Microsoft Virtual PC... guest OS can't see host?

[Dougmeister]

Host is Vista Ultimate, guest is W2K.

I tried DHCP, then set a static IP address on the guest OS. I can't ping the HOST IP address, and naturally, neither can I ping the gateway (my FIOS router).

Ideas? Help?

Thanks.

 

[Jamsan]

Not sure what Microsoft calls their NIC settings, but make sure it's in bridge/NAT mode and not guest only mode. The former 2 will allow direct access to external networks (bridge mode uses the host NIC to acquire it's own IP and do everyone on it's own; NAT mode uses the host NIC/IP to access resources.) Guest only mode only allows the NIC of the VM to communicate with itself (and in some situations, other guest OSes).

When you were attempting to get an IP from the DHCP server, was it successful? If not, that's a clear indication you've got the wrong NIC setting setup.

 

[JackMDS]

Look at the Device Manger of the VPC and make sure that there is a Valid Intel PCI Network Card.

Then Pull down From the Edit Menu the Setting and make sure that the Network adapter points to the NIC of the Host.

http://www.ezlan.net/example/VPC-Setting.jpg

Under this setting the VPC gets its IP from the Router, and act as an Independent Computer on the Network.

 

[Dougmeister]

OK Jack, that worked. I can now Ping my router, and my host OS, but I can't get to the Internet. What should I check next?

Thanks.

 

[mcmilljb]

Originally posted by: Dougmeister
OK Jack, that worked. I can now Ping my router, and my host OS, but I can't get to the Internet. What should I check next?

Thanks.

Did you make sure you have the right default gateway set on the virtual nic? Even when you tell it to use a physical nic, it still shows up as a virtual nic in the guest os. The guest os just takes control of the physical nic from the host os. Also are you using a 2 physical nics or just 1?

 

[JackMDS]

Once it is basically working all the settings of the VPC's OS has to be like it is a standalone computer connected to the Router.

Does it get a valid IP from the Router?

Can you see the shared folders of the Host on the Network?

Can you open the router's menu through the VPC Browser?

 

[Dougmeister]

Originally posted by: mcmilljb
Did you make sure you have the right default gateway set on the virtual nic?
... Also are you using a 2 physical nics or just 1?

1) Not sure. I gave the guest OS a static IP of x.x.x.23 and pointed it to the Host OS (x.x.x.24) as both the default gateway and the Preferred DNS server.

Only 1 physical NIC (in the Host computer).

Originally posted by: JackMDS
Does it get a valid IP from the Router?

Can you see the shared folders of the Host on the Network?

Can you open the router's menu through the VPC Browser?

1) Again, I set a static IP. I can change that if you'd like.
2) Yes. I can access a shared folder that exists on the Host OS from the Guest OS.
3) Yes, I can access the router's GUI from the Guest OS.

 

[JackMDS]

At the moment do not change any thing sincce it seems that you have a valid Network.

Try to install Firefox and see if it works.

 

[mcmilljb]

Originally posted by: Dougmeister

Originally posted by: mcmilljb
Did you make sure you have the right default gateway set on the virtual nic?
... Also are you using a 2 physical nics or just 1?

1) Not sure. I gave the guest OS a static IP of x.x.x.23 and pointed it to the Host OS (x.x.x.24) as both the default gateway and the Preferred DNS server.

Only 1 physical NIC (in the Host computer).

Set the default gateway to the router. That's what you need to do to get to the Internet. If you don't have a DNS server setup on the host pc, you should set the DNS server to the same ip address as the one used by the host pc.

 

[Dougmeister]

For some strange reason, I have my router as my DNS. I have Verizon FIOS (their weird little wireless router w/ the Coax input). Don't know if that is significant or not.

 

[JackMDS]

If Verizon Router is on line and you have a second Router configured as a Router, you have a double NAT topology problem that has nothing to do with the VPC.

Search the Net for how people solve this FIOS issue.

Otherwise the VPC intel NIC should be configured in the same way as the Host NIC (same Gateway/DNS).

As I siad before if the VPC works all its OS configuration should be done as if it is a stand alone PC.

 

[FLegman]

1) Not sure. I gave the guest OS a static IP of x.x.x.23 and pointed it to the Host OS (x.x.x.24) as both the default gateway and the Preferred DNS server.

For some strange reason, I have my router as my DNS. I have Verizon FIOS (their weird little wireless router w/ the Coax input). Don't know if that is significant or not.

As Jamsan said, you have a Bridge or a Nat mode for your virtual network adapter to choose from, if you wish to connect to other machines on your local network and beyond.
And from the above quotes, it looks like your virtual network adapter has been setup in Bridge mode. Whitin that configuration the adapter could either receive all needed network info from your Router (as your Host does) or as you did you can hard code the ip address + Defaul Gateway + DNS info. By then all those info need to match the configuration of your Host Nic (of course the ip needs to be within the pool of your Router's DHCP).

In Nat mode however, your Guest will still get to communicate with other devices on your local network and beyond but will be more secure because it will be on a private subnet.


PS: assuming that Microsoft Virtual PC works on the same principles, virtual adapter(s) configuration wise, as Vmware Workstation.