VMware and pen-testing

[wymerzp () sbu edu]

Hello, I am a student of computer science trying to learn more about the art of pen-testing. I have several tools at my 
disposal: nmap, enum, Metsploit Framework, Cain and Abel, ect. I obviously cannot test these against commercial 
networks (I could but I certainly don't want to go to jail) I have used nmap though due to it's unobtrusive nature. I 
therefore downloaded the evaluation version of VMware. I set up virtual machines with a host only connection; 
furthermore, I see the virtual machines network connections in network connections. I am running windows XP. I cannot 
figure out, probably due to my inexperience at networking, how to connect to the machnies once I have them up and 
running so I can run nmap scans against them (among other things). Any help would be appreciated, including links or 
whatever knowledge you guys could pass on.

Regards,
Zach

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