Knowledge Base
Virtual Machines
VM NICs
6 min
add a nic to a vm from the top menu , click virtual machines > list select the desired vm from the left menu, click view from the left menu, click nics from the left menu, click new enabled is selected by default if you wish to create the nic in a disabled/offline state, click enabled set a name for the nic select interface type virtio (default) virtio is typically recommended for best performance simulates 10gbps nic intel e1000 emulates an older, pci based gigabit ethernet controller simulates 1gbps nic intel e1000e emulates a newer, pci express gigabit ethernet controller simulates 1gbps nic amd pcnet interface provided for legacy compatibility realtek 8139 interface provided for legacy compatibility select the desired network all available networks the user has access to will be listed none can be selected to simulate an unplugged network cable (optional), specify a mac address ℹ️ if no mac address is specified, the system will auto generate a unique mac address for the nic (optional), specify a description for the nic asset is an optional field, where any combination of alpha numeric characters can be used to define a unique identifier for the nic to help distinguish it from other nics within the same vm click submit remove a nic from a vm a nic must be offline before it can be deleted nics can be taken offline by powering off the virtual machine or using hotplug (when enabled) from the top menu , click virtual machines > vm nics select the desired nic from the left menu, click hotplug click yes to confirm select the desired nic from the left menu, click delete click yes to confirm from the top menu , click virtual machines > vm nics select the desired vm from the left menu, click power off click yes to confirm select the desired vm from the left menu, click view from the left menu, click nics select the desired nic from the left menu, click delete click yes to confirm disable a nic from the top menu , click virtual machines > vm nics select the desired vm from the left menu, click power off click yes to confirm select the desired vm from the left menu, click view from the left menu, click nics select the desired nic from the left menu, click edit deselect the enabled checkbox ℹ️ if the vm is running, the nic will not be disabled until after a reboot you can also modify the nics network field to none to essentially "unplug" the nic from the network while the vm is running this does not require a reboot click submit modify a nic from the top menu , click virtual machines > vm nics select the desired vm from the left menu, click view from the left menu, click nics select the desired nic from the left menu, click edit modify fields as desired name can be modified as desired; must not be the same name as another nic attached to the same vm order id this field controls the order in which the guest os loads multiple nics at boot time changing the order id after a machine has already been booted with the given nics may then also require configuration changes within the guest os order id is only relevant when there is more than one (enabled) nic attached to the vm interface can be changed it's important to make sure proper drivers are installed within the guest os in order for the nic to function properly network changing the network to which this nic is attached will most likely result in a new ip assignment additionally, if there were any special routes and rules pertaining to this nic, they may need to be re created or reconfigured once changed to a new network mac address it's typically recommended to use the system assigned (unique) mac address, changing the mac address after the nic has already been in use will also likely require configuration changes within the guest os description can be modified as desired asset is an optional field, where any combination of alpha numeric characters can be used to define a unique identifier for the nic to help distinguish it from other nics within the same vm click submit