usb Wi-Fi using USB3.0 ports and USB2.0 Adapter

[AceScottie]

So this question has been answered before however i dont think it covers this particular difference.

Im trying to run Kali with its own Wi-Fi adapter, (for wireless pen testing on my home network) but i cant seem to get the adapter recognised.

The Adapter is calling its self either Ralink 802.11 n WLAN adapter or FRITZ!WLAN USB Stick AC 860
(Ralink in virtualbox and FRITZ in Network connections)

The Adpater is a USB2.0 Adapter however all the ports on my laptop are USB3.0.

I plugged in the adapter and went onto virtualbox and added it to the USB device list (using USB2.0 EHCI), unplugged the adapter, started Kali and when on desktop plugged it back in, however there was no wireless adapter connected on Kali.

The Laptop is also running off its own internal Ralink wifi adapte.

I have tried the same process using USB3.0 EHCI as well with same results.

running lsusb returns 3 devices, 1.1 root controller, USB tablet and 2.0 root controller.

Is there a different method for getting this process to work using 3.0 ports, also i cant find the driver for a linux operating system so i cant try manually install it.

for reference the Hardware ID of the adapter: USB\VID_148F&PID_5370&REV_0101
driver version 9.8.0.98

[Perryg]

Post the guests log file ( as an attachment ). Right click on the guest in the Main Manager then click show log. Save and post as an attachment. Compress if it is too large to post.

Also the make and versions of the host and guest OS

[AceScottie]

Host OS: Windows 7 x64 Ultimate SP1 (fully patched)
Guest OS Kali Linux x64 v2.0

Using Virtualbox 5.0.8

[Perryg]

VirtualBox VM 5.0.8 r103449 win.amd64 (Oct 15 2015 14:48:29) release log
00:01:33.677725 VMMDev: Guest Additions information report: Version 4.3.32 r103443 '4.3.32'

You really should upgrade the guest additions to match the running version of VirtualBox

Now the usb issue
The usual way to get this to work ( with Windows host ) is to set a filter in the guest for the device and start the guest without the device plugged in. Once up and running then plug the device in.


Moving to Windows host

[AceScottie]

yea i think i got lost on the foums somewhere sorry.

And thats the process i used, unplugged the wifi adapter before i started the linux VM then plugged it back in when i got to desktop. I think the problem is with using 3.0 USB ports.

[Perryg]

After you have gone through the boot process and then plugged in the USB device, do the following and post the results.

• In a terminal on the guest type lsusb

Also from the host command window type the following and post the results:

• VBoxManage list usbhost

[AceScottie]

ok so to begin with i went out and bought a new WIFI adater (this time a branded one) its the NetGear N300 Mini

(guest lsusb)
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 80ee:0021 VirtualBox USB Tablet
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub

(host lsusb)
picture attached (wouldn't let me copy paste)

[Perryg]

While the guest is running type the following from the host command window and post the results.

VBoxManage showvminfo <VM Name> --details and post here. Replace <VM Name> with the actual name of the VM. Use " " if the name has a space in it.

[AceScottie]

Thank for the help

[Perryg]

This shows xHCI disabled. With the guest shut down enable xHCI in the guest settings and try again.

[AceScottie]

ok enabled USB3.0 xHCI

added filters Realtek NETGEAR pter100M [0200}
Realtek NETGEAR WNA3100M [0200]

unplugged device, started kali, logged in, plugged in device, ran lsusb - same result

There was a third filter i didnt recognise so after som googling i found out it was the usb3.0 driver for the laptop, i added that as well and again restarted kali with same process before with no change.

[Perryg]

I'm out of ideas. USB2 is supposed to work in a USB3 port but not all chipsets are made alike I guess. I don't have any problems using a USB2 wifi adapter in my USB3 ports but I also don't run Windows. I do know that typically Linux needs an additional package ( firmware ) to be able to use the wifi adapters but given kili is supposed to be designed to work with wifi you would think it would have it pre-installed.

Anyway the best I can tell you is to read the showvminfo and specifically the USB section to see it the device is getting passed through. Then see if lsusb finally shows the device. When it all comes together it should work for you. Other than that I will bow out and wait for a Windows host user to help, just in case it is a Windows issue.