Connecting to MS SQL Server on a VirtualBox Guest OS

This article will explain how to install and configure VirtualBox to support an Windows OS and SQL Server and resolve the networking setting required to allow aColdFusion/Railo DSN connection.

On Host OS (Mac)

  • Download and install Oracle VirtualBox
  • Create a Host-only network adapter
    • VirtualBox > Preferences... > Network > Host-only Networks > +

  • Click the screwdriver edit icon and make note of the IP address assigned (192.168.56.1)

  • Setup network adapter
    • Machine > Settings... > Network > Adapter 1
    • Set Attached to: Host-only Adapter
    • Set Name: vboxnet0

  • If the VM needs internet access via the Host Mac OS then add a second Adapter and set it to Bridge Adapter

  • Test adapter is configured correctly

    • Open Terminal

    $ ipconfig vboxnet0 vboxnet0: flags=8843<UP,BROADCAST,RUNNING,SIMPLEX,MULTICAST> mtu 1500 ether 0a:00:27:00:00:00 inet 192.168.56.1 netmask 0xffffff00 broadcast 192.168.56.255

  • Install Guest Windows OS

On Guest OS (Windows)

  • Turn off firewall
    • Start > Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Firewall > Turn Windows Firewall on or off > Turn off Windows Firewall

  • Add Guest OS to the network
    • Start > Control Panel > View network status and tasks > Local Area Connection > Properties > Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) > Properties

  • Use the following IP address: 192.168.56.2
  • Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0

  • Install SQL Server
  • Enable TCP/IP and Piping
    • SQL Server Configuration Manager > SQL Server Network Configuration > Protocols for MSSQLSERVER > TCP/IP
    • Protocol > Enabled - Yes
    • IP Addresses > Active - Yes
    • IP Addresses > Enabled - Yes
    • IP Addresses > IP Address - 192.168.56.1
    • SQL Server Configuration Manager > SQL Server Network Configuration > Protocols for MSSQLSERVER > Named Pipes > Enabled - Yes

  • Set SQL Server Authentication from Windows Authentication to SQL Server Authentication
    • SQL Server Management Studio
      • Right-click server name and select Properties
      • Select Security
      • Change Server authenication from Windows Authenication mode to SQL Server and Windows Authenication mode

  • In SQL Server Management Studio Object Explorer expand Security > Logins
  • Double- click sa
  • General > Choose SQL Server Authenication
  • General > Set password

  • Status > Login - Enabled