Download Workstation User's Manual

Chapter 15 Configuring a Virtual Network
You can set up more specialized configurations by choosing the appropriate settings in the virtual machine settings editor, in the virtual network editor (on Windows hosts), and on your host computer.
On a Windows host, the software needed for all networking configurations is installed when you install Workstation. On a Linux host, when you install and configure Workstation, you can choose whether to have bridged, host‐only, and NAT networking available to your virtual machines. You must choose all options during configuration to make all networking configurations available for your virtual machines.
Only one virtual machine is shown in each example, but multiple virtual machines can be connected to the same virtual Ethernet switch. On a Windows host, you can connect an unlimited number of virtual network devices to a virtual switch. On a Linux host, you can connect up to 32 devices.
Bridged Networking
Bridged networking connects a virtual machine to a network by using the host computer’s network adapter. If your host computer is on a network, this is often the easiest way to give your virtual machine access to that network. The virtual network adapter in the virtual machine connects to the physical network adapter in your host computer, allowing it to connect to the LAN used by the host computer. Bridged networking configures your virtual machine as a unique identity on the network, separate from and unrelated to its host. It makes the virtual machine visible to other computers on the network, and they can communicate directly with the virtual machine. Bridged networking works with Ethernet, DSL, wireless cards, and legacy phone modems.
Figure 15-1. Bridged Networking Setup
virtual
network
adapter
virtual machine
virtual network switch
(VMnet0)
virtual bridge
VMware, Inc.
host
network
adapter
261