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Using virtual ethernet adapters in pomiscuous mode on a Linux host

The document provides instructions on how to set a virtual Ethernet adapter on a Linux host to run in promiscuous mode using VMware software. It explains that only users with root permissions can enable this mode and outlines the steps to grant necessary permissions to other users. Additionally, it addresses potential errors related to device node recreation at boot time and suggests solutions for proper device ownership and permissions.

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3 views

Using virtual ethernet adapters in pomiscuous mode on a Linux host

The document provides instructions on how to set a virtual Ethernet adapter on a Linux host to run in promiscuous mode using VMware software. It explains that only users with root permissions can enable this mode and outlines the steps to grant necessary permissions to other users. Additionally, it addresses potential errors related to device node recreation at boot time and suggests solutions for proper device ownership and permissions.

Uploaded by

kushika
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Using virtual ethernet adapters in pomiscuous mode on a Linux host https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article?

articleNumber=315331

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Using virtual ethernet adapters in pomiscuous mode on a Linux


host

 Article ID: 315331  Updated On: 10-15-2024

Products

VMware VMware Desktop Hypervisor

Issue/Introduction

How do you set your Virtual Ethernet Adapter on your Linux host to run in promiscuous mode?

Environment

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Using virtual ethernet adapters in pomiscuous mode on a Linux host https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article?articleNumber=315331

• VMware Workstation 3.x (Linux)


• VMware Workstation 4.x (Linux)
• VMware Workstation 5.x (Linux)
• VMware GSX Server 3.x (Linux)
• VMware Workstation 10.x (Linux)
• VMware Workstation Pro 16.x (Linux)
• VMware Workstation Pro 14.x (for
• VMware GSX Server 2.x (Linux)
Linux)
• VMware Workstation Pro 12.x (Linux)
• VMware Workstation 8.x (Linux)
• VMware Workstation 9.x (Linux)
• VMware Server 1.0.x (Linux)
• VMware Workstation 7.x (Linux)
• VMware Workstation 11.x (for Linux)
• VMware Server 2.0.x (Linux)
• VMware Workstation 6.x (Linux)

Resolution

VMware software does not allow the virtual Ethernet adapter to go into promiscuous mode
unless the user running the VMware software has permission to make that setting. This follows
the standard Linux practice that only root can put a network interface into promiscuous mode.

When you install and configure your VMware software, you run the installation as root, and we
create the vmnet0-vmnet3 devices with root ownership and root group ownership. We also give
those devices read/write access for the owner root only. For a user to be able to set the virtual
machine's network adapter to promiscuous mode, the user who launches the VMware product
needs to have read/write access to the vmnetx device (/dev/vmnet0 if using basic bridged
mode).

One way to do this is:

1. Create a new group.


2. Add the appropriate users to the group.
3. Give that group read/write access to the appropriate device.
4. These changes need to be made on the host operating system as root (su).
For example:

chgrp newgroup /dev/vmnet0


chmod g+rw /dev/vmnet0

where newgroup is the group that should have the ability to set vmnet0 to
promiscuous mode.

If you want all users to be able to set the virtual network adapter (/dev/vmnet0 in our example)
to promiscuous mode, you can simply run the following command on the host operating
system as root:

chmod a+rw /dev/vmnet0

For Linux systems that use udev, you may see the error as device nodes are recreated at boot
time:

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Using virtual ethernet adapters in pomiscuous mode on a Linux host https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article?articleNumber=315331

The virtual machines operating system has attempted to enable


promiscuous mode on adapter Ethernet0. This is not allowed for
security reasons.

To resolve this error, create the vmnet* devices with the desired ownership and permissions
under /udev/devices/, rather than creating it under /dev/, as above. .

No te: The location depends on the flavor of Linux.

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