When you install Workstation Pro on a Windows or Linux host system, a bridged network (VMnet0) is set up for you. If you install Workstation Pro on a host system that has multiple network adapters, you can configure multiple bridged networks.

For example, if the host system has two network adapters connected to two different networks, you might want virtual machines on the host system to bridge to both network adapters so that they can access either or both physical networks.

Prerequisites

  • Verify that a network adapter is available on the host system to bridge to. If VMnet0 is bridging to all of the available host network adapters (the default setting), you can modify it to make an adapter available. See Change VMnet0 Bridged Networking Settings.

  • On a Windows host, log in as an Administrator user. Only an Administrator user can change network settings in the virtual network editor.

  • On a Linux host, log in as root. You must enter the root password to access the virtual network editor.

Procedure

  1. Select Edit > Virtual Network Editor.
  2. Click Add Network and select a network to add.

    You can create a custom bridged network on VMnet2 to VMnet7. On Windows hosts, you can also use VMnet9 to VMnet19. On Linux hosts, you can also use vmnet10 through vmnet255.

  3. Select the new network and select Bridged (connect VMs directly to the external network).
  4. Select a host network adapter to bridge to from the Bridged to drop-down menu.
  5. Click OK to save your changes.

What to do next

If you want to rename the new network to a name that is meaningful to you, see Rename a Virtual Network.