5.0

Configuring Bridged Networking
When you install Player on a Windows or Linux host system, a bridged network (VMnet0) is set up for you.
Bridged networking connects a virtual machine to a network by using the network adapter on the host system.
If the host system is on a network, bridged networking is often the easiest way to give the virtual machine
access to that network.
With bridged networking, the virtual network adapter in the virtual machine connects to a physical network
adapter in the host system. The host network adapter enables the virtual machine to connect to the LAN that
the host system uses. Bridged networking works with both wired and wireless host network adapters.
Bridged networking configures the virtual machine as a unique identity on the network, separate from and
unrelated to the host system. The virtual machine is a full participant in the network. It has access to other
machines on the network, and other machines on the network can contact it as if it were a physical computer
on the network.
Figure 7-1. Bridged Networking Configuration
host
network
adapter
virtual
network
adapter
virtual network switch
(VMnet0)
virtual machine
virtual bridge
You can view and change the settings for bridged networking on the host system, determine which network
adapters to use for bridged networking, and map specific host network adapters to specific virtual switches.
Assigning IP Addresses in a Bridged Networking Environment
A virtual machine must have its own identity on a bridged network. For example, on a TCP/IP network, the
virtual machine needs its own IP address. Your network administrator can tell you whether IP addresses are
available for virtual machines and which networking settings to use in the guest operating system.
Typically, the guest operating system can acquire an IP address and other network details from a DHCP server,
but you might need to set the IP address and other details manually in the guest operating system.
Users who boot multiple operating systems often assign the same address to all systems because they assume
that only one operating system will be running at a time. If the host system is set up to boot multiple operating
systems, and you run one or more operating systems in virtual machines, you must configure each operating
system to have a unique network address.
Configure Bridged Networking for an Existing Virtual Machine
You can configure bridged networking for an existing virtual machine.
To configure bridged networking for a new virtual machine, select Customize Hardware when you run the
New Virtual Machine wizard.
Procedure
1 Select the virtual machine and select Player > Manage > Virtual Machine Settings.
2 On the Hardware tab, select Network Adapter.
Chapter 7 Configuring Network Connections
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