Using the Virtual Network Editor in VMware Workstation

Products

• VMware Desktop Hypervisor

Issue/Introduction

This article describes how to use the Virtual Network Editor in VMware Workstation. You can use it to:

• Modify an existing virtual network adapter.
• Add or remove a host network adapter from the list of adapters.

Environment

VMware Workstation 9.x (Windows)
VMware Workstation 7.x (Windows)
VMware Workstation Pro 14.x (for Linux)
VMware Workstation 8.x (Windows)
VMware Workstation 7.x (Linux)
VMware Workstation 10.x (Windows)
VMware Workstation 8.x (Linux)
VMware Workstation 6.x (Windows)
VMware Workstation Pro 15.x (Windows)
VMware Workstation 11.x (for Windows)
VMware Workstation 9.x (Linux)
VMware Workstation 10.x (Linux)
VMware Workstation 11.x (for Linux)
VMware Workstation 6.x (Linux)
VMware Workstation Pro 14.x (for Windows)
VMware Workstation Pro 15.x (Linux)

Resolution

 

• To modify existing virtual network adapters:

1. 1. Power on the virtual machine.
   2. Choose the virtual machine.
   3. Click VM > Settings.
   4. On the Hardware tab, click on the adapter you need to modify.
   5. Select the network type to use:
       
      • Bridge mode:This connects the virtual network adapter directly to the physical network
      • NAT: This allows the virtual network adapter to share the host’s IP address
      • Host Only: This creates a private network that the virtual network adapter shares with the host
      • Custom: This allows you to create your own virtual network
        
        Note: Although VMnet0, VMnet1 and VMnet8 are technically available in this menu, they are usually used for bridged, host-only, and NAT configurations, respectively.
         
   6. Click OK.

• To add a network adapter:

1. Click VM > Settings > Add.
2. In the Add Hardware Wizard, select a network adapter and click Next.
3. Configure the network adapter in the various modes and configure its status. If you are using multiple NICs, bridge each adapter individually instead of using Automatic bridging for the best results.
4. Click Finish.
5. Click OK.

To add or remove a host network adapter from the list of included adapters:

1. Click Edit > Virtual Network Editor.
2. Select Connect a host virtual adapter to this network.
3. Click Apply.

To change DHCP settings:

1. Click Edit > Virtual Network Editor and select the virtual network adapter.
2. Select Use local DHCP service to distribute IP address to VMs and click DHCP settings.
3. Modify the third number in the IP address. For example, 192.168.x.0 or 198.16.x.0. In general, do not change the subnet mask. Certain virtual network services might not work as well with a customized subnet mask.
4. Click Apply.

• To configure NAT:

1. 1. Click Edit > Virtual Network Editor.
   2. Select VMnet8 and click NAT settings.
   3. Enter the Gateway IP and click Add.
   4. Select a host port, virtual machine IP address, and virtual machine port, and click OK.
   5. Configure your DNS settings.
      
      The NAT device is a DNS proxy. It forwards DNS requests from the virtual machines to a DNS server that the host knows. Responses return to the NAT device, which then forwards them to the virtual machines.
       
   6. (Windows hosts only) Configure your NetBios settings and click OK.
   7. Click Apply.

Additional Information

For more information about using VMware Workstation, see the VMware Workstation documentation.