Shared Networking with Virtual PC for Windows

This article describes how Shared Networking works with Virtual PC for Windows.

Shared Networking uses an internal network address port translation service in Virtual PC. This service enables one or more guest PCs to share the IP address of the host PC.

Shared Networking requires you to configure the guest PC operating system to use Dynamic Host Control Protocol (DHCP). Virtual PC assigns the guest PC a temporary, non-routable IP address and performs any necessary packet translations.

You can use Shared Networking for basic network activities such as browsing the Web, reading e-mail, accessing FTP sites, or accessing shared printers and files. Shared Networking cannot be used for more advanced scenarios, such as running HTTP or FTP servers on the guest PC, using chat programs, or other software that requires a unique IP address. For these advanced scenarios, use the Virtual Switch option.

Note If the host PC uses Microsoft Windows NT or Microsoft Windows 2000, and you are not logged in as an administrator, Shared Networking does not support commands such as PING that use the Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP).

When you use Shared Networking, keep the following points in mind:

• The guest PC operating system must be set to use DHCP. To enable DHCP in a Windows operating system, click Obtain an IP address automatically.
• When you use the Internet Connection Wizard to set up networking for a Windows operating system on a guest PC, specify Connect through LAN, even if your host PC is using a dial-up connection.
• The guest PC emulates a DEC 21041 Ethernet controller. Sometimes the DEC 21041 may show up on your system as Intel 21041. This is ordinary behavior.
• Some networking software will not work correctly without a unique IP address. If you have trouble using some software, but you can browse the Internet, configure networking on the guest PC with the Virtual Switch option.
• You can access the network from the host PC either with a dial-up connection or over a local area network (LAN). Virtual PC uses the currently selected TCP/IP connection on the host PC for all Shared Networking traffic.
• You can access printers and files on other computers on a guest PC, but you cannot share files on a guest PC. To share files is a server function that requires the Virtual Switch option.