A standalone VM is not connected to any network. You can choose to make a virtual machine standalone and isolated from any network or node, including the host operating system. A standalone VM cannot use any networked resource such as network printers, file or application servers, or shared drives.

Some reasons you might choose to make a VM standalone follow.

• No network is available for you to use.
• Your data requires a high level of security.
• You want to test applications, programs, or upgrades that might negatively impact other systems.
• You do not need any network services.

Note that if you make a VM standalone, this does not mean that you cannot print from it. You can still set up a local printer connected to a serial or parallel device that is connected to the physical hardware on the host OS. (See the sections "Defining Serial Port Devices" and "Defining Parallel Port Devices" .)

To make a virtual machine standalone, simply do not select any of the choices under Ethernet Adapters when you configure the VM.

Or, you can change a VM to be standalone if you previously configured it with one of the network connection types.

To change a previously connected machine to be standalone:

1. From the VM configuration editor open the configuration file for the VM that you want to be standalone.
2. In the configuration menu, click on the expansion button next to Ethernet Adapters.
3. Click on the entry below Ethernet Adapters.
4. Click Remove in the panel.

The network connection type reverts to Not Installed.