Custom Networking Configurations

The virtual networking components provided by GSX Server make it possible for you to create sophisticated virtual networks. The virtual networks can be connected to one or more external networks, or they may run entirely on the host computer.

Setting up networking components for your custom virtual network is a straightforward process. Before attempting to set up complex virtual networks, you should have a good understanding of how to configure network devices in your host and guest operating systems.

The sample configuration described in this section illustrates many of the ways you can combine devices on a virtual network. Other custom configurations are described in Advanced Networking Topics and Understanding NAT.

In this custom configuration, a Web server connects through a firewall to an external network. An administrator's computer can connect to the Web server through a second firewall.

To set up this configuration, you must create four virtual machines and use the virtual machine settings editor to adjust the settings for their virtual Ethernet adapters. You also need to install the appropriate guest operating systems and application software in each virtual machine and make the appropriate networking settings in each virtual machine.

Create the first virtual machine with bridged networking so it can connect to an external network using the host computer's Ethernet adapter.

Create the other three virtual machines without networking. You will set up their virtual Ethernet adapters in later steps.

2. Launch a VMware Virtual Machine Console and open virtual machine 1. Do not power on the virtual machine.

Use the virtual machine settings editor (VM > Settings) to add a second virtual network adapter, as described in Changing the Networking Configuration. Connect the second adapter to Custom (VMnet2).

Click OK to save the configuration and close the virtual machine settings editor.

3. If a console is not running, launch one. Open virtual machine 2. Do not power on the virtual machine.

Use the virtual machine settings editor (VM > Settings) to add a virtual network adapter. Connect the adapter to Custom (VMnet2).

Click OK to save the configuration and close the virtual machine settings editor.

4. If a console is not running, launch one. Open virtual machine 3. Do not power on the virtual machine.

Use the virtual machine settings editor to add a virtual network adapter. Connect the adapter to Custom (VMnet2).

Use the virtual machine settings editor to add a second virtual network adapter. Connect the adapter to Custom (VMnet3).

Click OK to save the configuration and close the virtual machine settings editor.

5. If a console is not running, launch one. Open virtual machine 4. Do not power on the virtual machine.

Use the virtual machine settings editor to add a virtual network adapter. Connect the adapter to Custom (VMnet3).

Click OK to save the configuration and close the virtual machine settings editor.

Note: On a Windows host, you may skip the steps for configuring network addresses manually and, instead, use GSX Server's DHCP server. Choose Host > Virtual Network Settings > DHCP and add VMnet2 and VMnet3 to the list of virtual networks served by the virtual DHCP server. Then skip to step 9.

On a Windows host, open a command prompt on the host computer and run ipconfig /all. Note the network addresses used by each virtual adapter.

On a Linux host, run ifconfig at the console or in a terminal window on the host computer. Note the network addresses used by each virtual switch.

7. Launch a console, open each virtual machine in turn and install the appropriate guest operating system.

For the bridged Ethernet adapter in virtual machine 1, use the networking settings needed for a connection to the external network. If the virtual machine gets its IP address from a DHCP server on the external network, the default settings should work.

For the second Ethernet adapter in virtual machine 1, manually assign an IP address in the range you are using with VMnet2.

In virtual machine 2, assign an IP address in the range you are using with VMnet2.

In virtual machine 3, network adapters are connected to VMnet2 and VMnet3. Assign each adapter an IP address in the range you are using with the virtual network to which it is connected.

In virtual machine 4, assign an IP address in the range you are using with VMnet3.