How to connect the virtual networks of vmware guests running on different hosts?

Question

In a test setup, we are running several virtual machines on a single vmware workstation host. All virtual machines are connected via a "host only" network. This runs fine up to 2 or 3 virtual machines (depending on the host hardware). To allow more virtual machines, we want to use more host machines.

Details about the environment and applications:

• Host PCs are running Windows XP in a corporate intranet.
• VMware used is Workstation 6.5
• Guests are running Windows Server 2003
• All guests act as Web Servers
• One of the guests additionally acts as Windows File server, offering shared folders for the other guests to connect to.

Restrictions:

• VMware guests shall not be visible from the intranet.
• Changes to the host PC are restricted by corporate policy.
• In the virtual network, no domain controller exists. All virtual machines are member of the same workgroup.
• Running the virtual network as NAT is possible. Port forwarding might be used if it does not conflict with ports used by the host PC.

Looking for a solution, I found hints about using router or vpn software on the hosts, but without any details how to setup.

(I found a similar question Sharing the network between 2 VMware hosts, but the answer was not sufficient for me.)

Answer 1

The VPN sounds like a good idea, but there is a certain degree of difficulty involved with setting up VPNs, and also involves "changes to the host pc" which would be "restricted by corporate policy."

Have you thought about an ad-hoc wireless network? Maybe pick up a couple usb wifi adapters and set up a wireless network between the hosts.

Also, you'll have to switch the networks for your VMs from host only to bridged, as host only won't communicate outside of the host.