Virtual machines can connect to Ethernet networks easily using bridged networking. However, VMware GSX Server does not support non-Ethernet network adapter cards — including token ring, FDDI, CDDI, or ATM adapters — with bridged networking. For connections to other types of networks, you can use host-only networking plus appropriate software running on the host.
If you use host-only networking, your virtual machine and the host-only adapter are connected to a private TCP/IP network. Packets do not leave the virtual switch or Ethernet adapter (VMnet1). In effect, the virtual machines linked to a host-only network are isolated from any network outside the host. To give virtual machines access to an IP network outside the host, you must forward the packets to the host's physical network card. You can forward the packets using a proxy server or firewall application.
For example, if you install the proper routing or proxy software on your host computer, you can establish a connection between the host-only virtual Ethernet adapter and a physical network adapter on the host computer. This allows you to connect the virtual machine to a token ring or other non-Ethernet network. The instructions in this topic describe the process for using host-only networking to connect to a token ring network. The principles are also applicable to other non-Ethernet networks, such as network connections over analog, ISDN and DSL modems.
On Linux host systems, you can use IP chains and IP masquerading to implement this configuration.
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