Guest OS in VM cannot access hosts through VPN

[Ahmed]

Hello,

I am running VirtualBox 4.1.18 on Mac OS X (10.7.4). I have a VM running Linux as the guest OS. The VM's network interface is of type "Bridged Adapter". At work, the Mac OS and the guest OS is able to access hosts on the corporate network. When I am home, after I log into the VPN from the Mac OS, I am able to access the same hosts at my office from the Mac. However, I can't seen to access the same hosts from the guest OS. Is it because the guest OS has to login to the VPN also? I assumed since the Mac OS is connected to the VPN, the guest OS should be able to access the hosts. Any info or pointers to sites that explains from a networking stand in VirtualBox as to what is going on would be very apprecaited.

(This specific VM has a static "work" IP address assigned to it. I have another VM that has a dynamic IP address assigned to it. Both can't access hosts at work).

Thank you,
Ahmed.

[Twisted Lucidity]

This really isn't a VBox question, but I think I know the answer.

At work, both the host and the guest are on the corporate network, so they can both see the various corporate machines (network security depending). At home only the host is authenticated through the VPN, the guest is not (it's bridged adapter will not be permitted VPN access, and I do not think this can be altered and it is beyond the control of VBox).

You have two choices I think:
1) Run the guest in NAT (this is what I don in VMWare, not tried it in VBox); or
2) Install the VPN software into your guest and connect that to the VPN still in bridged mode.

I am not a networking expert, perhaps there are other solutions.

[Ahmed]

You solution of running guest/VM in NAT solved the problem. Thank you very much.

Regards,
Ahmed.