<forward>

Edit online

Configures the forwarding mode for the bridge that connects the virtual network to a physical LAN. Omitting this tag results in an isolated network that can connect guests.

Text content

None.

Selected attributes

mode=nat | bridge | route

Specifies the method of forwarding for the LAN connection.

nat: Configures a bridge with network address translation (NAT). All guest traffic to the physical network is routed through the host's routing stack and uses the host's public IP address. This mode supports only outbound traffic.
bridge: Configures a bridge based on an already configured Open vSwitch.
route: Configures a bridge with IP routing. Bridges with IP routing link to a virtual IP subnet on the host. Traffic to and from virtual servers that are connected to that subnet are then handled by the IP protocol.

Usage

Configuring virtual networks

Parent elements

Child elements

<nat>

Example

<network>
  <name>net0</name>
  <uuid>fec14861-35f0-4fd8-852b-5b70fdc112e3</uuid>
  <forward mode="nat">
    <nat>
      <port start="1024" end="65535"/>
    </nat>
  </forward>
  <bridge name="virbr0" stp="on" delay="0"/>
  <ip address="192.0.2.1" netmask="255.255.255.0">
    <dhcp>
      <range start="192.0.2.2" end="192.0.2.254"/>
    </dhcp>
  </ip>
</network>