Access Business Central running inside Virtual Box over the internet(Host must have public IP)

 Hello reader,

It took me sometime to achieve the request.

Generally you have a physical server with a public IP. The server could be running many other services.

In my case the server is running an older version of windows server.

So i installed a Virtual Box with new windows server and install Business Central there.

But getting Business Central to be accessible to outside network over the internet is the trick.

If that is your problem then you are in the right place.

I assume you have already installed business central in the VM and it is running

Procedure

Setup Bridged Network to all VM share host’s internet/network

• You need to first switch off the VM
• Select the VM inside virtual box menu
• Select settings
• Select Network
• Select adapter 2
• Make sure network is enabled
• Select Attached to  = Bridged Adapter
• Select appropriate adapter in the name
• Click ok to save

 This step is well explained here

Setup the VM to use static IP address

• This is the usual process done in the network section

 

Configure Port forwarding between VM application & Host machine

• This is done using the NAT network on adapter 1
• Go back to where you setup the abridged network. 
• Select adapter 1
• Select Port forwarding
• Map the host/physical computer IP address(Local IP) to VM static IP set in preceeding step
• Map the port number for accessing Business Central in VM to a chosen port on the Host
• Make sure those ports are allowed through the VM firewall settings

 

Configure port forwarding on the Router and firewall for external access. This is done on the Host Network. It also depends on the firewall/router you are using.

Good luck