virtualbox.org

Host: Windows 7
Guest: Ubuntu 12.04
Remote Machine: Macbook Air running Mavericks

When I access Ubuntu through the Win7 host everything works spiffy. Then, thinking it would be great to access my Ubuntu VM from bed on my Macbook Air, I installed Microsoft Remote Desktop on OSX and was able to connect to the guest via the Host IP address. However some of the keys don't work properly, and the biggest issue by far is that the arrow keys on my Macbook Air only input their numberpad number equivalents (ie. left=4, right=6, up=8, down=2). Obviously for many reasons this makes it damn near unusable.

I've searched high and low in Google and this forum, and while I've seen a few people mentioning the issue, they don't seem to have the same setups, and there are no clear solutions I've found. I've tried going into the Ubuntu keyboard settings on the guest, and the Windows host numlock key does in fact toggle the numlock key in the guest. However if I turn off numlock, and then hit an arrow key on the Macbook while remotely connected, it instantly turns on numlock and inputs a number.

I'm desperate--please help!

I am having exactly the same problem when accessing the console of my Ubuntu 12.04 guest using the Remote Display (RDP/VNC).

If I ssh into the guest I don't have this problem.

Only difference I have seen between console and ssh login so far is the TERM variable is set differently. ssh = xterm-256color, Remote Display=linux. export TERM=xterm-256color on the Remote Display does not help.

I will keep searching for a solution and post here if I find one.

I am using an apple keyboard without the number keypad. Not sure if this has anything to do with it.

EDIT:
I think I found the problem. It is the Microsoft Remote Desktop app. I am using version 8.0.5. If I connect using the older Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection Client version 2.1.0 the arrow keys work as expected.

The problem is Mac keyboards are mapped differently than Windows keyboards. So, if you remap the Ubuntu guest keyboard to match your Mac, it will have some key presses that no longer work while using your Windows host. etc. If you remap the Macbook Air keyboard, some keys will no longer work as expected in OSX. I doubt you want to go back and forth remapping keyboards over and over. According to Mike in Canberra if you use the older Remote Desktop Client that would help your arrows issue but I don't know if it introduces other issues, security issues among them.

btw, when one first installs Ubuntu you have the option of using a Macintosh keyboard layout. Of course if you do that not all of the Windows keys on your host will work as expected.

there is no easy way to do what you want.