1. Networking in VMware Workstation 8
READ
Using Vmware Workstation 8 Manual
Chapter 5 - Configuring Network Connections
Networking in VMware

2. Ten Virtual Networks
Networking in VMware

3. Virtual Networks
Ten virtual "switches" which define ten virtual networks
VMnet 0 - VMnet 9
Switches are actually hubs
All attached devices are in one collision domain
All VMs see all packets
Any number of virtual machines can be connected to a switch
Seven switches (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9) provide isolated networks with no pre-attached devices
Three switches (0, 1, 8) are preconfigured with some combination of the following:
Direct bridged connection to the physical network
NAPT connection to the physical network with DNS and WINS proxy
Internal connection to virtual NIC on the physical host
VMware DHCP server
Custom Switches - no pre-attached devices
VMnet 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9
Pre-configured Switches (see next three slides)
VMnet 0 Bridged
connected directly to the physical network
VMnet 1 Host-Only
connected directly to the physical host via a virtual NIC installed by VMware in the physical host
connected to VMware DHCP server
VMnet 8 NAT
connected via NAPT to the physical network with DNS and WINS proxy VMs share the physical host's MAC and IP address
Networking in VMware

4. VMnet 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 (custom) Guest OS VM Virtual NICX
Switch
(Hub)
Guest OS VM
Virtual NIC
(Network Adapter)
Guest OS VM
Virtual NIC
(Network Adapter)
Networking in VMware

5. VMnet 0 - Bridged (pre-configured)
Switch
(Hub)
Guest OS VM
Virtual NIC
(Network Adapter)
Guest OS VM
Virtual NIC
(Network Adapter)
Bridge
Host OS
Physical NIC
Physical
LAN
Networking in VMware

6. VMnet 1 - Host-Only (pre-configured)
Switch
(Hub)
Host OS
Virtual NIC
(Virtual Adapter)
Host OS
Guest OS VM
Virtual NIC
(Network Adapter)
Guest OS VM
Virtual NIC
(Network Adapter)
VMware
DHCP Service
Networking in VMware

7. VMnet 8 - NAT (pre-configured)
Switch
(Hub)
Host OS
Virtual NIC
(Virtual Adapter)
Host OS
Guest OS VM
Virtual NIC
(Network Adapter)
Guest OS VM
Virtual NIC
(Network Adapter)
VMs share the host's MAC and IP address
VMware
DHCP Service
NAPT / Gateway
DNS / WINS Proxy
Host OS
Physical NIC
Physical
LAN
Networking in VMware

8. Connecting Multiple Switches
VMnet 2
Switch
VMnet 3
Switch
XPA N I C
RouterXP
N N
I I
C C
XPB N I C
DHCP
Service
(a)
DHCP
Service
(b)
RouterXP could be a dual-homed Windows OS with routing enabled.
The DHCP services can either be VMware's built in DHCP service or DHCP Server VMs.
Networking in VMware

9. Virtual Network Components - All
VMnet X
Switch
(Hub)
Host OS
Virtual NIC
(Virtual Adapter)
Host OS
Guest OS VM
Virtual NIC
(Network Adapter)
Guest OS VM
Virtual NIC
(Network Adapter)
Bridge
Host OS
Physical NIC
Physical
LAN
VMware
DHCP Service
NAPT / Gateway
DNS / WINS Proxy
Host OS
Physical NIC
Physical
LAN
Networking in VMware

10. VMnet 2-7, 9 (custom) Host OS Virtual NIC Host OS (Virtual Adapter)
Any combination of VMware provided virtual network components can be added to any of the custom switches.
VMnet
2 - 7, 9
Switch
(Hub)
Host OS
Virtual NIC
(Virtual Adapter)
Host OS
Guest OS VM
Virtual NIC
(Network Adapter)
Guest OS VM
Virtual NIC
(Network Adapter)
Bridge
Host OS
Physical NIC
Physical
LAN
VMware
DHCP Server
NAPT / Gateway
DNS / WINS Proxy
Host OS
Physical NIC
Physical
LAN
Networking in VMware

11. Customize Virtual Network Settings
Edit Menu…Virtual Network Editor… (this is dangerous - be careful)
Networking in VMware

12. Customize VMware NAPT Router
Edit…Virtual Network Editor…NAT Settings…
Can only be assigned to one virtual network at a time
Assigned by default to VMnet8 (NAT)
Router IP address can be configured
Port forwarding can be configured
Networking in VMware

13. Customize VMware DHCP Server
Edit…Virtual Network Editor…DHCP Settings…
DHCP scope can be configured
DHCP lease time can be configured
Networking in VMware

14. Virtual Network Components
Switch
Total of 10 virtual switches
Switches are actually hubs, not switches - no MAC filtering, one collision domain
Use to connect other virtual components together, such as VMs, built in DHCP server, built in NAPT device, host virtual adapter, bridge to physical network
An unlimited number of virtual components can be connected to a virtual switch (theoretically, allows the creation of an infinite number of virtual network configurations)
Network Adapter
Each VM is configured with a virtual NIC, which is connected to the virtual switch belonging to a virtual network
In VMware Workstation 5.5, a maximum of 3 virtual NICs can be assigned to each VM
In VMware Workstation 6+, a maximum of 10 virtual NICs can be assigned to each VM
DHCP Service
Assigns IP numbers from the Y.Z address space
Can be added to the other virtual networks
Each network is assigned a different subnet
The value of the third octet (Y) used for a specific network may be different for each installation of VMware (depending on the version of VMware)
Assigned by default to VMnet 1 (host-only) and VMnet 8 (NAT)
Bridge
Connects a virtual switch directly to the physical network
Additional custom bridges can be configured to simultaneously connect a virtual switch to each physical network to which the physical machine is attached
Assigned by default to VMnet 0 (Bridged)
Networking in VMware

15. Virtual Network Components
Host Virtual Adapter
In order for the host OS (not the guest OS) to connect to a virtual switch in VMware, and thereby communicate directly with the VMs, it needs a virtual network adapter, with it’s own IP and MAC address.
When VMware is installed, the host OS will automatically be given two virtual network adapters, one which is connected to the VMnet 1 (host-only) switch and one which is connected to the VMnet 8 (NAT) switch. These will be identified on the host OS (XP) as:
VMware Network Adapter VMnet1
VMware Network Adapter VMnet8
In essence, installing VMware causes the host OS to become multi-homed.
The host virtual adapters do not provide VMs access to the physical network unless a proxy server is set up on the host OS to establish a connection between the virtual network adapter and the physical NIC.
Additional virtual network adapters can be installed in the host OS.
Networking in VMware