Windows 10: Hyper-V virtual switch has disconnected my computer from accessing the internet

Hi,So I've been setting up a Hyper-V Linux VM for Ubuntu and I enabled an external virtual switch connection in the hope of accessing internet through my VM, however upon applying the changes in the virtual switch manager in external network settings, my internet access was disconnected and I have not been able to reconnect since, I understand applying these settings may have wiped my previous internet configuration. Furthermore in the virtual machine itself there is not internet connection. Can someone assist?Much appreciatedThanks

:)

 

Win10 Accesses the Internet With Hyper-V's Virtual Switch

Just to add to Mystere's excellent post, using a Hyper-V external switch virtual machines get a bridged connection. If you prefer NAT (Network Address Translation) instead, you don't have to create an external virtual switch. About bridged vs. NAT: NAT vs. bridged network: A simple diagram - TechGenix

To use NAT in Hyper-V, first create an Internal switch in Virtual Switch Manager then share your host Ethernet or WLAN connection with your internal switch:




In VM settings set virtual machines to use the internal switch. They will now get private IP addresses 192.168.137.XXX, internal switch on host acting as DHCP server with IP 192.168.137.1.

Using NAT only with virtual machines makes external virtual switch unnecessary but as it makes networking between host and virtual machines quite a challenge if not impossible, the bridged mode with an external switch is the recommended way.

Quote from an old tutorial at our sister site EightForums.com:

(From EightForums.com tutorial Hyper-V Virtual Switch Manager)

 

Win10 Accesses the Internet With Hyper-V's Virtual Switch

Thanks very much for your help. Please bear with me as I become better acquainted with Hyper-V:

I expected to see the virtual switch being used for internet access by the virtual machine when I am actually running the virtual machine. I was not expecting to see the virtual switch being used for internet access by my computer when I am not running a virtual machine. In that case I was expecting to see my computer using my 'regular' Ethernet connection, just as it did before I added Hyper-V.

It seems there's something basic about Hyper-V that I don't understand (yet.) Would you please explain?

 

Win10 Accesses the Internet With Hyper-V's Virtual Switch

It's really pretty simple. Imagine if you had 3 physical computers, and one cable modem (with a single port on it). Now, in order for these three computers to talk to each other, and all talk to the internet, you would need a switch that sits between the modem and the computers. Correct?

That's basically what is happening here. Only one computer (either virtual or physical) can use the built-in Ethernet connection, so when you install Hyper-V it creates a "virtual switch" that sits between the host computer, as well as all the virtual computers so they can all talk to each other, as well as the internet. Just like in the previous scenario.

If the host was talking directly to the Ethernet, then the guests would not be able to use it.