Connecting host and client over bridged network when host is offline

I'm setting up a test-system using a laptop with VMWare Workstation.

The host is a regular Win7 x64, and clients a mix of different machines - Win2k3, win2k8R2, Win7, WinXP and Linux.

I wish the clients to access the network over bridged - not NAT - using static IP's. The host also use staic IP. I also need to be able to use this setup when the host is not connected to the network.

Question:
How do I manage to make the host communicate with the clients, when the host-NIC is "not connected" (whenever det host is offline).