How to Configure Virtual Networks in Hyper-V

Hyper-V is a virtualization technology designed and implemented by Microsoft. This component is available in Windows 8.1, 10, Server 2008, 2012, 2016. There are standalone Hyper-V servers that are available free of cost from Microsoft. We use to create and manage virtual machine on Hyper-V.

For virtual machines to work properly, we need to configure network services so that we can use those virtual machines for different purposes.

There are different types of networks in Hyper-V. Lets see the difference and how we configure them. To configure Hyper-V network services follow the following steps.

Open Hyper-V manager by clicking on start button and start typing Hyper-V, Click it to open it.

Now on the right side pane, click on virtual switch manager. It will open up a virtual switch manager.

Now there are three type of switches we can create for virtual machines.

External: Create a virtual switch that binds to the physical network adopter so that virtual machine access the physical adopter.

Internal: It creates virtual switch which can only be used by virtual machines running on the server. It creates a LAN for virtual machines only.

Private: This can only be used by the virtual machine that is only running on this computer.

We normally create External so that virtual machines can use the virtual switch to connect to other virtual machines as well as internet by using physical network adopter. Select External and click Create Virtual Switch.

Now enter the virtual switch name, note and select with physical adopter it will use for network connectivity in selection box External Network. Also select the option, Allow management operating system to share this network adopter. Now click Ok

It will show up a prompt that current network session will get reset, click Yes.

Once all settings has been done, go to virtual machine settings and select the virtual switch that we have created.

Now your virtual machines will have network access through virtual switch.

Muhammad Imran Habib

Imran is a technology evangelist with 8 years of experience working with some of the Industry leading companies. Imran's expertise includes On-Prem/Virtual Infrastructure deployments, IT Solutions for SMEs, End User Computing Support.

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