USB Wireless adapter + Ubuntu + VirtualBox w/USB enabled = no wireless capability

[oldefoxx]

Using Ubuntu 9.04 or 9.10, with or without updates, plus VirtualBox and Windows 2000 guest on Toshiba Satellite L355-S7915 17" and internal RTL8187B (USB interfaced) Wireless-G adapter.

Problem: With VirtualBox USB enabled for client,the setting interferes with both host and client when trying to make wireless network connection. It may show a connection, but no traffic flows. Disable setting, and in some cases wireless connection can then be made on both sides. Understand that VirtualBox avoids sharing USB attached drives, but must be ready to share USB network connection, either ethernet or wireless. Tinkering and trying many alternative approaches has gotten through once in awhile, but only twice in four weeks of repeated efforts. What works now won't continue or work again tomorrow. Using suitable driver for USB to LAN on Windows side, not sure if it is actually needed or not.

Not just notebooks with certain adapters might be impacted, but it may also happen with other hosts and guest combinations, even some desktops, and also effect USB dongles used to attach wired and wireless adapters externally.

This is a nasty one, because there is no clear indication of whether it is hardware of software related, and it may look like it should be working when it actually is not, falsely suggesting hardware failure. You do not want those with dongles forced to disable VirtualBox USB to get online, then re-enable it and drop the connection just to get to any externally attached drive-type device like a thumbdrive