Database Software

Friends,
i tried to install 2 node 10gR2 RAC in vmware workstation and also in vmware server 2.
i check the clustering will be supporting in vmware workstation (ofcourse it will give a warning that clustering will not support)
i got struck in connecting the first node to the host.
ok here goes my problem..

1. i am doing everything in dell precision m4600 i7 2720qm
2. host is windows 7 pro version(172.16.1.3)
3. installed vmware workstation 8 in win7
4. installed the rhel 4.8 as a guest os with two network card. one is bridged(172.16.1.4) and other one is host only(10.10.10.31).
5. after installation of os, i tried to ping the guest os from host and viceversa....but no use...not pinging....
6. in the both win7 and guest os i set the gateway as 172.16.1.1

so this is the problem...how to solve this network issue...? once i solve this, then only i can go with the next step....
for the past 10 hrs...i was keep on searching in the forums,irc etc.....still i didnt get a solution....
i hope somebody in this forum...have succeeded....so i hope somebody will help me in solving this issue.

i followed many links...all are stating to add two network cards one is for public and another one is for private (virtualip will be added in the host file).

thanks