Connect to the Internet or a Network

Parallels Workstation allows you to use the following types of networking with virtual machines:

• Shared Networking : guest OS programs share a network connection with the host OS. This is the default setting.
• Bridged Ethernet : guest OS can use one of the host computer network adapters. This makes the virtual machine appear as a separate computer on the network.
• Host-only networking : the virtual machine can access only the host computer and other virtual machines residing on it.
• Networking using a PCIe network adapter . This type of networking allows the virtual machine to access the local network and Internet through an Intel VT-d PCIe network adapter.

In most cases, you don't need to adjust network settings. If the host computer is set to connect to a network or to the Internet, guest OS programs have access to the same network and the Internet.

The Bridged Ethernet networking mode is more complex and you may need to contact your system administrator to set it up properly.

Read on for detailed information on these types of networking and how to configure them.