VMware Fusion NAT config

Sometimes we need access virtual machine OS’s web page, at the VMware Fusion 8, the default network setting is NAT, how to config it.

1. Set a Static IP for your virtual machine system.

Modify dhcpd.conf

sudo vim /Library/Preferences/VMware\ Fusion/vmnet8/dhcpd.conf

After where it says End of “DO NOT MODIFY SECTION” enter the following lines:

subnet 172.16.68.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 {
  range 172.16.68.128 172.16.68.254;
  option broadcast-address 172.16.68.255;
  option domain-name-servers 172.16.68.2;
  option domain-name localdomain;
  default-lease-time 1800;                # default is 30 minutes
  max-lease-time 7200;                    # default is 2 hours
  option netbios-name-servers 172.16.68.2;
  option routers 172.16.68.2;
}
host vmnet8 {
  hardware ethernet 00:50:56:C0:00:08;
  fixed-address 172.16.68.1;
  option domain-name-servers 0.0.0.0;
  option domain-name "";
  option routers 0.0.0.0;
}

hardware ethernet address — use your VMWare Fusion’s virtual MAC address.

Important: You must allocate an IP address that is outside the range defined inside the DO NOT MODIFY SECTION section.

Quit VMWare Fusion, restart it.

2. Change NAT configure file.

sudo vi /Library/Preferences/VMware\ Fusion/vmnet8/nat.conf

find [incomingtcp] part, like this

[incomingtcp]
# Use these with care — anyone can enter into your VM through these…
# The format and example are as follows:
#<external port number> = <VM’s IP address>:<VM’s port number>
#8080 = 172.16.3.128:80

Add your configure, for example:

[incomingtcp]
# Use these with care — anyone can enter into your VM through these…
# The format and example are as follows:
#<external port number> = <VM’s IP address>:<VM’s port number>
#8080 = 172.16.3.128:80
80 = 172.16.106.128:80

It means we map virtual machine 80 port to host machine 80 port.

3. Restart network service of VMware Fusion.

Restart network service of VMware Fusion to apply setting.

sudo /Applications/VMware\ Fusion.app/Contents/Library/vmnet-cli --stop
sudo /Applications/VMware\ Fusion.app/Contents/Library/vmnet-cli --start

The config files you changed will be reset after VMWare Fusion upgrade, please backup it at some where.

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reference

• https://superuser.com/questions/314394/vmware-fusion-how-is-the-gateway-ip-decided-in-nat-networking-mode
• https://medium.com/@tuweizhong/how-to-setup-port-forward-at-vmware-fusion-8-for-os-x-742ad6ca1344