If you’re using Ubuntu 18.04, connecting to a WiFi network should be pretty straightforward. But if you’re using an older version of Ubuntu, or a different Linux distro, the process might be a little different.
In this article, we’ll show you how to connect Ubuntu Virtual Machine to WiFi. We’ll also show you how to troubleshoot some common problems that might occur.
Contents
What is Ubuntu?
Ubuntu is a Debian-based Linux operating system and distribution for computers, laptops and (in some versions) servers. The word “ubuntu” is an ancient African word meaning “humanity to others”. As an operating system, Ubuntu is designed to be usable by as many people as possible.
What is a virtual machine?
A virtual machine (VM) is a simulated computer system that runs inside another physical computer system. VMs are typically used to run different operating systems (OSes) or multiple instances of the same OS, side by side. Each VM has its own set of virtual hardware, including a CPU, memory, storage, and networking resources.
Connecting Ubuntu to WiFi
If you’re using Ubuntu on a computer with a WiFi card, it’s very simple to connect to a WiFi network using the graphical network manager. Here’s how:
- Click the network icon in the top panel.
- A list of available networks should appear. If the network you want to connect to is not listed, make sure that your computer’s WiFi is turned on and that you are in range of the network.
- Select the network you want to connect to and click Connect.
- Enter the password for the network (if required) and click Connect.
- You should now be connected to the network!
Why connect Ubuntu to WiFi?
If you are like most people, you probably use a Windows computer at work, and perhaps an iPhone or iPad for personal use. But you may also have a Linux machine running in your home, which can be used for personal development projects, or for storage of family photos and videos.
One of the great things about Linux is that it can be used on many different types of hardware, including virtual machines. If you have a virtual machine running Ubuntu, you may want to connect it to your home WiFi network so that you can access the Internet from your guest operating system.
There are a few reasons why you might want to do this:
- You can install and update software on your Ubuntu VM without having to download updates every time you want to use it. This can save you time and bandwidth.
- If you need to access local resources on your network (such as files stored on a NAS), connecting to your WiFi network will allow you to do this without having to transfer files manually between your host and guest operating systems.
- You can run server software on your Ubuntu VM and make it accessible to other devices on your network (such as a web server or FTP server).
How to connect Ubuntu to WiFi?
If you’re using Ubuntu on a virtual machine, you’ll need to connect it to WiFi in order to access the internet. This can be done by following a few simple steps:
- Open the Ubuntu network settings by clicking on the network icon in the top right corner of the screen.
- Select “Edit Connections.”
- Click the “+” button to add a new connection.
- Choose “WiFi” from the list of connection types.
- Enter your WiFi details, including the SSID (name) and password.
- Save your changes and close the network settings window.
- You should now be able to connect to your WiFi network!
Tips for connecting Ubuntu to WiFi
While Windows and Mac users have it easy when it comes to connecting to WiFi networks, things are a little bit more complicated for Linux users. If you’re using Ubuntu, there are a few different ways that you can go about connecting to WiFi.
One of the easiest ways to connect is to use the Network Manager tool. To do this, open up the System Settings window and click on the “Network” icon. From here, you should see a list of available WiFi networks.
Click on the one that you want to connect to and enter the password. Once you’re connected, you should see an icon in the top panel indicating that you’re online.
If for some reason you can’t use the Network Manager tool, you can also try connecting from the command line. To do this, open up a terminal window and type in the following command:
sudo iwconfig wlan0 essid “Your-Network-Name” key s:”Your-Password”
Replace “Your-Network-Name” with the name of your wireless network and “Your-Password” with your wireless password. Once you’ve done this, type in the following command to save your settings:
sudo /etc/init.d/networking restart
This should cause Ubuntu to connect to your wireless network automatically whenever it’s available.
Conclusion
After completing this tutorial, you should now be able to connect your Ubuntu virtual machine to a wifi network. You should also be able to troubleshoot any potential problems that might arise.
