Ubuntu 20.04 VirtualBox: Missing Internet Access after Changing MAC Address
If you're running an Ubuntu 20.04 virtual machine (VM) on a macOS host using VirtualBox and you've accidentally changed the MAC address, you might experience issues with internet access within the VM. This article will guide you through the necessary steps to restore your VM's internet connection.
Understanding the Issue
When you change the MAC address of a VM's network adapter, the host system may not recognize the new MAC address, leading to a loss of internet connectivity. This issue can occur when using VirtualBox on a macOS host, as the host system manages the VM's network settings.
Resolving the Issue
To resolve this issue, you need to ensure that the new MAC address is correctly added to the macOS host's network configuration. Follow these steps to restore internet access:
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Shut down the Ubuntu 20.04 VM in VirtualBox.
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Open the Terminal app on your macOS host.
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Identify the VM's network adapter by running the following command:
VBoxManage list vms | grep "Ubuntu 20.04"This command should output the VM's UUID. Take note of the Name and UUID values.
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Run the following command to display the VM's network adapter settings:
VBoxManage showvminfo <UUID> --detailsReplace <UUID> with the actual UUID of your VM. This command should display the VM's network adapter settings, including the MAC address.
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Add the new MAC address to the macOS host's network configuration by running the following command:
sudo ifconfig en0 ether <NEW_MAC_ADDRESS>Replace <NEW_MAC_ADDRESS> with the new MAC address you want to use. This command changes the MAC address of the host's primary network interface (en0).
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Restart the macOS host for the changes to take effect.
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Start the Ubuntu 20.04 VM in VirtualBox and verify that internet access has been restored.
Preventing Future Issues
To prevent this issue from occurring in the future, you can either:
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Use VirtualBox's built-in DHCP server to automatically assign MAC addresses to your VMs.
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Manually add the MAC address to the macOS host's network configuration before changing it in the VM's settings.
References
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