Guest tools and networking
VMware Tools, shared folders, and the three network modes.
Install VMware Tools from the Player menu so the guest gets drivers and a graceful shutdown path. On Linux, open-vm-tools from the distro is usually better than the bundled tarball.
- NAT — the guest reaches the internet through the host. Fine for browsing and package installs.
- Bridged — the guest sits on the same LAN as the host. Use this when other devices must reach the VM.
- Host-only — a private network between host and guest. Use this for isolated labs.