Network Address Translation (NAT)
To use the host’s VPN connection, use NAT setting (adapter: leave default). If Firefox gives errors about certificates, on the host (Windows), use certmgr.msc to export trusted certificate authorities and import them in Firefox on the guest machine.
- This allows for the VM to connect to the same network as the host by using the hosts PC & IP address.
- The VM only has a unique IP address between the guest OS and the host OS. When traffic is leaving from the hosts, it appears to originate from the host (masking the effect of an additional node on the network).
- Between the guest OS and the host OS, the VM will have an IP address automatically assigned to it from VMware, but afterwards it uses the host's address. Therefore, no network configuration is needed.
- This is useful when IP addresses are limited/restricted. For example, dial up Internet or Wi-Fi hotspots.
- No external nodes on the same network are able to interact with the VM, however, other machines also using 'NAT' will be able to communicate with each other.Bridged Networking
- This allows for the VM to connect to the same network via the host's network card (You can specify which interface to use).
- The VM will have its own unique IP address on the network (closest possible to simulating an additional node on the network).
- If there is already a DHCP service running on the network, it will be automatically assigned an IP address. Otherwise it needs to be manually assigned one (a static IP address).
- This is useful when providing services externally to/from the VM
- Any external nodes on the same network are able to interact with the VM as well as any VMs that have external access.
- You can select which interface to use, or VMware can 'auto detect' the interface.Host or Internal Network
Use this configuration with INSECURE VMs
- This creates a separate network which is only connected to the host, thus causing an isolated virtual network.
- The VM will have their own unique IP addresses on the separate network.
- VMware has its own DHCP service (by default) running for the clients, however, IP addresses can still be manually assigned.
- If multiple VMs use 'host-only' on the same host, they will all be able to communicate between themselves as well as the host inside the virtual network.
- This is useful for separating machines from any existing network access, whilst allowing for communication to still happen between the host and the VM.
- No external nodes are able to interact with the VM, however, other machines also using 'host-only' will be able to communicate.