Which virtual networking feature allows a virtual machine to communicate with other devices on the same physical network?

The feature that allows a virtual machine to communicate with other devices on the same physical network is the bridged network. In a bridged network configuration, the virtual machine connects directly to the physical network through the host system's network adapter. This means the virtual machine obtains its own IP address directly via the network’s DHCP server (if enabled) and can send and receive traffic with any device on that same network, just as if it were a physical machine.

This setup is particularly useful for scenarios where the virtual machine needs to be treated as a full network participant, allowing it to interact with other machines, services, and devices on the same subnet without additional constraints. It is suitable for testing and development environments where external network resources or communication with other hosts is needed.

In contrast, private networks, host-only networks, and internal networks do not offer this level of external communication. A private network restricts communication to virtual machines only, a host-only network allows communication only between the virtual machines and the host, and an internal network is entirely isolated, enabling communication solely among the virtual machines within that network. Therefore, a bridged network is the only option that provides the necessary external connectivity.