Solved Cannot connect to Internet in Virtual Machine

[Gramcam]

In Windows 8 Pro I have created a virtual machine using Win XPSP3. I've tried everything I can to get an internet connection for my VM. I'm not on a network so I've created an external virtual switch. I've tried using both the legacy adapter and a network adapter. I've tried changing the IP address -even tried a DNS address but the best I've achieved so far is "limited or no Connectivity". I also tried Win 7 Home Premium VM with the same result - no internet connection.
The virtual manager should set this up automatically but doesn't so if anyone has any ideas, I'd like to hear them.

 

[Kari]

Hi Gramcam, welcome to the Eight Forums.

That sounds like if your virtual switch is connected to a NIC which is offline:

(Click to enlarge.)


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Check this tutorial to see how to connect a host NIC to a virtual switch, screenshot in Part 2 step 3: http://www.eightforums.com/attachme...-virtual-switch-manager-virtual_switch_03.png

Kari

 

[Gramcam]

Hi Kari,

Thanks for the advice. I followed the tutorial to the letter but it didn't work, I still havee little or no connectivity.
I'll keep looking.

Hi Gramcam, welcome to the Eight Forums.

That sounds like if your virtual switch is connected to a NIC which is offline:

View attachment 18179
(Click to enlarge.)


​

Check this tutorial to see how to connect a host NIC to a virtual switch, screenshot in Part 2 step 3: http://www.eightforums.com/attachme...-virtual-switch-manager-virtual_switch_03.png

Kari

 

[Kari]

Can you access internet normally from your host?

Hyper-V and its virtual switches are quite straight forward: if properly set up, they will work.

Most common errors for no network connection are:
- Virtual Switch is not connected to a physical network adapter on host
- Host NIC which virtual switch is using is offline, not connected to network
- External switch accidentally set as private or internal

You could try deleting your switch and the XP vm's network adapter. Then create a new external switch, connect it to a NIC which is not already used by another switch. Now go to vm's settings and create a new legacy network adapter, connect your new switch to it.

It should work.

Kari

 

[Gramcam]

Thanks Kari,

I can connect to the internet with no problems. I have a dual boot (two HD's) and both connect fine through the same on board adapter.
I will try your recommendation and let you know. Have to leave my computer just now. I'm sure it's something relatively simple that I'm doing wrong but I'll get there.

 

[Gramcam]

Hi Kari,
I decided to start from scratch. Deleted my VM and it's folders and rebuilt it following the tutorial and your advice.
Again limited or no connectivity. Using CMD and ipconfig, I noticed that the IP address started with 94 when my ISP stsrts with 96. I changed the IP settings manually including DNS, which I use on my normal OS's. Again Limited or no etc. I rebooted but this time it showed "trying to connect" which went on for a long time so I clicked repair. A message came back that windows could not finish repairing the IP address but at the same time my internet connection showed "connected".
My sudden elation was short lived because when I treid to get to Google using Internet Explorer it came back that the page could not be displayed, so I tried Bing, MSN etc with the same result. Looking at the connection status, packets were being sent but none were being received.
I tried another repair but this time I got a warning symbol stating that "There is an IP address conflict with another system on the network" and I was back to limited or no connectivity. Curiouser and curiouser!

Well I'm close to solving my problem but it appears that the IP address that my VM wants to use isn't the IP address of my ISP.
I have only one NIC in my computer which is an onboard Realtek gigabit family PCIe ethrenet controller and it has worked flawlessly since I built this machine.

Any new external virtual switch I've created finds it immediately and it connects to my virtual Legacy controller with no problem. sharing is enabled and as far as I can tell everything is as it should be.

Any other thoughts would be appreciated.

Gramcam

 

[Kari]

Sorry the delay, life has been quit busy lately.

Delete your external switch and then follow instructions in this post to create a new one: http://www.eightforums.com/virtuali...ating-external-virtual-switch.html#post194728

in case of any error messages following the above mentioned instructions, please post the exact messages here or post the PowerShell command window showing error message as screenshot.

Kari

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
I've found some generic REALTEK GIGABIT controllers just don't work properly when the HOST is a 64 bit system and the guest is a 32 bit system.

The Virtual NIC just plain gives problems. As a test if you have a USB Wireless adapter can you try that and then see if your VM can connect to the internet.

Another test -- although it will take a little time - convert the VM to VMware format and try and see if using the FREE VMware player if the vm can connect -- try NAT first and then Bridged connection.

If either or both these tests work then your gigabit Ethernet controller isn't compatible when creating the virtual switch.

I've always found that an INTEL cheap 1000 pro NIC works in every case. Onboard generic Ethernet controllers are really problematic to debug especially the REALTEK gigabite generic set. -- they all have different chipsets in them so getting the correct driver is a pure lottery.

A decent NIC card only costs a few dollars these days so I'd go for a new one if you are going to use Virtual machines with HYPER-V. (If you build a new rig you can swap the card too).

I had a similar problem when trying to use ESXi on a "White Box". I couldn't get the switch to work until I replaced the NIC with the INTEL one - and it worked first go --mind you ESXi is a lot more hardware "picky".

Another suggestion -- do you have any Firewalls / settings on your Router which prohibits traffic from anything other than specific machines / addresses etc.

I'm not quite sure of your set up here when you say you have "No network". Presumably the GUEST and HOST are linked in some way via the LAN. I assume the HOST connected to your Router and is the Internet Gateway.

I've also assumed you are using HYPER-V for the VM -- otherwise if not what is your Virtualisation software.

Any chance of posting your physical hardware configuration layout

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Kari]

Another test -- although it will take a little time - convert the VM to VMware format and try and see if using the FREE VMware player if the vm can connect -- try NAT first and then Bridged connection.

If either or both these tests work then your gigabit Ethernet controller isn't compatible when creating the virtual switch.

If OP wants to test using VMware Player, the Hyper-V must be first completely uninstalled. VMware Player cannot be installed on systems running Hyper-V.

Kari

 

[jimbo45]

Another test -- although it will take a little time - convert the VM to VMware format and try and see if using the FREE VMware player if the vm can connect -- try NAT first and then Bridged connection.

If either or both these tests work then your gigabit Ethernet controller isn't compatible when creating the virtual switch.

If OP wants to test using VMware Player, the Hyper-V must be first completely uninstalled. VMware Player cannot be installed on systems running Hyper-V.

Kari

Hi there
True -- but you can do this from Control panel Programs and features --it's a relatively easy process to uninstall HYPER-V, install VMware player / workstation and then reverse the process. You don't lose any og your HOST windows applications.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Gramcam]

Hi Kari,

Powershell Get-Netadapter shows only 2: -
Hyper-V Virtual Ethrenet Adapter #2
Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller.
There are no unused switches.

My "error" screen shot is: -

Hope this helps

Gramcam

 

[Gramcam]

Hi Jimbo.

I'll trythe VMware on my XPSP3 Hard drive to check if my NIC is the problem so that I can leave Win 8 Hyper-v intact to deal with Kari's suggestions.

Hope this Hardware Configuration is what you want.

Gramcam

 

[Gramcam]

Hi Jimbo,

Sorry. I don't know where that came from.
I'll try again and send it later.

Gramcam

 

[Gramcam]

Hi Jimbo,

To recap.
The screen shots of my hardware configuration are below. I opened up some of the devices I think you will want to see.
I have 8 GB of DDR2 800 RAM. If you need more please let me know.

I'm going to install a VMware in winXPSP3 on my XP 32 bit hard drive just to test if my Realtek NIC does work In VMware. I'll leave the Hyper-v in win 8 alone to test out Kari suggestions., unless you think there will be a conflict


Gramcam

 

[Gramcam]

Hi Guy's,

I've created a 32 bit Ubuntu VM on my win XP hard drive using VMware in NAT and it connected to the internet immediately on start up using my one and only onboard NIC Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller.

I'll now install a second VM on my win 8 hard drive using hyper-v and Ubuntu and see if that connects. If it doesn't then I'll assume the NIC is the cause of the problem. Can't do the second install today but I will let you know what happens when I've completed it.
Gramcam

 

[Gramcam]

Hi Guys,

I installed Ubuntu in Hyper-v and had the same problem "little or no connectivity" so I'll assume the problem is my NIC.
Before I buy a new adapter I'll try VMware in windows8 after I switch off Hyper-v. Who Knows, I might prefer VMware after the trouble I've had with Hyper-v.

Thanks for your help