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I have a Windows XP guest on a Mac OSX El Capitan (10.11.2) host and I have a USB modem that doesn’t work with El Capitan anymore (support dropped) so I thought I’d connect it to the Windows guest for the rare occasions I need a mobile internet access.

Now, I was able to connect the USB modem and the installation of the driver that came with it starts automatically. I’m also able to start the connection and it appears to find the network (Vodafone) and connect to it. In the modem’s connection dialog it says that it’s connected, has an HSPA signal strength and occasionally it also shows some upload activity/packets sent but none received ever (see screenshot – hopefully you can make sense of it despite the German descriptions). What could be the problem here?
I also read this thread but it wasn’t of any help to me. Please let me know if you need any more info.
I would be very grateful for any help.

Anybody? Nobody?
Please help, I’m kind of desperate.

How do I connect to the internet from guest when the host has no internet connection?

I'm not sure what you expect from us? You want us to help you debug some obscure USB device that outputs error messages in German? That doesn't really appeal I must admit. I think your question needs to be addressed to the modem manufacturer, or just put the sorry old device out of its misery and get something that works with your host.

I’m sorry for the image in German but I wasn’t showing any error message, I was showing the network connection dialog to demonstrate that it does establish a connection, it just doesn’t seem to receive any packets. It shows that there is some kind of data transfer but only in sending packages, apparently. It also doesn’t look like it has anything to do with the USB device (nothing the manufacturer could do about it) but the connection from the guest to the internet without the host being involved.

I just want to know if there is anything else involved that I’m missing? Network adaptor brigde whatever? How do I generally connect to the internet from guest without the host being connected?

AFAIK, if you see no replies coming back then you don't have a connection. The packets going out are communication attempts by the host OS: you would still get that even with the cable unplugged.

Hm, OK. But that uCANConnect software indicates that a connection is established; that connection button is green (if not connected but network is found it’s orange, otherwise gray) it shows the provider (Vodafone), and even the signal strength. So I’m somehow stumped as to why it can’t connect to the internet (i. e. browser can’t load any page).

Thinking about this, it might even be related to a similar problem where I can’t connect to the localhost of the host from the guest when internet is disconnected on the host.

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Hmmmm, interesting…
Apparently I have to disconnect/disable any network adapter to the host in the first place, and then it’s working. I’m very sorry to have bothered you.
Now it would just be ideal to connect from host to guest to use the internet. I hope I’m gonna find a way by searching the www, otherwise… I’ll be back.