I am trying to build a server. It is Mandriva Linux 2010.1, and I know it's old, but it is what works best for the server in question. It is now being built on a Virtual Box VM, running on Windows 7 (which I'll try upgrading to Windows 10 when available).

I wanted to use Mandriva Linux 2010.1 underneath and on top, which had less services to create on top, but for some reason, I could not install software on the guest, even though I could install software just fine on the host. I was using the virtualbox that shipped with that version. So now I am using Windows 7 underneath, and I tested and I do not have the same problem. Software will install fine on the guest.

But, Windows 7 cannot do a whole lot of server work for me, so it's basically just a host for the virtual machines to run on. So now the vmain definition looks much like the old main1 definition did.

I was trying to get DHCP to function, as I wanted to have the DHCP act for at least the virtual network, unless that is I can set up static DHCP reservations in a vbox DHCP server.

I am struggling with which network modes and which adapters to use, with as few adapters as possible, on each virtual machine.

I tried to use the Internet connection sharing feature of Mandriva, with a normal NAT interface, and a host-only interface. But the DHCP server won't start, that I was running on Mandriva Linux. How do I get networking to work as desired?

I would like to help you, but I don't quite understand your setup and your problem.

It seems to me that you are running Mandriva in a VirtualBox VM on Windows.

Do you mean

• DHCP client on the VM
• DHCP server on the VM
• DHCP server built into VirtualBox
• DHCP server somewhere else
• A combination of the above - please specify
• None of the above - please specify

From your description, I am only aware of a single VM. What is running on the other VM? How are the VMs related? Are they supposed to communicate with each other, or with the physical network?

It seems that you are trying to run a DHCP server on a VM, but it doesn't start. Is there an error message or anything in the system log?

A "Host-Only" connection means that your VM will network only with other VMs on the same host under the same installation of VirtualBox. It will not grab a DHCP address from your router and will not connect with the internet or with other computers.

I know this because that's the type of connection Linux Voice recommended in their Kali tutorial several issues ago.

Your friendly network educator says: Forget ifconfig, learn how to use ip. Except if your system is ancient (which might be the case with Mandriva).

See also wikipedia.

berndbausch, ip is on my todo list. I edited the reference to ifconfig out of my reply because I realized that, with a "Host Only" network, it was irrelevant to OP's issue.

I think it's the second time I pestered you with this, sorry!

Funny. I don't feel at all pestered. My comment was not a complaint; it was an observation. I do indeed keep forgetting about the ip command.

I have a long long Linux todo list and I need the occasional reminder, and I appreciate yours.

I figured it out finally. I needed Bridged Networking. I just needed to treat it like a real machine to make it work. I'd forgot some steps for adding the client to the router.