Can't see XP guest from Host 10.6 finder.

[johnnyu]

I'm trying to make my XPpro guest look/act like another computor on my network including the host. Most of the time it doesn't even show in finder. And yes, I do have the XP vm running. Infrequently it does but I can't gain access. I'm presently using a bridged adaptor.
Presently I can pull files from and push files to via VBs Shared Folders but,
I can't pull or push files to the guest from the host OS 10.6.

My local network includes:
2- OS 10.6 Macs with XP VMs via Oracle VB
1- Legacy MS xp pro laptop (hardwired)
1-1Gb router with wireless
1- 1.5 GB NAS
1-legacy Laserjet with parallel to network adaptor
1-Cable modem
With the exception of the VMs every thing works properly here and the VMs can access modem, printer and host mounted accessorys. An added note: I avoid using Microsifts network setup stuff - To me, it likes to run but hates to join a network.
Is there a reasonable solution here?
Thanks for your consideration

[socratis]

Does the following diagram describe your setup? "=" means wired, "-" means wireless.

CableModem === WirelessRouter
                      |=== Laptop
                      |=== LaserJet
                      |=== NAS
                      |--- Mac1 <-> XP1
                      |--- Mac2 <-> XP2

Do you use Bridged network in your two VMs and are your Macs indeed connected wirelessly to the router?
Is your problem that in the "Shared" pane of the Finder, XP1 and XP2 don't show up as available shares?

I can pull files from and push files to via VBs Shared Folders but, I can't pull or push files to the guest from the host OS 10.6.

Do you mean that VBox Shared Folders works but normal shared folders (SMB) do not?

[johnnyu]

THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT.
WHEN I TRANSFER FILES AND/OR FOLDERS I ALWAYS USE A WIRED CONNECTION (MORE THAN 3X FASTER). I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT I HAVE A PORT EXTENDER ATTACHED TO MY ROUTER. ONE OF MY MACS IS A DESKTOP AND ONE A LAPTOP BOTH WITH SAME SOFTWARE AND OS (10.6) . MY COMPLAINT ADDRESSES PRINCIPLY WIRED NETWORK CONNECTI0NS. ALTHOUGH SOMETIMES I USE THE LAPTOP VIA WIRELESS CONNECTION
QUESTION 1: ALL CONNECTIONS WIRED
QUESTION 2: YES
QUESTION 2 CLARIFIER: VERY INFREQUENTLY XP1 OR XP2 WILL SHOW UP IN FINDER AND USUALLY IN THE SHARED PANE. WHEN THIS DOES HAPPEN I CAN NEVER GAIN ACCESS TO IT. IF YOU HELP ME SOLVE THEM SHOWING UP IN THE SHARED PANE RELIABLY, I'M GUESSING THAT WILL BE STEP TWO OF THE PROBLEM - DOESN'T ACCEPT XP1 OR XP2 PASSWORDS.

PROBABLY NOT RELEVANT BUT, HAVE INET TUNER ATTACHED TO NETWORK ALSO.

QUESTION 3) DON'T UNDERSTAND THE LAST QUESTION.
THANKS AGAIN

[johnnyu]

On your third question:
My XP VB shared folder is the OS 10.6 desktop. I never (didn't know how to) Make the XP VM's desktop accessable (Visible to) the host machine's finder. My initial setup strategy(desire) was to make the entire XP VM visible/accessable in Finder and make the entire OS 10.6 host visible/acccessable in Windows Explorer. Presently i can only move files back & forth from the XP VM.

[socratis]

OK, if you see the VMs, then it is a networking question between a Mac and a WinXP machine. VirtualBox seems to work OK. You could have better luck in a Mac forum. FWIW, I gave up on actual SMB networks.

[johnnyu]

Thanks again for your consideration. Just to clarify I CAN"T see any my XP VMs from the Host finder. I CAN see my shared folder (Host OS 10.6 desktop) from my VM.
I wanted the hosts and VMs act like separate network computors. After thinking about that and talking with you, a such a system would exaserbate a problem I now have with the macs, excessive file duplication.
One of the few complaints I have of the MA OS. Moving files and folders (especially across drives) is clumsy.

Anyway after this discussion I'm going to try to create a VM folder in shared folders section.