i just got some new information about NeXTStep, VMWare and networking. It seems there is a bug in VMWare since Version 2.0.1 that breaks networking in NeXTStep and its successors using the VMXNet driver.
As i am using version 2.0.2 i got this problem too but now i know how to solve it!
I did not try newer versions than 2.0.2, but the bug may be fixed in some future version. So if anyone wants to get NeXTSTEP to the internet, you have to use version 2.0 for the moment.
@Andrew:
I am happy i could help! I am quite sure you will easily find a buyer for your old NeXT hardware, if you want to get rid of it.
There are many intersted people out there (including me). just see
www.nextcomputers.org/forums