Kali Linux VirtualBox Network Adapter Not Found

When setting up Kali Linux on VirtualBox, one of the most common issues users encounter is the inability to find the network adapter. This can be frustrating, especially when you're trying to use a tool like reaver for penetration testing. In this article, we'll explore some common solutions to help you resolve the 'Kali Linux virtualbox network adapter not found' error.

Non-Existent Host Networking Interface

The first step in resolving this issue is to check if your host machine has a non-existent networking interface. In most cases, this is caused by a faulty or missing driver for your network adapter. To troubleshoot this, you can use the command `ifconfig` to list all available network interfaces on your host machine.

Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller

If you're using a Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller as your network adapter, you may encounter an error message stating that it's not found. This is usually due to a compatibility issue between the VirtualBox guest and the host operating system. To resolve this, you can try updating the VirtualBox version or reinstalling the guest additions.

Radio Frequency Kill (rfkill)

Another common cause of the 'Kali Linux virtualbox network adapter not found' error is the radio frequency kill (rfkill) feature on your laptop. This feature allows you to toggle the wireless network adapter on and off using a hardware switch or a software command. To resolve this issue, you can use the `sudo rfkill unblock all` command to unblock all wireless adapters.

Reaver Configuration

Once you've resolved the above issues, you may still encounter problems with reaver configuration. This is usually due to incorrect configuration of your network adapter or a faulty wireless card. To troubleshoot this, you can try restarting your PC and re-running the reaver command.

Hardware Switch

If you're using a hardware switch on your laptop to toggle the wireless network adapter, make sure it's switched on before running the reaver command. You may also need to restart your PC and try again.

Network Card Configuration

In some cases, the issue may be caused by incorrect configuration of your network card (wlan0). To resolve this, you can use the `sudo ifconfig wlan0 up` command to bring up the wireless adapter. You may also need to restart your PC and try again.

HP Notebooks

If you're using an HP notebook built to run Windows 10, you may need to live boot from a USB or CD to configure your network adapter. Additionally, the wireless network adapter on your laptop may have a different name other than wlan0, so make sure to check the correct interface name before running reaver.

Linux in Virtual Container

If you're running Linux inside a virtual container like VirtualBox or VMWare, you may need an external wireless card to connect to the internet. In this case, you can use the `ifconfig` command to configure your network adapter and try again.

In summary, resolving the 'Kali Linux virtualbox network adapter not found' error requires troubleshooting and configuration of your network adapter, radio frequency kill feature, and hardware switch. By following these steps, you should be able to resolve this issue and get reaver running on your Kali Linux system.

Kali linux virtualbox network adapter not found