Modify your host networking interface with Virtual Box OSE 2.0.4

In the previous post, I talked about how to start a Windows XP image downloaded from Microsoft to be able to test your web application with Internet Explorer.

On Ubuntu 8.04 and Virtual Box OSE (Open Source Edition) 2.0.4, there are some fixes to do before being able to work with the hosted mode network interface.

I took the following instructions from the french Ubuntu forum (http://forum.ubuntu-fr.org/viewtopic.php?id=217680).

1) install bridge-utils and uml-utilities (sudo apt-get)
2) add the vboxusers usergroup to your user :

$ sudo usermod -a -G vboxusers

3) Create a bridge by modifying you /etc/network/interfaces file

For DHCP conf

$ sudo gedit /etc/network/interfaces
auto eth0
iface eth0 inet manual

auto breth0
iface breth0 inet dhcp
bridge_ports eth0

# The loopback network interface
auto lo
iface lo inet loopback

For static IP conf

$ sudo gedit /etc/network/interfaces
auto eth0
iface eth0 inet manual

auto breth0
iface breth0 inet static
bridge_ports eth0
address 192.168.0.2
netmask 255.255.255.0
gateway 192.168.0.1

# The loopback network interface
auto lo
iface lo inet loopback

Note that your dns should be declared in the /etc/resolv.conf file.

4) Add your virual interfaces toAjouter vos interfaces virtuelles dans le fichier : /etc/vbox/interfaces

$ sudo gedit /etc/vbox/interfaces
# Each line should be of the format :
# []
vbox0 breth0
vbox1 breth0
vbox2 breth0

5) Reboot (startup is longer due to this new interfaces)

6) Open your virtual box settings. Go to network pârameters, Select host interface and declare the following parameters :

Interface Name : vbox0
Setup Application : /etc/network/if-pre-up.d/virtualbox-ose
Terminate Application : /etc/network/if-post-down.d/virtualbox-ose