Configuring SSH for Virtualbox VM

Posted by Ravikiran K.S. on January 1, 2006

SSH from Host to Virtualbox VM

  1. Open Virtualbox App. Go to Preferences->Network->Host-only networks, click + to add vboxnet0
  2. Select Ubuntu VM on VM list, go to Settings->Network->Adapter 2
    • select “Enable network adapter”
    • Attached to “Host-only adapter”, name automatically chooses ‘vboxnet0’
    • Edit vboxnet0, choose a different IP address range .1 for vboxnet0 and
    • .100 for DHCP server, .101 to .254 for all interfaces on VM
  3. Ensure “Enable IO APIC” is selected in Settings->System->Motherboard section of VM
  4. Run given VM, for which settings were changed.
    • sudo vi /etc/network/interfaces
    • add below lines. Keep eth0 dynamic/dhcp for internet connections. Use eth1 for local connect
    • Save the configuration and reload the box.

[16/Mar/28 12:14:12|~]$ diff interfaces /etc/network/interfaces 3a4,15 > > # primary network interface adapter1, connects to internet. static doesn’t work > allow-hotplug eth0 > iface eth0 inet dhcp > > # local host-only adapter 2. IP address should be higher than > # IP address of vboxnet0. Host (MacOS) uses vboxnet0 IP addr > # to communicate with Guest OS configured with IP addr below > allow-hotplug eth1 > iface eth1 inet static > address 1.1.1.101 > netmask 255.255.255.0

  1. Now, vboxnet0 IP address would be configured on Host/Mac OS, and .101 would be configured on eth1 interface of the guest OS.

  2. Try pinging .1 from VM and .101 from Host shell. Both should ping. NOTE: This wouldn’t work if you are on any VPN connection

  3. CLI commands to manage VirtualBox VMs: vbox.sh

  4. Enable console server for Virtual Machine. So that you can connect to VM even when on VPN
    • Install VirtualBox Extension Pack
    • Configure RDP port for given VM as: VM Settings -> Display -> Remote Display
      • Tick “Enable Server”
      • Change “Server Port” to 5001
      • Do not Tick “Allow Multiple Connections”
  5. Now after starting VM, you can do RDP at 127.0.0.1:5001 port with username/pass as usual.
    • This connection wouldn’t break regardless whether you are connected to VPN or not.