LAN Port on Virtual Box

[CS75]

Hi Guys

After a bit of advice, I'm new to Virtual Box!

I've created a Windows 7 environment and everything works great! What I need to do is show someone how to configure Windows and devices without making changes to the main Windows install, this is why I've chosen Virtual Box.

I need to demonstrate and help shoe someone how to configure a wireless access point, I've got the access point and the way I need to show them to set it up is by doing the following -

1. Set the PC to static IP - 192.168.0.201 with Subnet 255.255.255.0
2.Connect to the WAP via a web browser on its IP 192.168.0.227

When I do this the browser does not find the device I'm assuming that the Virtual Box install hasn't got full control over the LAN port to do this? As when I try it on the local Win 7 install it works. Is there a way to make this work using the Virtual Box install?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!
C75

[Perryg]

Only with a USB adapter. Trying to use the hosts wireless adapter will result in an Ethernet adapter being used in the virtual machine.

[CS75]

Thanks for the prompt reply, just to confirm - if I configure a wireless USB adapter I'll be able to configure that to the 192.168.0.201 and then use that as my primary Ethernet adapter in the VB image, is this what you're suggesting?

Thanks again.
C75

[Perryg]

Sure. Well I can't say for sure it will work, that depends on the access point but setting the guest to bridged and using a USB wireless device is the only way to have the guest actually use wireless.

[CS75]

Thank you, that info is going to be useful for another task I need to do but I think I wasn't clear in my request let me try and explain in more detail

What I need to do is demonstrate how to configure the wireless access point via a Ethernet cable (I'm so sorry I didn't say that at the start) so the scenario I have is - a virtual box Windows 7 image with a static IP set to 192.168.0.201 and the wireless access point (192.168.0.227) is connected to this PC with a Ethernet cable but when I try and connect to the wireless access point by entering its IP in IE it doesn't find it. If I close the VB image and set the main Win 7 install to 192.168.0.201 I can access the wireless access point via IE. So it appears that VB isn't communicating over the Lan port? I really need to try and get this working in VB as I don't want the person I'm showing how to configure the access point allowing access to changing IP addresses on the main Windows install.

I hope this makes sense? And thanks again.

[Perryg]

That certainly is different that the what I was believing you wanted.

So if the access point will allow connections all you need to do is use bridged and have an address in the same subnet as the access point. I do this all the time.

wireless_config.png (74.14 KiB) Viewed 2841 times

[CS75]

Sorry for the confusion in my initial question and thank you again for helping with this.

I'll give this another go in the morning when I'm with all the equipment, the access point does allow connections as it works from the main Win 7 install its just when in VB it didn't work. I've got my main Win 7 install to automatically obtain IP and that'll be on a different range to the access point which is why I've set a static IP on the same range in the VB to connect to the access point but then VB Win 7 doesn't connect to the access point. But when setting my main Win 7 install to static IP it connects fine on the main Win 7 install, I hope this makes sense.

I'll give this another go and get back to you if that's ok?

[Perryg]

Sure post away, but you just said a different range. Remember I said that you must use the same address scheme of the access point. Most use a class C scheme and the address range usually is 192.168.*.* subnet usually is 255.255.255.0. The gateway normally is *.*.*.1 but could have been set to anything within that range

[CS75]

Thank you!

My PC is set to automatically assign IP and will be on a different range to 192.168.*.* which is why when in VB I was setting a static IP to 192.168.0.201 will this cause issues if the VB IP is set to static?

I'll try this in the morning and get back to you.

Thank you so much for your help!

[Perryg]

I am being a clear as I can be without knowing the exact address scheme of your access point but I will try again.

Example:
Access point is set to use 192.168.0.1 the gateway will be 192.168.0.1 and the subnet will be 255.255.255.0
You can use any address of 192.168.0.2 to 192.168.0.255 with subnet 255.255.255.0 and gateway of 192.168.0.1 as long as nothing else is using the address you set as static.

[BillG]

Like Perry I am a bit puzzled by all this. Why do you feel that you need to use a static IP? I think that you basic problem is that you have not configured the networking in the vm correctly.

If you configure the vm to use bridged networking, it will get it network config automatically from the access point, just as the host does. If you really want to use a static IP, just set it to use the exact config that it got from the access point.

[CS75]

Hi Guys

Sorry I no this all sounds confusing, I've been tasked to show someone how to configure a wireless access point here's a list of what I've been given

Netgear Wireless Access Point

Ethernet cable

Desktop PC not connected to any network Windows 7 installed but user has no access to make any system or configuration changes on the PC and the IP is set to obtain automatically.

Virtual Box - With Windows 7 installed the person I need to show has full control in the VB Windows 7 install

The person I'm showing as been asked to follow the Netgear instructions which starts by asking you to set a static IP that is on the same one set in the router, followed by browsing to the router using IE and configuring it. When using VB it doesn't see the wireless access point. If I use the host and set a static IP it works but the other person does not have access to make these changes in the host, after reading what you have both said it appears that VB is pulling in settings from the host and that is why this doesn't work in VB? Basically they just need to browse to the router make some changes and that's all it's jut a task that's been given to them to demonstrate they can connect to a router and navigate around the settings. I'm trying to figure out if there's another setting that I need to change within VB to allow VB to take more control over the lan port?

I hope this makes the scenario clearer? I'm sorry it all sounds more complicated than it is but as this is what I've been given to work with I need to try and make it work.

Thank you both, and sorry for the confusion, if we can't do anything don't worry I'll find an old laptop where I can just put Windows on where the user can have full control.

Thanks again

[Perryg]

I am still at a loss as to understand some of your wording especially when you say different range. I have shown that you can actually access the AP and its settings from a guest so it is doable.

Use real numbers and post what you are using so I can see what you are really doing then I can tell you what you should do.

[CS75]

Hi Perry

No worries, I've managed to find an old laptop to carry out this task.

I guess it would've been easier if I could have provided screen shots - next time I will.

Thanks for all your effort you have still been a great help and I really appreciate everything, the scenario I have been given wasn't the easiest to explain.

Thanks again.