The address generation algorithm for a bridged virtual network adapter does it depend if the net cable is plugged or not to the physical network adapter?

I'm using a fresh installation of SLES 11 64bit SP2 with VMware Workstation 9.0.2.

A system service powers on/off a virtual machine every time the host is started/turned off.

This virtual machine is configured with 2 network adapters: one bridged and one host-only.

The issue is that the MAC addresses of the 2 net adapters are re-generated if the host network cable is disconnected when it is booted.

As far as I know, the MAC addresses remain unchanged unless the virtual adapters are re-created or the VM is moved.

I've attached the vmware log files of the VM which reveal the fact that the 'gethostid' routine retrieves different value when the VM is powered on with the net cable connected to the physical net adapter than when it starts with it disconnected.

Does someone have an explanation for this behavior?

Regards,

Flaviu