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Network settings

VMX-file parameters

 

Basically you got 12 different options to set up a virtual network-card:

Why 12 ? - well you have 4 different connection types and 3 different "vendors" for your virtual network card.

For a first start of a VM you only need one of the twelve blocks listed below.
All other parameters are assigned automatically on first start of the VM so you do not need to specify them.

Which one do I need ? - first select the connection type and then select an appropriate "Vendor"

"bridged" connects to an automatically assigned physical nic
"hostonly" connects to the virtal adapter of the host named "hostonly"

"nat" connects to the virtal adapter of the host named "nat" - allows to use the internet-connection of the host
"custom" - use for non-defaults setups on hosts with more than one nic or when ever you want to connect guests only.


How to use this chart:
For a first configuration pick one of the twelve blocks listed below.
All other parameters are autoconfigured at first start.
Do not use any other parameters than just this 4 or 5 from the list below unless you really need to.

For advanced trouble-shooting see the Advanced network settings

 

 

 

"Bridged" to an automatically assigned physical nic

WARNING: this is unreliable on hosts with more than one physical nic.

ethernet0.present= "true"
ethernet0.startConnected = "true"
ethernet0.virtualDev = "vlance"
ethernet0.connectionType = "bridged"

This settings enable an AMD PCnet32 network-card.
Most older OS have drivers for this nic.

 

ethernet0.present= "true"
ethernet0.startConnected = "true"
ethernet0.virtualDev = "vmxnet"
ethernet0.connectionType = "bridged"

This settings enable an VMXnet network-card.
You can only use this nic if you install the VMware-tools inside the guest.

ethernet0.present= "true"
ethernet0.startConnected = "true"
ethernet0.virtualDev = "e1000"
ethernet0.connectionType = "bridged"

This settings enable an Intel E1000 network-card.
Modern OS should have drivers for this nic.
NOTE: VMware usually assigns this nic to 64bit-guests - but it also works with 32-bit guests

 

 

Connected to the virtal adapter of the host named "hostonly"

 

You can use the VMware-builtin DHCP-service to auto-configure guests that use this type of connection.

WARNING: this is unreliable on hosts that don't use defaults for the vmnet-mapping.
NOTE: this is the same as ethernet0.connectionType = "vmnet1"

ethernet0.present= "true"
ethernet0.startConnected = "true"
ethernet0.virtualDev = "vlance"
ethernet0.connectionType = "hostonly"

This settings enable an AMD PCnet32 network-card.
Most older OS have drivers for this nic.

 

ethernet0.present= "true"
ethernet0.startConnected = "true"
ethernet0.virtualDev = "vmxnet"
ethernet0.connectionType = "hostonly"

This settings enable an VMXnet network-card.
You can only use this nic if you install the VMware-tools inside the guest.

ethernet0.present= "true"
ethernet0.startConnected = "true"
ethernet0.virtualDev = "e1000"
ethernet0.connectionType = "hostonly"

This settings enable an Intel E1000 network-card.
Modern OS should have drivers for this nic.
NOTE: VMware usually assigns this nic to 64bit-guests - but it also works with 32-bit guests

 

 

Connected to the virtal adapter of the host named "nat"

 

You can use the VMware-builtin DHCP-service to auto-configure guests that use this type of connection.
Guests configured this way can also use the hosts internet connection via the VMware NAT service.


WARNING: this is unreliable on hosts that don't use defaults for the vmnet-mapping.
Note: this is the same as ethernet0.connectionType = "vmnet8"

ethernet0.present= "true"
ethernet0.startConnected = "true"
ethernet0.virtualDev = "vlance"
ethernet0.connectionType = "nat"

This settings enable an AMD PCnet32 network-card.
Most older OS have drivers for this nic.

 

ethernet0.present= "true"
ethernet0.startConnected = "true"
ethernet0.virtualDev = "vmxnet"
ethernet0.connectionType = "nat"

This settings enable an VMXnet network-card.
You can only use this nic if you install the VMware-tools inside the guest.

ethernet0.present= "true"
ethernet0.startConnected = "true"
ethernet0.virtualDev = "e1000"
ethernet0.connectionType = "nat"

This settings enable an Intel E1000 network-card.
Modern OS should have drivers for this nic.
NOTE: VMware usually assigns this nic to 64bit-guests - but it also works with 32-bit guests

 

Custom configuration

For multihomed hosts specify your physical > vmnet mapping manually and configure your guests with type "custom"

All unused vmnets can be used for "guest-only" connections.

WARNING: on Linux hosts that use UDEV you may have to create device-nodes manually.

ethernet0.present= "true"
ethernet0.startConnected = "true"
ethernet0.virtualDev = "vlance"
ethernet0.connectionType = "custom"
ethernet0.vnet = "vmnet5"

This settings enable an AMD PCnet32 network-card.
Most older OS have drivers for this nic.

 

ethernet0.present= "true"
ethernet0.startConnected = "true"
ethernet0.virtualDev = "vmxnet"
ethernet0.connectionType = "custom"
ethernet0.vnet = "vmnet5"

This settings enable an VMXnet network-card.
You can only use this nic if you install the VMware-tools inside the guest.

ethernet0.present= "true"
ethernet0.startConnected = "true"
ethernet0.virtualDev = "e1000"
ethernet0.connectionType = "custom"
ethernet0.vnet = "vmnet5"

This settings enable an Intel E1000 network-card.
Modern OS should have drivers for this nic.
NOTE: VMware usually assigns this nic to 64bit-guests - but it also works with 32-bit guests

 

 

 

 

 

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