Page 1 of 1
How to use an USB wifi card?
Posted: 5. Dec 2010, 14:02
by Nilak
Hello,
I have a problem with VirtualBox, I can't use my USB wifi card on my guest OS... My primary OS is windows Seven and my guest OS is the last debian stable. When I connect my USB wifi card, i can see my USB card with "lsusb" and ifconfig but I can't use iwconfig (command not found). I can see essid but I can't connect.
I tried on Debian (primary OS) and my USB wifi card success to connect to essid. There is a solution for this problem?
Thanks in advance
Re: How to use an USB wifi card?
Posted: 5. Dec 2010, 14:09
by stefan.becker
Not every wifi card is supported from linux. First make sure, that there are drivers for your model.
lsusb shows only connected devices. That is not the same as supported.
If its supported, you can try usb-filters in vbox guest settings.
Re: How to use an USB wifi card?
Posted: 5. Dec 2010, 14:36
by Nilak
Hi,
With "lsmod" I can see usbcore rtl18187, who is usb's chipset. I already use filter in vbox..

Re: How to use an USB wifi card?
Posted: 5. Dec 2010, 14:42
by Sasquatch
Command not found means you don't have the packages for it. Install command-not-found, then you know what you need. This isn't a VB problem.
Re: How to use an USB wifi card?
Posted: 5. Dec 2010, 14:42
by stefan.becker
iwconfig must be started as root. Probably its not installed or you have to start it with full path like /sbin/iwconfig (maybe another path on your system).
Re: How to use an USB wifi card?
Posted: 5. Dec 2010, 15:46
by Nilak
1) If i use "ps -aux | grep iwconfig" it's ok.
2) if I use "which iwconfig", I Have "command not found" then I install wireless-tools and now if I use "which iwconfig" it's ok.
But I can't connect to essid... The USB icon become red when I try to connect... After my interface is down,if I use ifup wlan0, I can read "wmaster0: unknow hardware address type801"
Re: How to use an USB wifi card?
Posted: 5. Dec 2010, 15:53
by Sasquatch
Your problem is no longer that of VB, but with your USB wifi adapter. Hop to the Debian forums and ask for help there. It's perfectly possible that the driver for the chipset is buggy or doesn't support your card.
Re: How to use an USB wifi card?
Posted: 5. Dec 2010, 16:16
by Nilak
I have nothing problem with a de bien on primary OS and isn't fonctionnaly on VB.
Re: How to use an USB wifi card?
Posted: 5. Dec 2010, 16:20
by Sasquatch
You make no sense at all. Write something people can understand.
Re: How to use an USB wifi card?
Posted: 5. Dec 2010, 16:39
by stefan.becker
Nilak wrote:I have nothing problem with a de bien on primary OS and isn't fonctionnaly on VB.
I think you mean its working on debian as host and not working on debian in vbox?!
If you have the same setup:
Remember, that many usb devices does not work properly in vbox or other vms. In this case use a workaround. Let the host establish internet connection and set the guest network adapter to guest.
Re: How to use an USB wifi card?
Posted: 5. Dec 2010, 18:12
by iamalittlepepper
That would work in general, but probably won't work with applications that requires packet injection eg It really depends on what the OP's rationale is.
I think you mean its working on debian as host and not working on debian in vbox?!
If you have the same setup:
Remember, that many usb devices does not work properly in vbox or other vms. In this case use a workaround. Let the host establish internet connection and set the guest network adapter to guest.
Re: How to use an USB wifi card?
Posted: 5. Dec 2010, 19:05
by Nilak
You are right. I have install a Fedora and I have not the problem, thank you.^^
Re: How to use an USB wifi card?
Posted: 6. Dec 2010, 23:37
by Sasquatch
Just proved it's not a VB problem, but Debian's.