How to Configure LAN Segment in VMware Workstation

In this article, we will examine how to use LAN Segment on virtual machines in VM Workstation Virtualization Software.

How to Configure LAN Segment Networking on VM Workstation 15 / 14 / 12

In our previous articles, we configured VMware Workstation’s Bridged, Host-Only, NAT, and Specific Virtual Network settings. In this article, we will discuss what is the LAN Segment in VMware Workstation.

LAN Segment is a private network created for a virtual pc group. With the Ethernet Segment feature, virtual machines do not get IP addresses from the local DHCP server. As an example, a virtual machine configured as a LAN segment will receive an IP address from the 169.254.0.0/16 IP block by APIPA (Automatic Private IP Addressing).

In VM Workstation 8 and earlier, this network structure named as the Team. In new versions of VM Workstation, the Team structure is now called as LAN Segment.

In this network configuration, all virtual machines receive IP addresses from the 169.254.0.0/16 IP block and do not receive an IP from a DHCP server.

For more information about Microsoft APIPA, visit https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/220874/how-to-use-automatic-tcp-ip-addressing-without-a-dhcp-server.

How to Create a Private Network (VLAN) on VMware Workstation to Include Virtual Machines on the Same Network

Configure two virtual machines that you created on VMware Workstation as Client1 and Client2. Then follow these steps in order to incorporate these two virtual machines into the same network.

   Step 1

To add virtual machines to the same network, you need to create a new Network Segment. Open the Client1 VM and click on Network Adapter to create a Segment and check the LAN Segment option in the VM Settings window.

   Step 2

Click the LAN Segments… button after checking the option.

   Step 3

In the Global LAN Segments window, click the Add button.

   Step 4

The Segment 1 group will be created after clicking the Add button. You can click the Rename button to change the name of the created group.

After changing the name of the Segment to Local, close the window by clicking on the OK button.

   Step 5

This time you can see the Local group on the drop-down menu.

   Step 6

Select Local and click on the OK button.

   Step 7

As you can see in the image below, the Client1 VM is now a Local member.

You do not need to create a new network Segment for the Client2 VM. To make the Client2 VM a member of the Local group, you only need to select Local from the popup menu.

   Step 8

After creating the Private Network on VMware Workstation, run the Client1 and Client2 machines. You can examine the IP assigned by APIPA to the Client1 VM from the image below.

   Step 9

The IP assigned to the Client2 is as follows.

   Step 10

In Network Segment configuration, virtual machines that are members of the same group can communicate with each other. Now, check the network connection by pinging Client2 from the Client1.

If Ping fails, close Windows Firewall.

   Step 11

Likewise, ping Client1 from the Client2 machine and test the network connection.

   Step 12

Virtual machines configured as LAN Segments cannot access the physical network without routing. Ping your physical network of 192.168.1.0/24 from the Client1 and verify the result.

   Step 13

In the same way, check the network connection by pinging your physical network from the Client2 machine.

How to Assign IP Addresses to VMs

Virtual machines on Segment can get automatic IP addresses via APIPA. However, you can assign manual IP to the virtual machines in the Ethernet Segment.

To manually assign IP addresses to VMs that are members of the Local group and test the network connection, follow the steps below in order.

   Step 1

To assign a manual IP address to the Client1 machine, open the Network and Sharing Center and click on the Ethernet adapter. You assign the 192.168.10.10 address from 192.168.10.0/24 to Client1.

   Step 2

On the Client2 machine, assign an IP address from 192.168.10.0/24 as well. Client2’s IP address is 192.168.10.20.

   Step 3

After assigning manual IP addresses to the machines, you can check the success of the network connection from the following image.

   Final Word

In this article, we have configured the private network connection for the virtual machines on the VMware virtualization program. With LAN Network Segmentation, you can make more advanced network designs. Thanks for following us!