Can't get a bridged network working

[Mandu]

Host is OSX running 10.9 Mavericks. Using an Airport that's configured as a DHCP server. Host's IP address is 10.0.1.n, and I want LinuxMint (the guest OS in the VM) to be on the same subnet. I figured a bridged adapter was the way to go: Linux would then communicate directly with my Airport base station and get another address in the 10.0.1.* range. However, when I select Bridged Adapter / en0: Airport(wifi) in the virtualbox Network settings, and try to apply it, I lose my previous network connection (which is NAT). Usually all I have to do is wait five seconds, but I never get a "Connected" notification.

Any suggestions?

[noteirak]

Wireless is known to have issue with bridging in general, due to how the wireless protocol works (it is supposed to be P2P protocol!). If there is a cabled connection, I would suggest to try with that first.
But if it works, then there isn't much that can be done, as the limitation is at the hardware's firmware level.

[socratis]

OK, I have a couple of questions regarding your post. First of all:

However, when I select Bridged Adapter / en0: Airport(wifi) in the virtualbox Network settings, and try to apply it

1) It is a little bit weird that en0 is your WiFi. Is this a typo maybe? Or you have wireless at a higher priority compared to wired?
2) How do you exactly "select" the Bridged Adapter? From the drop-down you change the binding while the VM is running?

I lose my previous network connection (which is NAT).

Isn't this something that you would normally expect? I mean, you "pull the plug" from one network and you plug in another.

Usually all I have to do is wait five seconds, but I never get a "Connected" notification.

Does this mean that after 5 seconds the networking is OK but you don't get a "Connected" notification in Mint?

[Djamiyo]

I've got the same troubles trying to get the connection of my VMs to host machine via bridged network. And there are some kind of magic. I have 2 VMs with centos 6.4 one cloned from another. They are absolutely identical and have identical VM network settings. They even have the same MAC addresses. BUT the clone gets the IP from DHCP after about a 60 seconds of waiting, and the first one can't. I've run it together and separately - no luck. I can't understand the difference. Anyway the networks works awfully: ping is not stable and ssh connection makes me wait a few seconds sometimes.

Host: OS X 10.9 (wifi internet connection)
VBOX 4.3.2

[noteirak]

@Djamiyo : your issue has nothing to do with the OP actually. Your issue is that both your VMs have the same MAC address. They MUST NOT.
MAC addresses must be unique in the same broadcast domain. Make them unique again and your problems will go away, if this is the only issue.