Author Topic: Network setup for VirtualBox  (Read 552 times)

Neil Waldhauer

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Network setup for VirtualBox
« on: December 18, 2025, 01:06:02 am »
I've been using ArcaOS running under VirtualBox running on a Windows 11 host. Setting up the network is pretty confusing.

A laptop has a WiFi card and wired ethernet. I can connect either one to my network. I set up Adapter 1 as an Intel Pro/1000 MT desktop (NAT) so that it can get TCP/IP from either laptop interface.

But I want NetBIOS, too. I don't think I can get that from NAT. NAT is TCP/IP-only as far as I know. So I defined Adapter 2 as PCnet-FAST III (Bridged to the Ethernet interface on the laptop.) That only gives me NetBIOS over Ethernet, but that will be adequate. So far, so good.

But now I move to Linux host, and NetBIOS does not work. In fact, I'm not at all sure any Adapter 2 function works on Linux. Perhaps I should ask over in the VirtualBox forum, but there are more OS/2 experts here.

How are you implementing NetBIOS under VirtualBox?
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Lars

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Re: Network setup for VirtualBox
« Reply #1 on: December 18, 2025, 04:22:50 pm »
Can you not use "Netbios via TCP/IP" instead of plain "Netbios" ?

Roderick Klein

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Re: Network setup for VirtualBox
« Reply #2 on: December 18, 2025, 11:22:01 pm »
I've been using ArcaOS running under VirtualBox running on a Windows 11 host. Setting up the network is pretty confusing.

A laptop has a WiFi card and wired ethernet. I can connect either one to my network. I set up Adapter 1 as an Intel Pro/1000 MT desktop (NAT) so that it can get TCP/IP from either laptop interface.

But I want NetBIOS, too. I don't think I can get that from NAT. NAT is TCP/IP-only as far as I know. So I defined Adapter 2 as PCnet-FAST III (Bridged to the Ethernet interface on the laptop.) That only gives me NetBIOS over Ethernet, but that will be adequate. So far, so good.

But now I move to Linux host, and NetBIOS does not work. In fact, I'm not at all sure any Adapter 2 function works on Linux. Perhaps I should ask over in the VirtualBox forum, but there are more OS/2 experts here.

How are you implementing NetBIOS under VirtualBox?

You do not implement NETBIOS under Virtualbox best I can tell. But also do not use NAT as Netbios cannot be routed via NAT.  Also use the E1000 NIC not the PCnet=fast driver, that OS/2 driver is pretty bad. Or can you not define two E1000 NIC's ?

Roderick

Ian B Manners

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Re: Network setup for VirtualBox
« Reply #3 on: December 19, 2025, 03:18:49 am »
Under network setup for your container, select "Allow All" for Promiscuous Mode.
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Neil Waldhauer

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Re: Network setup for VirtualBox
« Reply #4 on: December 21, 2025, 03:54:18 am »
Further experimentation. First, I say again that on Windows 11, NetBIOS works on adapter 2 as expected.

Setting Promiscuous mode has no effect, as far as I can tell.

Even TCP/IP on Adapter 2 does not work in Linux. I can swap adapter type, it makes no difference. And If I put NetBIOS on Adapter 1, it does work in Linux. But I have to have the adapter in bridged mode, so I have to choose the adapter. That means not supporting WiFi.

This sounds like a bug in VirtualBox. Adapter 2 works in Windows, but not in Linux.
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ChrisGWarp

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Re: Network setup for VirtualBox
« Reply #5 on: December 24, 2025, 10:15:23 am »
I've not specifically set an OS/2 VM up under Virtual Box, but I have under VMware Workstation and MS Virtual PC.
I have a single network adapter, with NETBIOS, NETBIOS over TCPIP and TCPIP.
Host VM side, yes, they are bridged.
I've only ever done NFS mounts to *nix hosts (NAS's included).
HTH.
-Chris