Network types in Hyper-V, VirtualBox, and VMware: configuration and differences

Virtual machines have become the backbone of modern IT environments and the basic tool for home labs, businesses, developers, and system administrators looking to simulate, deploy, and test solutions in isolated or production environments. However, one of the most critical and least understood aspects is the virtual network configurationChoosing the right type of network can mean the difference between a fully functional, secure, and fast VM, or a headache full of connectivity and performance issues.

This article presents a in-depth guide, written in a close and didactic language, about All the types of networks you can configure in Hyper-V, VirtualBox and VMWare. We will analyze its characteristics, advantages, limitations and good practicesIf you've ever wondered how to connect a VM to the internet, how to completely isolate it from your local network, or how to make it only talk to other VMs, here are all the answers, with examples and real-life use cases. Get ready to take your virtualization knowledge to the next level.

Why is networking so important in virtual machines?

Virtualization has transformed the management of OS and applications, but what really makes the difference is the flexibility in managing virtual networksA powerful hypervisor should allow you to set up complete labs, from a typical isolated environment to malware, to corporate infrastructures that simulate real companies, all without affecting your main network.

Each platform (Hyper-V, VirtualBox, VMWare) offers multiple virtual networking options. These options determine how VMs communicate with each other, with the host, and with the outside world. Choosing correctly, and understanding the implications of each mode, is essential to:

• Simulate realistic network scenarios (companies, data centers, laboratories hackingetc.).
• Ensure security (isolate machines, prevent malware spread, test firewalls)
• Optimize resource use (bandwidth, CPU, connectivity)
• Avoid unexpected connectivity issues or interference with the actual physical network

Worried about how each mode affects communication, resource access, performance, and IP configuration? Read on for all the details.

Types of networks in VirtualBox

VirtualBox is one of the most widely used cross-platform hypervisors. It's known for being user-friendly, flexible, and free, making it a perfect choice for both novice and advanced users. One of its greatest advantages is the number of virtual network modes available, each designed for specific scenarios.

1. NAT (Network Address Translation)

This is the mode that comes enabled by default when you create a virtual machine in VirtualBox. It works similarly to a home router:

• The VM gets a private IP address, on a different subnet than the host.
• You can access the Internet and the local network through the host IP, sharing Internet access.
• It is not possible, by default, access the VM from another machine on the network or from the hostIt is a kind of “exit to the outside” but without an entrance.
• If you need to open ports to access services on the VM (SSH, HTTP, etc.), you will need to configure rules for Forwarding of ports from the VirtualBox console.

When to use it? To navigate, to do downloads, install packages… It is secure by default because it isolates your VM from unwanted access.

2. Bridge adapter

In this mode, the VM connects to the physical network like any other PC. Namely:

• It receives its own IP address from your router or DHCP server, just like any other device connected to your local network.
• You can directly access the VM from other computers on the network and vice versa..
• It is ideal for simulate real business environments, set up accessible servers on a local network, or perform real communication tests between computers.

Note: Use your PC's physical adapter. If you have multiple network cards, you'll have to choose which one to use in the settings.

3. Internal network

A kind of “private bubble” for VMs:

• Only VMs in VirtualBox that are connected to the same internal network will see and talk to each other.
• There is no internet access, neither to the host nor to the physical local network.
• Perfect for test labs where you want VMs to interact with each other but without the risk of anything leaving that network.

4. Host-Only Adapter

Similar to the internal network, but in this case:

• The VM can communicate with the host, but not with the physical local network or the Internet (unless you configure a virtual router).
• Useful for testing between hosts and VMs without exposing them outside your machine.

5. NAT Network

It's a variant of standard NAT mode, allowing multiple VMs to share a single subnet. This allows them to communicate with each other and access the Internet, although they remain inaccessible from outside without port forwarding rules.

6. Generic controller

An advanced mode, designed for scenarios where you need to connect VMs on different servers/hosts, using UDP tunnels or solutions like VDE (Virtual Distributed Ethernet). It requires more specialized knowledge.

7. Cloud Network

Still experimental mode in VirtualBox, aimed at connecting VMs directly to the Oracle cloud and facilitating interoperability in cloud environments.

8. Not connected

The VM has a network card, but it's simply "disconnected," just as if you had the network cable unplugged from a physical PC. This is useful for completely isolating a VM.

Extra details about VirtualBox:

• You can add up to 4 network adapters to a VM from the graphical interface, and up to 8 using VBoxManage from the command line. commands.
• Allows you to choose the emulated network card model (AMD, Intel, VirtIO…), useful for compatibility and performance.
• Supports jumbo frames on Intel adapters in bridge mode.
• Advanced options: promiscuous mode for sniffing, port mirroring for analysis, VRDE integration for remote desktop and shared folders.

Network modes in VMware Workstation and Player

VMware is another powerful and widely used option, especially in business environments, developers, and educational labs. It offers its own set of virtual networking options, with similar concepts to VirtualBox but with its own terminology and specifics.

1. Bridged

The equivalent of VirtualBox's bridge mode. The VM obtains an IP address from the same physical network as the host and functions as a standalone device. This is ideal for setting up accessible servers or for testing where the VM needs to be visible on your LAN.

NAT

The VM connects to a private subnet managed by VMware and shares the host's internet connection using NAT. From the VM, you can access the internet and other devices on the LAN, but not from outside the network except under port forwarding rules.

3. Host-Only

VMs can only communicate with each other and the host, with no access to the physical network or the internet. This is perfect for testing environments where you want complete isolation but still have host-VM communication.

4. Custom / Advanced

VMware allows you to create custom virtual networks (VMnet), design virtual switches, define complex rules, VLANs and “custom” adapters, ideal for advanced or enterprise scenarios.

VMware Key Highlights:

• The Player version is free, with limited features; the Pro version allows you to manage complex networks, multiple interfaces, and lab environments.
• It includes tools such as “Workstation Pro Network Editor” to create topologies, configure VLANs and manage advanced virtual networks.
• Allows hardware realistic virtual, supports USB 3.0, 3D, screenshots, clones, and support for VDI, VHD, VMDK formats.

Networking in Hyper-V

Hyper-V, native virtualization in Windows 10/11 and servers, uses a server-based approach virtual switchesEach switch type defines how the VMs, the host, and the outside world communicate.

1. External network (External switch)

Allows the VM to have full access to the physical network:

• The virtual switch is linked to a physical network card on the host.
• The VM receives IP address from the router or DHCP from the LAN.
• You can communicate with other devices on the network and access the Internet.

2. Internal network (Internal switch)

Allows communication between VMs and the host, but without access to the physical network or internet:

• A virtual adapter is created on the host.
• VM and host can “see” each other and transfer data.
• Ideal for internal laboratories without external access.

3. Private network (Private switch)

Only VMs connected to the same private switch can communicate, with no access to the host or physical network. This is used for maximum security and isolation in testing or malware environments.

4. Default Switch

In Windows 10/11, Hyper-V includes a “Default Switch” that automatically provides Internet access through Windows-managed NAT, facilitating fast connectivity without additional configuration.

Advanced details in Hyper-V:

• Allows multiple switches and adapters in each VM.
• Supports VLANs, security, port mirroring, segmentation and QoS.
• Enables complex configurations for software-defined networks (SDN).

Comparison of network modes in Hyper-V, VirtualBox and VMware

For ease of comparison, here's a table showing how the main modes compare across the three hypervisors:

VirtualBox	VMware	Hyper-V	Internet Access	Local network access	Communication with host
NAT	NAT	Default Switch	Yes	No	Optional
bridge adapter	Bridged	External Switch	Yes	Yes	But
Internal network	Custom/Advanced	Internal Switch	No	No	Yes
Host-only	Host-only	Internal Switch	No	No	Yes
Private network	Custom/Advanced	Private Switch	No	No	No

Practical Setup: How do I set up each type of network?

In VirtualBox

• Open the application and select the VM you want to configure
• Go to Settings> Network
• Select the adapter (1, 2, 3 or 4) and choose the network mode you need (NAT, bridge, host-only, etc.)
• You can adjust advanced options such as card type, promiscuous mode, address MAC, port forwarding, etc.
• Remember: You can combine multiple adapters in different modes in a single VM.

At VMware

• Select the VM, go to Edit Settings > Network Adapter
• Choose the type of connection: NAT, Bridged or Host-Only
• In the Pro version you can create and manage custom networks from the “Virtual Network Editor”
• Use port mapping options to allow external access from NAT

In Hyper-V

• Open “Hyper-V Manager”
• From the right menu, select Virtual Switch Manager
• Create the type of switch you need: external, internal, or private
• Assign the switch to the VM from its configuration (under “Network Adapter”)
• You can add more virtual network adapters to each VM and choose their individual switch.

IP and port assignment in VMs

After configuring the network, you'll need to assign IP addresses and, in the case of NAT, configure port forwarding if you want to provide services.

• In bridge and external mode, the VM typically obtains its IP address via DHCP, just like the host. You can set a static IP address if needed.
• In internal or private modes, you will need to configure IPs manually if there is no DHCP on those virtual networks.
• To open ports (NAT): in VirtualBox and VMware this is done from the advanced network adapter settings, mapping specific ports from the host to the VM.

Performance and security of virtual networks

To optimize virtual networks, considers:

• Assign only the necessary adapters to avoid unnecessary exposure.
• Use bridge mode to improve speed and compatibility, although it may be less secure than NAT or private networks.
• Limit bandwidth in environments with many VMs, if the software allows it.
• Update and configure correctly the drivers network in the VM (Guest Additions, VMware Tools, Hyper-V Integration Services).
• Configure firewalls and rules on each VM, just like on physical machines.

Real-life usage scenarios for each type of network

• Safety laboratories: uses private or internal networks to isolate malware or vulnerable systems.
• Enterprise Software Testing: Create internal or host-only networks to simulate clients and servers without external risks.
• Productive environments: bridge or external mode for VMs that need to be accessible on the LAN (web servers, databasesetc.).
• Development and testing: NAT for VMs that only require internet access and cannot be accessed from outside.

Advantages and disadvantages of each mode

Network mode	Advantages	Drawbacks
NAT	Easy, safe, fast internet access, ideal for starters	Not accessible from outside without port forwarding rules, does not simulate realistic network
Bridge / External	Simulates a real PC, maximum compatibility, easy access on LAN	Risk of exposure, additional configuration, conflict if there are many VMs
Internal / Private Network	Complete isolation, ideal for secure testing and private networks	No access to the Internet or physical network, requires manual IP configuration
Host-only / Internal	Simple host-VM communication, external network isolation	No Internet or LAN access, limited resources
Not connected	Fully isolated, useful for critical testing	No network, requires configuration to exit isolation

Other advanced functions and features

Traffic monitoring and analysis

All three hypervisors offer, to varying degrees, options for traffic analysis, such as sniffing and port mirroring, making it easier to detect bottlenecks or internal attacks.

Disk support and VM migration

• VMware uses .VMDK; VirtualBox supports .VDI, .VMDK, .VHD; Hyper-V uses .VHD and .VHDX
• VirtualBox and VMware allow import/export in OVA/OVF formats
• It is possible to migrate VMs between platforms, although with limitations mainly in drivers and network configuration.

Remote management and networks

• Hyper-V Manager and PowerShell facilitate complete remote administration
• VMware adds vSphere integration for advanced management
• VirtualBox has VBoxManage and web solutions like phpVirtualBox