virtualbox.org

I've just installed a copy of the latest Ubuntu in a Virtual Box Running on Windows Vista Business SP1 but I can't get it to ping my host even though I've changed the IP address to the same subnet. Any Ideas will be appreciated, thanks.

shouldn't this be under "VirtualBox on Windows Hosts" ?

Despite being here on the wrong section, we need more info to help you. What network settings did you set? NAT, Host Interface, Internal Networking? Without this info, it's like finding a needle in a haystack.

Sorry guys, I apologise. Perhaps it's better if I move this to the right section, but not before I provide the info requested by Sasquatch.

I've tried all the network settings, and no one seems to work, NAT, Host interface and internal networking. I manually gave the Ubuntu OS a manual IP from our network so that I can communicate with other PCs, but it can't ping anything on the network.

Do you have any firewalls running? By default, most firewalls, including Windows Firewall, block ICMP traffic, i.e. ping. With Host Interface, did you actually bridge it with your physical NIC, and if so, are you on wireless or wired network. Wireless bridging will not work, though I read here somewhere that someone managed to get it working without any additional steps.

No firewalls running on all our client PCs, I've double-checked this. When I select Host Interface, I get an error message saying incorrect host network interface is selected on the network: Adapter 0 page. On the Adapter type field, I 've got a choice of three adapter cards to use but none onf them is the same as my Physical PC's adapter.

If you read the manual more carefully, you see that they say you need to create a virtual interface, usually with the name something like "VirtualBox Host Interface #1". Select that interface, then in the network center, select both the virtual interface and your physical interface (hold down CTRL when selecting), right click on one of the interfaces or use the menu bar and select "bridge connections". The the correct IP information if you use static addresses. The guest should have the same kind of configuration. Be sure that you don't set the same IP for the Guest as the Host has, or any other device on your network.

Ok, thanks for the info, I've tried this and our Cisco 2950 Catalyst Switch doesn't seem to like it, it keeps disabling the port! Soon after I complete the bridge the port DIES.

Quick note to anyone who comes across this problem in future i.e. if your Cisco Switch disables it's port as soon as you configure your physical adapter and your virtual adapter into a bridge. First check to see if the port has the err-disabled message. if you do, see this link:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/tech/tk389/t ... d87b.shtml ,

basically you probably have portfast configured for that port and you need to disable it.

Thanks for your help.