Ubuntu host, XP guest, Can't Access Windows Network

[noob_stl]

Hello,

Relatively new to Ubuntu and virtualization, but I'm trying to learn what I can. I've successfully gotten an XP virtual box running, and I've created and accessed a shared folder located on my Ubuntu desktop by mounting the folder within XP. The Ubuntu host machine however is connected to a larger Windows-based network that I would like to connect to as well. I tried browsing to and mounting the folder(s) on the Windows network within Ubuntu, and then creating a virtualbox shared folder that would point to that: e.g. "smb://xxxx-svr/xxx", however I received the error "shared folder path is not absolute". I can't think of any other way to make the larger network visible within the guest XP installation.

Has anyone else run into this issue and/or come up with a solution?

Thanks for any help in advance...

noob_stl

[TerryE]

If you want to access a network NTFS share from your guest, don't do it the way you suggest. You are just adding a layer of complexity that slugs performance with no benefit. Just configure your VM with a Host IF network and browse the networked server directly from your guest Windows OS.

[noob_stl]

Terry,

Thanks for your help. I went into network settings, and when I select Host Interface from "Attached to" nothing shows up in the "Host Interfaces" section and I get a warning message that "no host network interface is selected". I assume this means I need to set a network IF up in Ubuntu (8.10) -- can you tell me if this correct, and perhaps point me to where I can learn to do such?

Thanks --

noob_stl

[baf]

Which version of virtualbox ?

[noob_stl]

I was just about to post that I'd figured it out. My VBox software is 2.1, but once I installed the bridge utility package, the IF option appeared and all was happy within the virtual machine, including the ability to map my network drive and run software from the network.

This is awesome.

Thanks - noob_stl

[Sasquatch]

Normal network shares should also be accessible with NAT, though on IP only.