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how to enable wifi on virtualbox

Posted: 18. Dec 2017, 16:53
by nmaujean
hi,

I am connecting to internet using wifi but can't access it on virtualbox.

I configure the network with bridge adapter to my wifi, tried promiscuited mode to deny and allow all,
I installed the extension pack but it is not working so far,

thank you for your help,

best regards,

Nicolas Maujean

Re: how to enable wifi on virtualbox

Posted: 18. Dec 2017, 18:14
by socratis
VirtualBox does not offer a WiFi adapter to any VMs, it's only Ethernet adapters, i.e. wired ones.

The only way that you could access a WiFi network over WiFi would be to use a USB WiFi adapter, which 1) you'd have to capture in your VM, and 2) you wouldn't be able to use on your host.

Re: how to enable wifi on virtualbox

Posted: 19. Dec 2017, 10:28
by mpack
nmaujean wrote: I am connecting to internet using wifi but can't access it on virtualbox.
For simple Internet access a NAT configuration is usually fine, easiest to set up, and uses whatever the host is using (including WiFi). Can you say why you don't want to use it?

Re: how to enable wifi on virtualbox

Posted: 19. Dec 2017, 11:25
by trekfan1
Or Bridge to a Wifi network card on HOST

Re: how to enable wifi on virtualbox

Posted: 19. Dec 2017, 12:09
by socratis
@trekfan1
Bridged and wireless don't always play nice. Bridged networking is outside the WLAN specification. Bridging to wireless is not really bridging. It may or may not work. Some combinations of Routers/Access Points, WLAN cards and drivers work, some don't. See: Bridging & Wifi - Supported hardware.

Re: how to enable wifi on virtualbox

Posted: 19. Dec 2017, 13:20
by mpack
trekfan1 wrote:Or Bridge to a Wifi network card on HOST
I specifically asked why the OP does not want to use NAT. I suggest we cross the subject of bridging when we come to it.

Re: how to enable wifi on virtualbox

Posted: 19. Dec 2017, 14:06
by nmaujean
mpack wrote:
nmaujean wrote: I am connecting to internet using wifi but can't access it on virtualbox.
For simple Internet access a NAT configuration is usually fine, easiest to set up, and uses whatever the host is using (including WiFi). Can you say why you don't want to use it?
when you use NAT, you can't connect VM to VM and VM to host, anyway with NAT it is not working also

Re: how to enable wifi on virtualbox

Posted: 19. Dec 2017, 14:38
by mpack
nmaujean wrote: when you use NAT, you can't connect VM to VM
With "NAT Network" (NAT Service) you can connect VM to VM as well as VM to Internet.
nmaujean wrote: and VM to host,
True. What particular host feature do you wish to access over a network connection?
nmaujean wrote: , anyway with NAT it is not working also
Well that would be the crux of the problem. I suggest you find out why NAT (the simplest option) isn't working before going on to more advanced networking modes. NAT should always work, if the host has a working Internet connection.

Re: how to enable wifi on virtualbox

Posted: 19. Dec 2017, 15:17
by nmaujean
mpack wrote:
nmaujean wrote: when you use NAT, you can't connect VM to VM
With "NAT Network" (NAT Service) you can connect VM to VM as well as VM to Internet.

no it is part of Virtual box documentation

Re: how to enable wifi on virtualbox

Posted: 19. Dec 2017, 15:26
by mpack
nmaujean wrote: no it is part of Virtual box documentation
Read it again (user manual section 6.4). "NAT network" is not NAT.

Re: how to enable wifi on virtualbox

Posted: 19. Dec 2017, 16:17
by nmaujean
mpack wrote:
nmaujean wrote: no it is part of Virtual box documentation
Read it again. "NAT network" is not NAT.
yes, sorry, I misread

Re: how to enable wifi on virtualbox

Posted: 29. Dec 2017, 20:01
by schulak_vdm
The NAT feature try to connect to the first NIC (commonly wire interface). Becose you do not plug the wire (if you use wireless) the NAT don't give you access to the outside. Try to disable your wire NIC (of your host pc) and reboot your guest. You will have access to the internet via you wireless NIC.

Re: how to enable wifi on virtualbox

Posted: 29. Dec 2017, 20:31
by socratis
schulak_vdm wrote:Becose you do not plug the wire (if you use wireless) the NAT don't give you access to the outside.
I'm sorry, but that's not true. NAT will use whatever your host is using, it doesn't have any preference if it's wired, wireless or anything else. So disabling and otherwise "playing" with your wired host interfaces shouldn't affect your internet connectivity.

Re: how to enable wifi on virtualbox

Posted: 30. Dec 2017, 09:57
by mpack
schulak_vdm wrote:The NAT feature try to connect to the first NIC (commonly wire interface).
It most definitely does not do that. At home I have terrible landline connection, but ok 4G connection. Of course the latter is metered. I regularly control which connection the HOST is using in order that the GUEST has a fast NAT connection, e.g. in order to download a large feature update and not take all day doing it.

It's possible that you have have to restart the guest, that I don't know since I never suspend VMs, I always start them from scratch every time.

Re: how to enable wifi on virtualbox

Posted: 17. Jul 2020, 20:25
by bluephoenix71
Hi I would just like to know how I can install an ubuntu 64bit VM in VB and make it work using WIFI and not need to connect to the wired network in my home. Anyone have ideas? I tried this with VM workstation and I never had problems with it. I also just choose NAT and everything seems to work. How come it's so hard to install an Ubuntu VM in my windows laptop? I just want the VM to have internet access using wifi.