Specifications

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250
VMware GSX Server Virtual Machine Guide
Advanced Networking Topics
The following sections describe advanced networking topics:
• Selecting IP Addresses on a Host-Only Network or NAT Configuration on
page 250
• Avoiding IP Packet Leakage in a Host-Only Network on page 253
• Maintaining and Changing the MAC Address of a Virtual Machine on page 255
• Controlling Routing Information for a Host-Only Network on a Linux Host on
page 256
• Other Potential Issues with Host-Only Networking on a Linux Host on page 257
• Setting Up a Second Bridged Network Interface on a Linux Host on page 258
• Configuring Bridged Networking When Using Teamed Network Interface Cards
on Your Host on page 259
• Setting Up Two Separate Host-Only Networks on page 261
• Routing Between Two Host-Only Networks on page 264
• Using Virtual Ethernet Adapters in Promiscuous Mode on a Linux Host
Selecting IP Addresses on a Host-Only Network
or NAT Configuration
A host-only network uses a private virtual network. The host and all virtual machines
configured for host-only networking are connected to the network through a virtual
switch. Typically all the parties on this private network use the TCP/IP protocol suite,
although other communication protocols may be used.
A network address translation (NAT) configuration also sets up a private network,
which must be a TCP/IP network. The virtual machines configured for NAT are
connected to that network through a virtual switch. The host computer is also
connected to the private network used for NAT via a host virtual adapter.
Each virtual machine and the host must be assigned addresses on the private
network. This is typically done using the DHCP server that comes with GSX Server.
Note that this server does not service virtual (or physical) machines residing on
bridged networks.
Addresses can also be assigned statically from a pool of addresses that are not
assigned by the DHCP server.