I add a USB wifi adapter to my VM?

Post by n3xtgen »

Hi everyone!
My problem now is that I want to use my wifi adapter with my VM, but I cant get the VM to detect it :(
I have the wireless adapter working fine on my main Debian OS.

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Virtualbox Network settings:
Attached To: Bridged Adapter
Name: wlan1 (wlan0 is my builtin wifi & wlan1 is the adapter)
Promiscuous Mode: Deny
I have gone to the USB settings of the VM to try to add it as a filter but when I click the icon with a plus there are no devices listed. I have also tried to enable USB 2.0 but nothing happens

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Main OS: Debian 8
Virtual Box VM: Kali Linux
Wireless Adapter: TP Link TL-WN722N
Chipset: Atheros
Typing in 'ifconfig' does not show me any wifi adapter attached:

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eth0
lo
I have tried to install the atheros drivers in the VM but it says they are all up-to-date.
I ahve also installed the VirtualBox Extension Pack.
I am not a Linux GURU so I have run out of ideas of what to try. How can I get VirtualBox to see the USB adapter?
Perryg
Site Moderator
Posts: 34369
Joined: 6. Sep 2008, 22:55
Primary OS: Linux other
VBox Version: OSE self-compiled
Guest OSses: *NIX

Re: How do I add a USB wifi adapter to my VM?

Post by Perryg »

User name in the vboxusers group and reboot.

Keep in mind that if you assign the USB device to the guest the host can not use it and also that you are now using a device direct in the guest. Meaning that you can not use the VirtualBox network and it would need to be disabled.
n3xtgen
Posts: 3
Joined: 3. Jul 2015, 14:24

Re: How do I add a USB wifi adapter to my VM?

Post by n3xtgen »

Perryg wrote:User name in the vboxusers group and reboot.

Keep in mind that if you assign the USB device to the guest the host can not use it and also that you are now using a device direct in the guest. Meaning that you can not use the VirtualBox network and it would need to be disabled.
I have tried that but still cant get the adapter to showup :(
This is what I tried:

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sudo usermod -a -G vboxusers $USER
Then checked to make sure the vboxusers shows up:

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groups $USER
Perryg
Site Moderator
Posts: 34369
Joined: 6. Sep 2008, 22:55
Primary OS: Linux other
VBox Version: OSE self-compiled
Guest OSses: *NIX

Re: How do I add a USB wifi adapter to my VM?

Post by Perryg »

Just add the name you used to install and run vbox.
Also make sure that you are running the official version from virtualbox.org and not a repo version.
n3xtgen
Posts: 3
Joined: 3. Jul 2015, 14:24

Re: How do I add a USB wifi adapter to my VM?

Post by n3xtgen »

Thanks! I removed the repo version and installed the one from the website and I can now add the WIFI adapter as a USB! :D
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