Virtual networks
Virtual networks
A virtual network consists of one or more virtual machines configured to access local or external network resources. Virtual networks have the configurations listed in the following table.
| Configuration | Description |
|---|---|
The virtual network is configured to use a network adapter in the physical computer. |
If a network adapter in the physical computer is selected, then any virtual machines attached to the virtual network can access the networks to which that physical adapter is connected. |
The virtual network is configured not to use a network adapter. |
If no network adapter is selected, then any virtual machine attached to the virtual network becomes part of the internal virtual machine network. An internal virtual machine network consists of all virtual machines attached to a virtual network that is configured to use no network adapter. Each internal virtual machine network is completely isolated from all other internal virtual machine networks. |
Virtual Server supports an unlimited number of virtual networks, and an unlimited number of virtual machines can be connected to a virtual network.
Virtual DHCP server
A virtual network includes a virtual DHCP server that can provide IP address leases to virtual machines only. You can use the virtual DHCP server instead of configuring a virtual machine as a DHCP server. The virtual DHCP server is disabled by default. If the virtual network is not attached to a physical network adapter, and a virtual DHCP server is activated, then the DHCP server is isolated from all other virtual machines and the host operating system.
Even though the DHCP server is isolated, it assigns unique IP addresses from the range specified. For example, if a virtual network with a virtual DHCP server is configured to use 10.244.0.0 as the starting IP address range it will assign IP addresses from 10.244.0.16 through 10.244.0.254 only to the virtual machines attached to its virtual network. No other virtual DHCP server will assign an IP addresses in the range from 10.244.0.16 through 10.244.0.254. The virtual DHCP server reserves the first 16 IP addresses from the start of the specified IP address range; these addresses are never assigned. For more information, see Configure the virtual DHCP server.
For more information about virtual networks, see Setting Up Virtual Networks.