Networking

Updated Nov 22, 2023 ·

Overview

This page outlines common network setups for VirtualBox VMs, from simple single-adapter configurations to multi-adapter lab environments.

Single Adapter

NAT

Use a single NAT adapter if your VM only needs internet access.

Setting	Value
Network Adapter	Enabled
Attached To	NAT
Promiscuous Mode	Deny (default)

Notes:

• Default adapter for internet access.
• Simple setup with DHCP enabled by default.
• VM cannot be accessed by other devices on the host network.
• Promiscuous mode usually not needed.

Bridged Adapter

Use a single Bridged adapter if your VM needs to be on the same network as your host.

Setting	Value
Network Adapter	Enabled
Attached To	Bridged Adapter
Promiscuous Mode	Deny (default)

Notes:

• Connects VM directly to the host’s local network (LAN).
• Provides internet access and local network access
• Allows VM to talk with other devices on the same network.
• DHCP enabled automatically, but you can set a static I.
• Promiscuous mode only needed for advanced network testing.

Host-Only Adapter

Use a single Host-Only adapter if your VM only needs to communicate with the host or other VMs on a private network.

Setting	Value
Network Adapter	Enabled
Attached To	Host-Only Adapter
Promiscuous Mode	Deny

Notes:

• No internet access is provided.
• Allows VM-host communication.
• Useful for isolated setups or internal VM communication.
• VMs can share same Host-Only network for internal testing.
• DHCP can be enabled or use static IPs.

Internal Network

Use an Internal Network adapter when you want a completely isolated network between VMs.

Setting	Value
Network Adapter	Enabled
Attached To	Internal Network
Promiscuous Mode	Deny (default)

Notes:

• Only VMs on the same internal network can communicate.
• No host or internet access.
• Useful for isolated multi-VM networks or private lab segments.

Generic Driver

Some guest OS types may support a Generic Driver adapter for specialized networking setups.

Setting	Value
Network Adapter	Enabled
Attached To	Generic Driver
Promiscuous Mode	Deny (default)

Notes:

• Rarely used; typically for experimental or unsupported OS networking.
• Consult VirtualBox documentation if using this option.

Cloud Network (Experimental)

Experimental network mode designed for cloud lab simulations.

Setting	Value
Network Adapter	Enabled
Attached To	Cloud Network
Promiscuous Mode	Deny (default)

Notes:

• May be used for labs simulating cloud provider networks.
• Behavior may change between VirtualBox versions.
• Internet and host connectivity depend on network configuration.

Multiple Adapters

Bridged Adapter + Host-Only

Use multiple adapters for VMs that need both internet access and internal lab networking. Common in multi-VM labs or when testing services.

1. Adapter 1: Bridged Adapter (Internet Access)

   This adapter provides external connectivity for package installation and general internet access.

   Setting	Value
   Network Adapter	Enabled
   Attached To	Bridged Adapter
   Promiscuous Mode	Deny (default)

   Notes:

   • Used for updates or package installs.
   • DHCP enabled by default.
   • Keep default NAT settings for stability.

   

2. Adapter 2: Host-Only (Internal Lab Network)

   This adapter allows the VM to communicate internally with the host or other VMs.

   Setting	Value
   Network Adapter	Enabled
   Attached To	Host-Only Adapter
   Promiscuous Mode	Deny

   Notes:

   • Enables VM-host and VM-VM communication.
   • No internet access required.
   • Useful for internal services, testing, or isolated lab.

   

Bridged Adapter + NAT

This setup can be used for advanced networking tests, like when you to isolate certain traffic.

Adapter	Type	Notes
Adapter 1	Bridged	LAN + internet access
Adapter 2	NAT	Isolated internet traffic for testing

Notes:

• Less common than NAT + Host-Only or Bridged + Host-Only.
• Useful for firewall or network behavior testing.

NAT + Host-Only

Use this combination when the VM needs internet access via NAT and internal communication with the host.

Adapter	Type	Notes
Adapter 1	NAT	Internet access, DHCP enabled
Adapter 2	Host-Only	Internal communication, no internet

Notes:

• Simplifies lab networking without exposing VM to LAN.
• Useful for multi-VM labs where internet and host communication are needed.

NAT Network + Host-Only

Use this setup for multi-VM labs where VMs need internet via a shared NAT network and host-only access:

Adapter	Type	Notes
Adapter 1	NAT Network	Multiple VMs share private NAT internet
Adapter 2	Host-Only	VM-host internal communication

Notes:

• NAT Network is different from NAT
• Enables multiple VMs to communicate internally and access internet.
• Good for labs simulating multiple interconnected servers.

Multiple Host-Only Adapters

Use multiple Host-Only adapters when testing multi-segment internal networks:

Adapter	Type	Notes
Adapter 1	Host-Only 1	VM-host network A
Adapter 2	Host-Only 2	VM-host or VM network B

Notes:

• Useful for complex lab setups AND isolated networks
• Can be used to test routing between VM segments.
• No internet access unless combined with NAT or Bridged adapter.