SO here is my setup: VMware Esxi5, I have created a virtual machine with IDE hard drives and two E1000 nics. eth1 is the public facing network connection. I can ping google, and 4.2.2.2 etc. eth2 is in the HotSpot bridge I created, and DHCP pool is assigned to the HotSpot bridge. Eth2 is connected to the virtual switch I created inside vmware. I have a windows XP client that is configured with one ethernet connection, connected to the same virtual switch that eth2 on the RouterOS is connected.

This makes me think, I should receive a DHCP lease from the routerOS being these two connections on the RouterOS and Windows XP are connected inside the same virtual switch.

Can anyone point me in the right direction as to why I am not getting a DHCP Lease on the Windows XP box from the RouterOS?

thanks in advance for your help.