[an error occurred while processing this directive] Technical Notes - Host-Only Networking Configuration Notes for Windows 2000 Hosts [an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive]
 
Host-Only Networking Configuration Notes for Windows 2000 Hosts

Due to a problem with Windows 2000, the software installer included with this VMware Workstation release has been modified to list only the option Connect directly to a local Ethernet (bridged mode) when the software is installed on Windows 2000 hosts. If you want to configure virtual machines to use the host-only networking option on a Windows 2000 host, you must first install VMware Workstation on the host machine and then manually install the basic host-only network adapter as an additional set of steps afterwards. If you have not already installed VMware Workstation for Windows NT and Windows 2000 on your Windows 2000 host, refer to the VMware Workstation for Windows 2000 Installation Notes.

Follow these instructions to manually install the basic host-only network adapter on Windows 2000 (RC1 or later versions):

  1. Bring up the Control Panel (Start > Settings > Control Panel)
     
  2. Bring up the Add/Remove Hardware wizard from the Control Panel
    Note: You must have sufficient privileges to do this.
     
  3. Click Next to continue past the Welcome screen.
     
  4. Select Add/Troubleshoot a Device and click Next.
     
  5. Wait while Windows searches for new Plug and Play devices, then select Add a New Device from the Choose a Hardware Device screen and click Next.
     
  6. Select "No, I want to select the hardware from a list" and click Next.
     
  7. Select Network Adapters from the list and click Next.
     
  8. Select VMware, Inc. from the manufacturers list on the Select Network Adapter screen to get the list of available host-only network adapters, then select VMware Virtual Ethernet Adapter (basic host-only support for VMnet1) and click Next.
     
  9. Click Next on the screen titled Start Hardware Installation
     
  10. Click Yes when prompted that the Microsoft digital signature is not present for the software about to be installed.
     
  11. Click Finish on the screen that indicates the adapter has been installed. 

    12. Note: By default, Windows 2000 will set up each host-only adapter to obtain an IP address from a DHCP server. VMware Workstation will not work with this default setting. To configure VMware Workstation software for proper host-only operation, you must manually assign a static IP address to the VMnet DHCP server by completing the remaining steps below.

  12. Locate the file vmnetdhcp.conf; this is the configuration file used by the VMnet DHCP server. The file should be in the C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32 directory; otherwise, use the Windows 2000 Search facility to find it.

  13. View the contents of vmnetdhcp.conf using a program such as Notepad.

  14. The text file should have one entry for each VMnet Ethernet adapter that has been installed on the system. Look for the entry in the file that corresponds to the host-only adapter you just installed. The entry should be the last one in the file and look similar to:
              # added for VMnet1 at 08/24/99 16:26:44
              subnet 172.16.154.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 {
                      range 172.16.154.128 172.16.154.254;
                      option domain-name-servers 172.16.154.1;
                      option broadcast-address 172.16.154.255;
              }

    The network address indicated to the right of the subnet designator in the last entry will most likely be different from the one indicated in the above example (172.16.154.0). For now, simply identify the subnet address within the last entry of your file; this address will be modified manually and assigned as the IP address of the host-only adapter in the next step. Do not modify the address within the configuration file.

  15. Manually assign the IP address and subnet mask for the host-only adapter: Open the Control Panel, double-click the Network and Dial-up Connections icon.

    16. Note: If you see multiple Local Area Connection icons, identify the one that corresponds to the VMware Workstation Virtual Ethernet Adapter (basic host-only support VMnet1). To do this, right-click on each icon, select Properties from the pop-up menu and look in the Connect Using field for the appropriate adapter name.

    From the Local Area Connection Properties dialog box for the VMware Workstation Virtual Ethernet Adapter, select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and click the Properties button. Change the default setting from "Obtain an IP address automatically" to "Use the following IP address." Enter the subnet address identified in the previous step in the IP address field, but replace the .0 portion of the address with a .1 (for example, if the subnet address in the entry is 172.16.154.0, enter the new derived address of 172.16.154.1 in the IP address field). Enter 255.255.255.0 in the Subnet mask field and leave the remaining fields blank. Click OK. Click OK again to close the Local Area Connection Properties panel. Click the Close button to close the Local Area Connection Status panel.

    Finally you will need to start or restart the VMnet DHCP service if you intend to have DHCP dynamically assign IP addresses to guest operating systems that use host-only networking. To start the service bring up the Services control panel via the Control Panel.

  16. Bring up the Control Panel (Start > Settings > Control Panel)

  17. Double-click the Administrative Tools item.

  18. Double-click the Services icon.

  19. Select the VMnet DHCP Server item in the list.

  20. Select the Start item from the Action pull-down menu.

    If the new adapter is the second or third host-only adapter to be added, then you will already have a VMnet DHCP Server service running and you will need to stop it first before starting it again. This is done by selecting a Stop action at Step 20 before the Start.

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