-- repost, as requested: Hi, I have changed my host pc from XP to Windows 7 Enterprise and I'm now trying to connect to my Virtual PC. I have installed the Microsoft Loopback Adapter on the host and created a local VLAN with 2 static addresses: - host: 192.168.32.250 - virtual pc: 192.168.32.10 (more virtual pc's may be added to the virtual network later) Problem is the Win7 host detects the local vlan as 'Unidentified network', which causes the firewall to block access. if I DISABLE the firewall for Public networks, the local vlan works and both vpc and host can communicate on the 192.168.32 vlan. However, I am not comfortable with this situation !! As a workaround I have now changed the Network List Manager Policies, setting the location for Unidentified Networks to 'Private'. Now the local vlan is identified as 'Unidentified network - Work network' which allows me to re-enable the firewall for Public networks. But I STILL have to DISABLE the firewall for Home or Work networks! (furthermore, I think that now ALL Unidentified networks will be detected as 'Home or Work' !!) Surely this can't be the purpose of all these detection & security settings !? The problem is actually quite simple, stupid even. All I need is to have Win7 recognise my local vlan as Home or Work (private) network WITHOUT having to tamper with the Network List Mgr Policies (iow: public networks will again be detected as public). Is there a way to either tell Win7 that my specific local virtual network is private ?? or if this is not an option, to have my local virtual network 'appear' as private (identified) to the Windows 7 detection ? Thanks very much for all suggestions!