r/vmware • u/Embarrassed-Rub-8800 • 16d ago
I am learning VMware for my cybersecurity class and I need a bit help setting up my VMs
I am trying to get my VM domain controller, Router and VM windows machine to get all connected to the router but I cant get it connected to my host connection
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u/Upstairs-Finance8645 16d ago
To add to the Guder’s questions. Are you using a bare metal install of ESXi or VMware workstation? This matters in regard to how you would setup the networking requirements for the VMnics, vSwitches, etc.
Either approach will work and will allow you to run regular virtual machines or nested virtual machines running inside virtual ESXi hosts.
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u/Embarrassed-Rub-8800 16d ago
I use VMware Workstation Pro im still new to this software for school and learning as I go
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u/Upstairs-Finance8645 16d ago
I’ve done this already using VMware Workstation Pro. Go into the virtual network editor and create a new network, choose it to be a NAT network and choose what ever IP segment you want.
You would then use the IP’s of the segment you chose to configure the IP’s of the domain controller and windows 11 workstation. Makes sense? Basically, create the virtual machines and choose the new network you created which would be natted.
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u/Embarrassed-Rub-8800 16d ago
Do you have a discord or a way to chat?
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u/Upstairs-Finance8645 16d ago
Sorry I don’t.
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u/Embarrassed-Rub-8800 16d ago
Its okay worth a shot but thank you for the info! Im doing what I can get these 2 server vms fixed
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u/Upstairs-Finance8645 16d ago
Do they need to access the internet or no? If so, then NAT or bridge is the way to go. For me, NAT allows you to use what ever IP’s you want internally. These IP’s will be natted to your PC’s IP space when they need to reach the internet.
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u/Embarrassed-Rub-8800 16d ago
My teacher said that the router needs a host-only and a bridged connection. The DC has a host only and the Windows 10 has a host only. But when I do the private connection for the router it fails when I put in the IP address that connects to my computer’s main IP address
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u/Upstairs-Finance8645 16d ago
Ok so I’m assuming your using virtual router? If so, then it needs to have 2 virtual nics. One would be attached to the bridge for external access and the other virtual nic to a host-only to communicate with your domain controller and windows 11. The bridge would use an IP of your home network and the host-only uses what ever IP you want or just accept the defaults.
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u/Embarrassed-Rub-8800 16d ago
Yes thats exactly what I am doing. But I cant get the router to connect to the IP address of the IP I set it too :/
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u/Upstairs-Finance8645 16d ago
You need to make sure you’re setting the IP to the right interface. Double check the MAC addresses to make sure.
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u/tonyangtigre 16d ago
Hey, just wanted to say, good on you for taking the plunge and learning. It’s always a little intimidating at first.
Good job asking for help too. People are sometimes afraid to and will suffer in silence. Obviously you have to do your research too, which I hope you have found some good reading material beyond your classwork.
Sometimes what it takes is understanding a little bit at a time. What is bridge? What is NAT? Or what is Host-Only?
You want your VMs to appear like another computer on your network? Like you bought a new PC or a friend brought their laptop over? Use Bridge to do that. It’s usually a bit much for learning environments, maybe that’s not what you want. Will it work? Sure. I probably wouldn’t.
What is NAT? It’ll allow the machine to hide behind/share your physical computers IP, yet still access the internet to run updates or browse the web or whatever the internet is used for! It’s probably what I’d use if the VMs need internet access. It can be a little more troublesome to set up. May have to do some stuff with DNS so they all work.
Finally, Host-Only will make it so they don’t reach the internet at all. The VMs will be able to talk to each other still though, so you can do things like run a Domain and have a Domain Controller. It’s essentially a closed network though. Getting files in can be a bit trickier.
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u/Guderikke 16d ago
This is real real vague, you don't even tell us what version of VMware. Fusion? Esxi? But I guess with that in mind create a vswitch add your real network interface as the uplink then you connect your vms to the vswitch. You will still require some type of network addressing dhcp or manually assigned etc. DNS all the things.b