Networking: Host Interface - how to get work?

wdolek · Post by **wdolek** » 8. Jan 2009, 02:10

hello, i was searching but did not found any help...

first of all, there is what i have and what i want to do:
- running Windows Vista Bussines 32b
- i have installed latest VirtualBox
- i have virtualized openSUSE 11.1

i want to openSUSE see my outer network as it is another physical computer on network...

and now, what i have done:
- installed OS to VirtualBox with one of network cards, but with NAT networking
- then, i set settings to "Host Interface", and also installed Host Interface driver via VirtualBox (clicked to "add" icon)
--- now, i have in network management new device "VirtualBox Host Interface".
--- i was playing with VBHI device, and turned it on (device manager -> network adapters -> VB TAP Adapter -> always on)

... now, nothig works

from virtualized openSUSE, i'm not able to connect. i see on applet, there is eth0, but it is unable to connect anywhere.
also in windows, i can see VBIH device, but with note "access only to local network" and "unknown network"

what have i do to get it work properly? do i have to share connection between network card of my computer and VBHI on windows?

Post by **Sasquatch** » 8. Jan 2009, 20:41

You might want to read the manual of the VB version you are using. That describes what you need to do next. You need to bridge the connection you created with the interface you want to use for external communication.

If you're up to it, you can install 2.1.0 which introduces a new HIF system that makes the use of virtual interfaces and bridges obsolete. There are bugs in this release however that might cause problems for you. So far, I haven't experienced any of them, or at least the severe ones, but others have.

wdolek · Post by **wdolek** » 9. Jan 2009, 23:14

sasquatch: i was reading manual, but i was bit confused... i did it my self...

and yes, it just nedded to share connection - from "local network" share to "virtualbox ..." and done...

but what i noticed:
when running OpenSUSE 11.1 in VBox with such network, it is really slow, and connection is lost very often.
Win XP on VBox is more "stable" with this connection

Post by **Sasquatch** » 10. Jan 2009, 18:28

If you will only access network shares from the VM, and not from the network to the VM, you can also use NAT for that. You have to browse on IP level to the machines though.