VMware GSX Server 2.5.2

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Choosing the Network Driver for Windows Server 2003, Windows XP and Windows 2000 Guest Operating Systems

For Windows Server 2003, Windows XP and Windows 2000 virtual machines on a Windows host, you can select the network driver for your virtual machine's networking connection. The vlance driver installs automatically, however, you can choose to install the vmxnet driver instead, which provides better networking performance. The difference in networking performance is most noticeable if the virtual machine is connected to a Gigabit Ethernet card.

To install this driver, you must install VMware Tools.

If you change to the vmxnet driver, you need to reconfigure any networking settings, for example, proxy server or IP address.

Other guest operating systems use the vlance driver only.

This section includes steps for:

Installing the vmxnet Driver in a New Virtual Machine

If you are creating a new virtual machine with a Windows Server 2003, Windows XP or Windows 2000 guest operating system, you can choose to install the vmxnet networking driver for better networking performance over the default vlance networking driver. To install the vmxnet driver, complete the following steps.

Create a new virtual machine. For details, see Creating a New Virtual Machine.
Power on the virtual machine and install the guest operating system.
To install a Windows Server 2003 guest operating system, see Windows Server 2003 Installation Guidelines.
To install a Windows XP guest operating system, see Windows XP Installation Guidelines.
To install a Windows 2000 guest operating system, see Windows 2000 Installation Guidelines.
After you install the guest operating system, install VMware Tools in the virtual machine. For information on installing VMware Tools, see Installing VMware Tools in a Windows Virtual Machine.
After you install VMware Tools, shut down the guest operating system and power off the virtual machine. Do not close the console.
Open the Configuration Editor. Choose Settings > Configuration Editor.
On the Hardware tab, select the Network Adapter.
Under Networking Adapter Type, select vmxnet, then click OK to save your changes and close the Configuration Editor.
Power on the virtual machine. The guest operating system detects the new virtual hardware. Follow the wizard, then configure the virtual machine's networking options, for example, specify the default gateway, its static IP address and so forth.

Installing the vmxnet Driver in an Existing Virtual Machine

If you have an existing virtual machine with a Windows Server 2003, Windows XP or Windows 2000 guest operating system, you can install the vmxnet networking driver for better networking performance over the default vlance networking driver. Choosing the vmxnet driver causes you to lose any networking settings you made for the vlance driver, requiring you to configure networking again.

To install the vmxnet driver, complete the following steps.

Connect to the virtual machine with a console, start the guest operating system and install VMware Tools. For information on installing VMware Tools, see Installing VMware Tools in a Windows Virtual Machine.
Note: Even if you previously installed VMware Tools, you should install it again to make sure you have the version with the vmxnet driver.
After you install VMware Tools, shut down the guest operating system and power off the virtual machine. Do not close the console.
Open the Configuration Editor. Choose Settings > Configuration Editor.
On the Hardware tab, select the Network Adapter.
Under Networking Adapter Type, select vmxnet, then click OK to save your changes and close the Configuration Editor.
Power on the virtual machine. The guest operating system detects the new virtual hardware. Follow the wizard.
Since your previous vlance networking settings are lost, configure the virtual machine's networking options; for example, specify the default gateway, its static IP address and so forth.

Installing the vmxnet Driver before Installing VMware Tools

You can choose a slightly different installation path to install the vmxnet driver. This option may be preferable if you are using scripted installations for your guest operating systems. However, the virtual machine will not have any networking until the latest version of VMware Tools is installed.

If you are installing a new virtual machine, complete the following steps; otherwise, go to step 2.
1. Create a new virtual machine. For details, see Creating a New Virtual Machine.
2. Install the guest operating system. To install a Windows Server 2003 guest operating system, see Windows Server 2003 Installation Guidelines. To install a Windows XP guest operating system, see Windows XP Installation Guidelines. To install a Windows 2000 guest operating system, see Windows 2000 Installation Guidelines.
3. Shut down the guest operating system and power off the virtual machine. Do not close the console.
Connect to the virtual machine with a console.
Open the Configuration Editor. Choose Settings > Configuration Editor.
On the Hardware tab, select the Network Adapter.
Under Networking Adapter Type, select vmxnet, then click OK to save your changes and close the Configuration Editor.
Power on the virtual machine. The Windows New Hardware Wizard appears as it detects the new network driver. Cancel and close the wizard. At this time, the virtual machine cannot access the network.
Install VMware Tools. For information on installing VMware Tools, see Installing VMware Tools in a Windows Virtual Machine.
After you install VMware Tools, configure the virtual machine's networking options, for example, specify the default gateway, its static IP address and so forth.

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