virtualbox.org

I want to simulate 5 or more laptops desktops on my single laptop Windows 7 os. I would like to each have it's own ip address. So it appears as if I am using different laptops. Can this be done with the new version of Virtualbox?

I have some understanding about ip addresses.

Thanks,
Jen

Yes. You will need plenty of memory in your host machine if you want them to all run at the same time. The vm will not start if there is not enough memory available to load it.

Do you want them to look as if they are all on the same network? The easiest way is to put them all in the same internal network. They will then behave like a number of physical machines plugged into the same switch. It is a bit harder if you want them to be in the same network as the host, or if you want Internet access, but it can be done.

I suggest you use "bridged" network access. Do not use "NAT".

And you need memory for each laptop. If you have 5 laptops, and each are using 1GB RAM each, then you need more than 5GB (because the host os also needs RAM).

I want to use them one at a time. My boyfriend and his son's laptop are unavailable and we want to do something online. The company we are dealing with says that each person in the house can have an account but each computer has to login and work under it's own IP address. Therefore, I would like to set up simulated laptops per say and login to each virtual "laptop" and perform work for the company alternately using only my laptop. I have 2 MB ram and large hard drive. I would like to hide the fact that it is all from the SAME laptop. I was thinking of static IP addresses. Changing alternately, but the Virtualbox seems more conducive because you set the settings once and do not have to keep changing the settings only users, right?? Will the company be able to tell it's from the same laptop? There policy is one transaction per IP per computer per 24hrs. Since the others do not have access to their computers, I wanted to simulate a laptop setting for them on mine.

Thank you for your replies.

Unless you can get multiple (public) addresses from your provider the other side is going to see the same IP address on all connections regardless of what you put in.
Bridged mode will try to use a private address provided by your router and the router is what takes care of the connection over the same (public) address.

VBFJen1962,
That sounds strange. I think(?) that every computer in your house will have the same IP adress, because the Internet Provider has given you only one IP adress to your house. This means your router will use the same IP adress, no matter how many computers you have at home. In your house, the router will split this IP adress to every computer. But the outside world will only see one IP adress.

I think you should ask the company again. Because their requirement needs 5 different IP adresses, and the Internet Provider only gives one IP adress to a house. Unless you pay more.