After setting up a virtual machine with Hyper-V Manager on Windows 10, the first step is to set up the virtual machine’s network settings.
How to Add and Configure External Virtual Switch on Hyper-V
The most common method of configuring virtual network settings in a Microsoft virtual machine program is to create an External Virtual Switch. The main reason for adding this virtual key is to include the virtual machine in our physical network.
The virtual machine, which provides access to the physical network, can communicate with all devices on the network. As a result, a Windows 10 virtual machine running on Hyper-V can also access the Internet through the External Network configuration.
If you haven’t installed Hyper-V before, you can find the links below.
In our previous articles, we examined the Internal Switch and Private Switch network types. In this article, we’ll only explore how to add and configure an External Switch.
Before proceeding with the External network configuration in Hyper-V, create a virtual machine on the Windows operating system and install a clean Windows 10. After completing these steps, let’s connect the virtual machine running on Hyper-V to our physical network or the Internet.
How to Add an External Virtual Switch
First, we will create a new network adapter and then define the adapter to the virtual machine. When configuring an External Network, we need to select the adapter for our physical computer connected to the Internet.
For example, if our computer connected to the Internet via a Wi-Fi adapter, then we need to select the Wi-Fi card in the Switch configuration.
To configure a Hyper-V virtual machine outside network, follow the steps below.
First, open Hyper-V Manager and check that the Virtual Switch has not added to the virtual machine from the Right Button / Settings section of the virtual machine.
Let’s add a Virtual Switch to the Windows 10 virtual machine running on Hyper-V.
To configure the Windows 10 virtual machine network settings, click Virtual Switch Manager from the Hyper-V Actions panel.
In the Virtual Switch Manager window, select External and click the Create Virtual Switch button.
In the Virtual Switch configuration window, select the network card of your physical computer that connected to the Internet. And name the External Switch you added.
As you can see in the example below, we chose the Qualcomm Atheros AR9002WB-1NG Wireless Network Adapter card because we are connected to the Internet via a Wi-Fi network adapter via a Laptop.
Click Apply / OK to have the settings take effect.
As soon as you click the Apply button, a warning window will appear as follows. This alert window reports that your network connection will terminate.
Click Yes to apply the changes.
Applying changes to virtual network settings…
After adding the External Switch, you need to define the network card to the Windows 10 virtual machine. Right-click on the virtual machine.
In the virtual machine setup window, click Network Adapter and select the HyperVWAN virtual switch created from the Virtual Switch opened window from the right panel.
After configuring the virtual external switch setting for the Windows 10 machine, click OK to save the settings.
Now run the virtual machine to test this network structure.
Click the Start button to run the virtual pc.
After you add a Hyper-V virtual switch, you can see that the virtual machine receives an IP address over the physical network.
You can also check the IP address configuration in the Windows 10 network settings. Now, let’s test the Windows 10 Internet connection with the Hyper-V virtual switch.
The Windows 10 VM connects successfully to the Internet.
How to Add Network Adapters in Hyper-V ⇒ Video
Watch the video below for adding a Hyper-V network adapter and connecting to the Internet and also subscribe to our YouTube channel to support us!
To configure an Internet connection to a VM installed on Hyper-V, we have created an External Switch and connected it to the VM. Thanks for following us!