Can connect to Internet at work, not at home

[Diana Curry]

I'm running a Windows XP SP3 virtual machine on Parallels 5.0 with the most recent upgrade. Everything works fine when I am at the office, regardless of whether I'm using an Ethernet or wireless connection. However, when I try to work from home, I have no internet connection in the VM, again regardless of whether I'm directly connected to my modem or wireless. I do have a connection outside of the VM, just running on the Mac. I have a MacBook Pro running Mac OX X 10.5.8, my internet connection is through WildBlue Satellite, and I have a Belkin N+ wireless router. (We live in the country, and satellite is my only option.) My ISP is a local telephone company, and they no longer sell satellite internet, although they continue to support what they sold, and they do not support VPN or VM, although they were quick to say that didn't mean that it wouldn't work, just that they couldn't help me get it working. (And I do use a VPN and that works fine on the Mac; of course that's one of the things I can't connect to in Windows.) I've e-mailed WildBlue support, but haven't heard anything back from them. I've looked through a number of threads in the forum about similar issues, but they were all with earlier versions of Parallels, and as far as I can tell, I'm doing everything they indicate. I'm sure this worked from home before I upgraded from Parallels 4.0 to 5.0 (although at this point, I'm starting to have doubts.) Has anyone else dealt with this problem and gotten it to work? Have suggestions even if you haven't had this problem? Thanks.

 

[Shaddam IV]

You may want to switch from "Bridged" to "Shared" networking: Menu "Virtual Machine" -> "Configure" -> Tab "Hardware" -> "Network Adaptor". If that doesn't work, try additionally enabling Parallels' DHCP server: Menu "Parallels Desktop" -> "Preferences..." -> Icon "Network" -> "Enable DHCP Server".

From the little that I understand Parallels connects to some routers with Bridged Network only, and with Shared Network (+ DHCP server) with others - I think this is a "feature" of the routers, not of Parallels, though. I am using the Bridged Network setting in most places I am in, but one of our offices requires me to change that to Shared Network + DHCP server or I will not be able to connect to the internet. As far as I can tell there is no performance impact whatsoever, only the hassle of switching the network.

 

[Diana Curry]

I have switched back and forth between Bridged Network and Shared Network a number of times, to no avail; however, I didn't know about the DHCP Server. Unfortunately, when I checked it, it was already enabled. I verified that I was using Shared Network, but I still am unable to connect at home. (At work, Bridged and Shared both work.) Thanks.