How to setup port forward at VMware Fusion 8 for OS X

Sometimes we need access virtual machine OS’s web page, at the VMware Fusion 8, the default network setting is NAT, how to config it.

Update: VMWare Fusion 8.5.0 fixed the issue for NAT mapping, please upgrade to 8.5.0.

Caution: VMWare Fusion 8.1 had an issue for NAT mapping, please don’t upgrade to 8.1 if you want to use NAT mapping.

1. Set a Static IP for your virtual machine system.

Modify dhcpd.conf

sudo vim /Library/Preferences/VMware\ Fusion/vmnet8/dhcpd.conf

After where it says End of “DO NOT MODIFY SECTION” enter the following lines:

host Windows8x64 {
    hardware ethernet 00:0C:29:B6:22:3E;
    fixed-address 172.16.106.128;
}

Windows8x64 — Replace it use your virtual machine name

hardware ethernet address — use your VMWare Fusion’s virtual MAC address.

Important: You must allocate an IP address that is outside the range defined inside the DO NOT MODIFY SECTION section.

Quit VMWare Fusion, restart it.

2. Change NAT configure file.

sudo vi /Library/Preferences/VMware\ Fusion/vmnet8/nat.conf

find [incomingtcp] part, like this

[incomingtcp]
# Use these with care — anyone can enter into your VM through these…
# The format and example are as follows:
#<external port number> = <VM’s IP address>:<VM’s port number>
#8080 = 172.16.3.128:80

Add your configure, for example:

[incomingtcp]
# Use these with care — anyone can enter into your VM through these…
# The format and example are as follows:
#<external port number> = <VM’s IP address>:<VM’s port number>
#8080 = 172.16.3.128:80
80 = 172.16.106.128:80

It means we map virtual machine 80 port to host machine 80 port.

3. Restart network service of VMware Fusion.

sudo /Applications/VMware\ Fusion.app/Contents/Library/vmnet-cli --stop
sudo /Applications/VMware\ Fusion.app/Contents/Library/vmnet-cli --start

Note: The config files you changed will be reset after VMWare Fusion upgrade, please backup it at some where.

That’s all.