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Feature #594

Updated by Daniel Curtis over 9 years ago

I use VirtualBox for a lot of development on my laptop, and as such I do not always have Internet access; and not always connected via ethernet. For the +primary network interface+, I use a *Host-only* network type to connect with the VMs when disconnected from the Internet; however I also need Internet access when I am connected via WiFi or ethernet. To do this +just add a second network interface to the VM+ in use and make sure to sure set the network type to *NAT*. 

 h2. VirtualBox GUI 

 In this example the host-only network is called _vboxnet0_, and I configured the network to another network instead of the default _192.168.56.0_ network. 

 * Configure the Host-only network in +VirtualBox -> File -> Preferences -> Network -> Host-only Networks+ and click *[+] Add host-only network*. Click *OK* when finished.  

 * Configure the primary network interface for the VM by going to +Settings -> Network Adapter 1+ and change +Attached to+ to *Host-only Adapter*, then change the +Name+ to *vboxnet0*. 

 * Configure the secondary network interface for the VM by going to +Settings -> Network Adapter 2+ and change +Attached to+ to *NAT*. NAT*. 

 * Click *OK* when finished. 

 Now the VM will have two interfaces; one for the connection to the host machine and one to connect to the Internet using NAT. Keep in mind that the VM will need to have the extra network interface configured accordingly or else network connectivity will not work as expected. 

 h2. VBoxManage 

 In this example the host-only network is called _vboxnet1_, and I configured the network to another network instead of the default _192.168.56.0_ network. 

 * Create the Host-only network interface: 
 VBoxManage hostonlyif create 
 #* _Example output_ 
 <pre> 
 0%...10%...20%...30%...40%...50%...60%...70%...80%...90%...100% 
 Interface 'vboxnet1' was successfully created 
 </pre> 

 * Set the host-only network interface IP address: 
 <pre> 
 VBoxManage hostonlyif ipconfig vboxnet1 --ip 192.168.88.1 
 </pre> 

 * (Optional) Setup a DHCP server for the host-only network: 
 <pre> 
 VBoxManage dhcpserver add --ifname --netname vboxnet1 --ip 192.168.88.1 --netmask 255.255.255.0 --lowerip 192.168.88.100 --upperip 192.168.88.150 --enable 
 </pre> 

 * Configure the primary network interface for the VM 
 <pre> 
 VBoxManage modifyvm "ExampleVM" --nic1 hostonly --hostonlyadapter1 vboxnet1 
 </pre> 

 * Configure the secondary network interface for the VM 
 <pre> 
 VBoxManage modifyvm "ExampleVM" --nic2 nat 
 </pre> 

 Now the VM will have two interfaces; one for the connection to the host machine and one to connect to the Internet using NAT. Keep in mind that the VM will need to have the extra network interface configured accordingly or else network connectivity will not work as expected. 

 h2. Resources 

 * https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch06.html#network_hostonly 
 * https://geert.vanderkelen.org/virtualbox-give-host-only-access-to-internet/ 
 * http://precisionsec.com/virtualbox-host-only-network-cuckoo-sandbox-0-4-2/

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