Verifying the networking within a Windows based guest operating system

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• Virtual machines do not have network connectivity.
• Virtual machines cannot connect to the network.

Environment

VMware vCenter Server 
VMware vSphere ESXi 

Resolution

If you are having network connectivity issues, verify that the guest operating system is configured properly. 

 

To verify that the guest operating system is configured properly on a Windows virtual machine:

1. Verify that the virtual network adapter is present and enabled:
1. Click Start > Run.
2. Execute:  devmgmt.msc
3. Click on the + next to Network adapters to ensure that there is an entry and that it is enabled.
   If Network adapters is not present, there may not be a virtual network adapter connected to the virtual machine. For more information, see Verifying virtual network adapter is present and connected to virtual machine (1003786).
2. Verify that the network is enabled:
1. Click Start > Run.
2. Execute: control
3. Click Network Connections and verify that the Local Area Connection is enabled and its status is Connected.
3. Verify the proper TCP/IP settings.
1. Right-click the Local Area Connection and click Properties.
2. Highlight Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and click Properties.
3. Please check with your Network administrator if the IP address, Subnet mask, Default gateway, and DNS servers are correct. Change them if necessary.

 

Additional Information

Run esxtop via a putty session, then hit the n key for networking, the VM's connection status and vmnic can be determined from the list.

For related information, see Troubleshooting virtual machine network connection issues (1003893).