title: Issue with VMNet8 and/or DNS configuration in VMWare Workstation 12
body: <p>I set up a virtual private network by enabling VMNet8 in VMWare Workstation 12.5. The network entails an Active Directory domain controller (and DNS server role) installed with Windows Server 2012 R2. In addition, I have set up a SQL Server, an app server and a web server with Windows Server 2016.</p>
  
  <p><strong>I am unable to ping from the AD/DNS server to other servers, but the other way works.</strong></p>
  
  <p>All 4 servers have connectivity to the Internet, even though all of them have an exclamation mark superimposed over the network icon (in the taskbar).</p>
  
  <p>I have assigned static IP addresses in succession, from <code>192.168.153.15</code> to <code>192.168.153.18</code>. Using Virtual Network Editor, I enabled a <code>Virtual Network Adapter VMNet8</code> with following properties:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>Type: <code>NAT</code></li>
  <li>Subnet address of <code>192.168.153.0</code></li>
  <li>Gateway IP is set by default to <code>192.168.153.2</code></li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>In the AD/DNS VM, following properties are set on the single network adapter:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>Static IP of <code>192.168.153.15</code></li>
  <li>subnet mask is <code>255.255.255.0</code></li>
  <li>Default gateway is <code>192.168.153.2</code></li>
  <li>Preferred DNS server is <code>127.0.0.1</code> (loopback address)</li>
  <li>Computer belongs to <code>contoso.local</code> domain (established by AD setup)</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>In the other VMs, following properties are set on the single network adapter:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>Static IP of <code>192.168.153.16</code>, <code>192.168.153.17</code> and <code>192.168.153.18</code> (respectively)</li>
  <li>subnet mask is <code>255.255.255.0</code></li>
  <li>Default gateway is <code>192.168.153.2</code></li>
  <li>Preferred DNS server is <code>192.168.153.15</code> (IP of the AD/DNS server)</li>
  <li>Computer belongs to <code>contoso.local</code> domain (established by AD setup)</li>
  </ul>