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CHAPTER 11 Networking Virtual Machines
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If you select NAT, the virtual machine can use many standard TCP/IP protocols to
connect to other machines on the external network. For example, you can use HTTP
to browse Web sites, FTP to transfer files and Telnet to log on to other computers. In
the default configuration, computers on the external network cannot initiate
connections to the virtual machine. That means, for example, that the default
configuration does not let you use the virtual machine as a Web server to send Web
pages to computers on the external network.
If you make some other selection in the New Virtual Machine Wizard and later decide
you want to use NAT, you can make that change in the virtual machine settings editor
(VM > Settings). For details, see Changing the Networking Configuration on
page 195.
Host-Only Networking
Host-only networking creates a network that is completely contained within the host computer.
A host-only network is set up automatically if you select Use Host-Only Networking
in the New Virtual Machine Wizard.
Host-only networking provides a network connection between the virtual machine
and the host computer, using a virtual Ethernet adapter that is visible to the host
operating system. This approach can be useful if you need to set up an isolated virtual
network.
If you use host-only networking, your virtual machine and the host virtual adapter are
connected to a private TCP/IP network. Addresses on this network are provided by the
VMware DHCP server.
If you make some other selection in the New Virtual Machine Wizard and later decide
you want to use host-only networking, you can make that change in the virtual
machine settings editor (VM > Settings). For details, see Changing the Networking
Configuration on page 195.
Host virtual
adapter
Virtual machine
Virtual
Ethernet
adapter
Virtual Ethernet switch
(VMnet1)
DHCP server
Packet filter