Networking in VMware Workstation 8

READ VMware Using Vmware Workstation - Chapter 5 Configuring Network Connections

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VMware Virtual Networks

10 virtual "switches" which define 10 virtual networks (Windows)
VMnet 0 - VMnet 9 Switches are actually Hubs - all attached devices are in one collision domain

Three switches ARE pre-configured - some devices are pre-attached to the switches
VMnet 0 Bridged VMnet 1 Host-Only VMnet 8 NAT

Seven switches are NOT pre-configured - no devices are pre-attached to the switches
VMnet 2 VMnet 3 VMnet 4 VMnet 5 VMnet 6 VMnet 7 VMnet 9
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Networking in VMware

VMware Virtual Networks

Networking in VMware

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Virtual Network Components - All

Host OS Virtual NIC (Virtual Adapter)

Host OS

Guest OS VM Virtual NIC (Network Adapter)

Guest OS VM Virtual NIC (Network Adapter)

VMnet X Switch (Hub)

Bridge

Host OS Physical NIC

Physical LAN

VMware DHCP Service

NAT / Gateway
DNS / WINS Proxy

Host OS Physical NIC

Physical LAN

Networking in VMware

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Simple Example - VMnet 2

Guest OS VM Virtual NIC (Network Adapter)

Guest OS VM Virtual NIC (Network Adapter)

Two VMs can ping each other through the VMnet 2 switch. This can also be done with the VMnet 3-7, and 9 switches.

VMnet 2

Networking in VMware

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Connecting Multiple Switches (Hubs)

VMnet3 Switch VM3 N I C N I C 2 VM2 N I C 1

VMnet2 Switch VM1 N I C

DHCP Service SubNet B

DHCP Service SubNet A

The DHCP servers can either be VMware's built in DHCP service or separate instances of a Guest OS DHCP server. VM2 could be a dual-homed Windows OS or some other OS configured as a router.

Networking in VMware

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Connecting Multiple Switches

VMnet3 Switch VM3 N I C N I C 2 VM2 N I C 1

VMnet8 Switch VM1 N I C

NAT

Physical NIC

Physical LAN

DHCP Service SubNet B

DHCP Service SubNet A

The DHCP servers can either be VMware's built in DHCP service or separate instances of a Guest OS DHCP server. VM2 could be a dual-homed Windows OS or some other OS configured as a router.

Networking in VMware

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VMnet0 - Bridged (Pre-configured)

Guest OS VM Virtual NIC (Network Adapter)

Guest OS VM Virtual NIC (Network Adapter)

VMnet 0 Switch (Hub)

Bridge

Host OS Physical NIC

Physical LAN

Networking in VMware

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VMnet1 - Host-Only (Pre-configured)

Host OS Virtual NIC (Virtual Adapter)

Host OS

Guest OS VM Virtual NIC (Network Adapter)

Guest OS VM Virtual NIC (Network Adapter)

VMnet 1 Switch (Hub)

VMware DHCP Service

Networking in VMware

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VMnet8 - NAT (Pre-configured)

Host OS Virtual NIC (Virtual Adapter)

Host OS

Guest OS VM Virtual NIC (Network Adapter)

Guest OS VM Virtual NIC (Network Adapter)

VMnet 8 Switch (Hub)

VMware DHCP Service

NAT / Gateway
DNS / WINS Proxy

Host OS Physical NIC

Physical LAN

Networking in VMware

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Customize Virtual Network Settings (VMware WS 8)

EditVirtual Network Editor
(this is dangerous - be careful)

Networking in VMware

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VMnet2-7, 9 (Custom)
Any combination of virtual network components

Guest OS VM Virtual NIC (Network Adapter)

Guest OS VM Virtual NIC (Network Adapter)

Host OS Virtual NIC (Virtual Adapter)

Host OS

VMnet 2 - 7, 9 Switch (Hub)

Bridge

Host OS Physical NIC

Physical LAN

VMware DHCP Server

NAT / Gateway
DNS / WINS Proxy

Host OS Physical NIC

Physical LAN

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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 NAT device, host virtual adapter, external bridge 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 the virtual network Simulates an AMD PCNET PCI adapter (depends on VMware version) 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 Server
Assigns IP numbers from the 192.168.Y.Z address space Can be added to the other virtual networks Each network is assigned a different subnet The value of Y used for a specific network is different for each installation of VMware Assigned by default to VMnet1 (host-only) and VMnet8 (NAT)

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Virtual Network Components

Bridge
Connects a virtual switch to the physical NIC As a VMs outbound packet leaves the virtual network and passes to the physical network, the packets source MAC address remains unchanged Additional custom bridges can be configured to simultaneously connect a virtual switch to each physical NIC on the host machine Assigned by default to VMnet0 (Bridged)

NAT Device
Acts as a translation device which converts a VM's private IP address to the IP address of the host OS. As a VMs outbound packet leaves the virtual network and passes to the physical network, the packets source MAC address is changed to that of the host OS Can only be assigned to one virtual network at a time Assigned by default to VMnet8 (NAT)

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Virtual Network Components

Host Virtual Adapter (Virtual Host 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 its own IP and MAC address. When VMware is installed, the host OS will be given two virtual network adapters, one which is connected to the VMnet1 (host-only) switch and one which is connected to the VMnet8 (NAT) switch. These can be seen on the host OS (XP) by clicking:
StartSettingsNetwork Connections
VMware Network Adapter VMnet1 VMware Network Adapter VMnet8

In essence, installing VMware causes the host OS to become multi-homed Does 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 Assigned by default to VMnet1(host only) and VMnet8 (NAT)

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VMware Networks - LAN Connections

Isolated from the physical LAN
VMnet1 VMnet2-7,9 - Host-only - Depending on custom configuration

Connected to the physical LAN

VMnet0 VMnet8 VMnet2-7,9 - Bridged - NAT - Depending on custom configuration

Memorization Hint
Preconfigured network names are in alphabetical order:
VMnet0 VMnet1 VMnet8 Bridged Host-only NAT

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VMware Networks - Virtual Devices

Bridged
VMnet0 DHCP, NAT, Host Virtual Adapter, Bridge

Host-only
VMnet1 DHCP, NAT, Host Virtual Adapter, Bridge

NAT
VMnet8 DHCP, NAT, Host Virtual Adapter, Bridge

Custom
VMnet2 - VMnet7, VMnet9 DHCP, NAT, Host Virtual Adapter, Bridge

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Customize Virtual Network Settings (VMware WS 8)

EditVirtual Network EditorNAT Settings
(this is dangerous - be careful)

Networking in VMware

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Customize Virtual Network Settings (VMware WS 8)

EditVirtual Network EditorDHCP Settings
(this is dangerous - be careful)

Networking in VMware

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