[SOLVED] How to ping a VM from the host with NAT settings?

n00b_noob · 03-05-2021, 06:40 AM

Hello,
I installed a Linux distro in the VirtualBox and my VM network settings is NAT. I know that with the NAT setting, my VM can ping the host OS, but host OS can't ping the VM. My VM IP address is "10.0.2.15".
Any solution for it that my host can see the VM with NAT settings?

Thank you.

tinfoil3d · 03-05-2021, 07:33 AM

Not sure there is a way. It's on different networks anyway, even if that would have been theoretically possible. Host doesn't see that NAT network because it's not even a network for the host kernel, and VM kernel is on that "host-virtual" network. If I want to connect sshd on guest but still use NAT I would create "host-only" NIC as secondary NIC and assign some known IP there in guest and then connect that via vboxnet0 on host.

michaelk · 03-05-2021, 07:39 AM

Not with ping. NAT works just like a home router. If you want to access a VM using NAT from the host you need to forward the desired port.

There are other network modes that can directly access the host but it depends on what you are trying to accomplish.

n00b_noob · 03-05-2021, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinfoil3d

Not sure there is a way. It's on different networks anyway, even if that would have been theoretically possible. Host doesn't see that NAT network because it's not even a network for the host kernel, and VM kernel is on that "host-virtual" network. If I want to connect sshd on guest but still use NAT I would create "host-only" NIC as secondary NIC and assign some known IP there in guest and then connect that via vboxnet0 on host.

Thanks.
You can use port forwarding with NAT and SSH to your VM.

n00b_noob · 03-05-2021, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaelk

Not with ping. NAT works just like a home router. If you want to access a VM using NAT from the host you need to forward the desired port.

There are other network modes that can directly access the host but it depends on what you are trying to accomplish.

Thank you.
My real goal is to make an Apache lab:

Code:

Host --> VM1 (Reverse Proxy) --> VM2 (Apache Server)

I want to connect to the Apache Server (VM2) from the host machine through the Reverse Proxy (VM1) . Which network settings are good for VM1 and VM2? For example, the network settings for VM1 must be "NAT" or "Internal Network"?

berndbausch · 03-05-2021, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n00b_noob

Code:

Host --> VM1 (Reverse Proxy) --> VM2 (Apache Server)

I want to connect to the Apache Server (VM2) from the host machine through the Reverse Proxy (VM1) .

Port forwarding works for other ports than 22. You can access VM1 from host by forwarding whatever port the proxy server listens on.

If both VM1 and VM2 are NAT'ed, I doubt there is a way to connect them directly. It's easiest if they are on the same network. Perhaps NAT Network is best in this case. Of course, bridging removes all these problems.

n00b_noob · 03-06-2021, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by berndbausch

Port forwarding works for other ports than 22. You can access VM1 from host by forwarding whatever port the proxy server listens on.

If both VM1 and VM2 are NAT'ed, I doubt there is a way to connect them directly. It's easiest if they are on the same network. Perhaps NAT Network is best in this case. Of course, bridging removes all these problems.

I want my host OS can't see VM2 directly, but VM1 can.

berndbausch · 03-06-2021, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n00b_noob

I want my host OS can't see VM2 directly, but VM1 can.

See table 6.1.

Connect both VMs to an internal network. Connect VM1 to any other network type with a second NIC.

n00b_noob · 03-06-2021, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by berndbausch

See table 6.1.

Connect both VMs to an internal network. Connect VM1 to any other network type with a second NIC.

Thanks.
I set two NICs for my VM1. One is "NAT" and another one is "Internal Network".