Configuring NAT to use a NAS Drive + Hard Drive

[Maddoggg]

HI, I am using a Windows 7 64bit virtual box, I am having trouble accessing my NAS Drive.

On the main computer I have mapped the network drive as N and it seems to work fine, but when i try to map it on the Virtual box, it is not being seen. I would guess it has something to do with network settings in Virtual Box, but I don't have a clue what to do with them, I hope someone can help.

Also I have a mapped hard drive in the shared folder called E:, E: is the 2nd hard drive in my main computer. Whilst it works most of the time, sometimes I get the error message when trying to copy from it to my C: of the Virtual Box saying the drive is not accessible, but I can browse the drive. Also sometimes the drive letter changes fro E: to something else, how do I make the E: a permanent drive letter I have it set to auto mount and full access .

I hope someone can help.

Regards


Chris

[BillG]

The simplest solution is to leave NAT alone and configure a host only adapter as well on a second NIC in the vm for file sharing between host and guest.

VirtualBox has no control over what Windows does about drive letters. That is a long-standing complaint by Windows users in general.

[Maddoggg]

Thanks for your reply bill, I have been using a nas box on the same drive letter for years, just over virtual box, it seems to change sometimes.

So, I take it adapter 1, I leave as NAT, and Adapter 2 I set to host only adapter, is this correct?

If so, what do I use as the setting my main router settings 192.168.0.1 and 255.255.255.0 etc

Regards

Chris

[BillG]

You don't change them either. The host only adapter will get an IP in a different subnet (192.168.56.x with no gateway) so that it can connect to the host. All other traffic will go through NIC 1 and NAT as before.

[Maddoggg]

Thanks for your help Bill, I sort of have it working.

I just have to remember that it will only work if I switch my nas drive on before booting my virtual box, other wise if I switch on my nas box after booting mu virtual box then it doesn't work.

Regards


Chris

[BillG]

Why do you ever switch the NAS off? Network drives usually run all the time.

[Maddoggg]

I switch it off as I only use it for storing data and only switch it on when needed

[bqbauer]

There are known issues trying to sustain multiple SMB connections over NAT, and this has nothing to do with VirtualBox. Can depend largely on your environment. If your problem resurfaces, see this information that may (or may not) be related. If you're still using Windows 7, this could apply to you, but I'm not convinced this is your exact problem:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2444558

http://www.nynaeve.net/?p=93