Prerequisite installation problem within VirtualBox VM

[Wendell]

Hello everyone,

Setup:
- Windows 7 host
- Windows 7 guest

I need to test an application installer.
This installer, made with Install Shield, has been structured to search for (download and install if nothing's found) a certain prerequisite.
In particular, the prerequisite is SQLServer.

When I try to execute the installer on a VM without SQLServer,
the InstallShield Wizard correctly prompts the need to install the package and starts to download the related installer.

Here come the problems:
the download of the SQLServer installer cannot be completed, it doesn't even start, and after a certain ammount of time (a time-out occur)
an error message is prompted alerting the user that the required installer cannot be downloaded...

The message also reports the link of the installer: by simply copying this link and putting it into a web browser address bar the installer can be downloaded correctly.

Someone has a clue of what is going on here ?
I tried both with a NAT connection and with a Bridged one...nothing changes...
I also disabled all firewalls of both guest and host machines...nothing...

Can someone help me ?!

THNX

[mpack]

I would have thought both NAT and Bridged would work for something so simple, but if in doubt use Bridged as that is less limited.

If you use bridged then the VM is in essence a separate PC with a status equal to any other PC on your network, which mean's I'm afraid that you should look elsewhere for your problem: if VirtualBox is providing you with working two way Ethernet then anything else is not it's problem. I'm not an networking expert, but I'd suspect some kind of DNS problem on your network.

Lets take a step back. Does the guest have an Internet connection at all? I.e. does the Internet Browser work?

[noteirak]

Have you tried in a physical, regular machine before thinking this is a Virtualbox problem?

[Wendell]

Hello mpack and noteirak

first of all, thank you very much for your quick replies...

Have you tried in a physical, regular machine before thinking this is a Virtualbox problem?

The installer works perfectly on others physical machines and also on the host it works just fine.

Lets take a step back. Does the guest have an Internet connection at all? I.e. does the Internet Browser work?

Yep, the guest has a proper and working connection;
I have to clarify that the test I performed by trying to access the address from the browser, has been done from within the VM, using the guest's browser.

[mpack]

I have to clarify that the test I performed by trying to access the address from the browser, has been done from within the VM, using the guest's browser.

Well, in that case the networking "hardware" of the virtual machine is clearly working, so I don't see what else VirtualBox could do to influence this problem. Does your installer have its own configuration for DNS, gateway etc?

[Wendell]

Well, in that case the networking "hardware" of the virtual machine is clearly working, so I don't see what else VirtualBox could do to influence this problem. Does your installer have its own configuration for DNS, gateway etc?

I use standard Install Shield settings, without specifying any particular or ad hoc configuration parameter as far as network connection is concerned.
Also, as said, the installer in a physical machine works perfectly, so for sure the issue is the install shield web installer within a VM.
Some VM configuration stops the installer to correctly connect to and download the prerequisite installer.

[mpack]

Some VM configuration stops the installer to correctly connect to and download the prerequisite installer.

In both NAT and bridged modes? A host firewall is the obvious thing that might block a connection in NAT mode.

I admit that I'm finding it difficult to itemize in my mind what exactly you have tried, and what the results were, separately for NAT and bridged modes.

[noteirak]

Seems like the issue lies with the MSI and the precise config of your guest OS, more than anything.
Packet sniffing in the guest would give you a definite answer I believe.