Appendix B: Installing Loopback Adapter on Windows

Occasionally, it’s necessary to run a simulation using the loopback adapter instead of a physical LAN interface. On Linux, the loopback adapter (typically named lo) is available by default. However, on Windows, the loopback adapter requires the installation of an additional feature.

Please note that the following configuration steps require administrative privileges.

Installing Loopback Adapter

  1. Run the Control Panel and click Device Manager
  2. Right-click the root node, and then click Add legacy hardware
  3. Select Install the hardware that I manually select from a list
  4. Select Network adapters from Common hardware types and click Next
  5. Select Microsoft as the vendor, Network adapter and Microsoft Loopback Adapter
  6. Click Next and Finish

Configuring Loopback Adapter

  1. Run the Control Panel and click Network and Sharing Center
  2. Select Change adapter settings
  3. Find and click connection with Microsoft Loopback Adapter as the adapter type
  4. Click Properties
  5. Click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties
  6. Check Use the following IP address and enter the IP address, e.g. 10.0.0.1 and Subnet mask, e.g. 255.255.255.0
  7. Click OK to save changes
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