diff --git a/builder/vmware/iso/builder.go b/builder/vmware/iso/builder.go
index 5e2908964..cc5a9673b 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/iso/builder.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/iso/builder.go
@@ -46,13 +46,17 @@ type Config struct {
 	DiskTypeId         string `mapstructure:"disk_type_id"`
 	Format             string `mapstructure:"format"`
 
+	// cdrom drive
+	CdromAdapterType string `mapstructure:"cdrom_adapter_type"`
+
 	// platform information
 	GuestOSType string `mapstructure:"guest_os_type"`
 	Version     string `mapstructure:"version"`
 	VMName      string `mapstructure:"vm_name"`
 
-	// Network type
-	Network string `mapstructure:"network"`
+	// Network adapter and type
+	NetworkAdapterType string `mapstructure:"network_adapter_type"`
+	Network            string `mapstructure:"network"`
 
 	// device presence
 	Sound bool `mapstructure:"sound"`
diff --git a/builder/vmware/iso/step_create_vmx.go b/builder/vmware/iso/step_create_vmx.go
index 4c3eb58ae..0eb753dc8 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/iso/step_create_vmx.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/iso/step_create_vmx.go
@@ -31,8 +31,9 @@ type vmxTemplateData struct {
 	CDROMType             string
 	CDROMType_MasterSlave string
 
-	Network_Type   string
-	Network_Device string
+	Network_Type    string
+	Network_Device  string
+	Network_Adapter string
 
 	Sound_Present string
 	Usb_Present   string
@@ -384,6 +385,8 @@ func (s *stepCreateVMX) Run(_ context.Context, state multistep.StateBag) multist
 		CDROMType:             "ide",
 		CDROMType_MasterSlave: "0",
 
+		Network_Adapter: "e1000",
+
 		Sound_Present: map[bool]string{true: "TRUE", false: "FALSE"}[bool(config.Sound)],
 		Usb_Present:   map[bool]string{true: "TRUE", false: "FALSE"}[bool(config.USB)],
 
@@ -421,6 +424,38 @@ func (s *stepCreateVMX) Run(_ context.Context, state multistep.StateBag) multist
 		templateData.CDROMType_MasterSlave = "0"
 	}
 
+	/// Handle the cdrom adapter type. If the disk adapter type and the
+	//  cdrom adapter type are the same, then ensure that the cdrom is the
+	//  slave device on whatever bus the disk adapter is on.
+	cdromAdapterType := strings.ToLower(config.CdromAdapterType)
+	if cdromAdapterType == diskAdapterType {
+		templateData.CDROMType_MasterSlave = "1"
+	} else {
+		templateData.CDROMType_MasterSlave = "0"
+	}
+
+	switch cdromAdapterType {
+	case "ide":
+		templateData.CDROMType = "ide"
+	case "sata":
+		templateData.SATA_Present = "TRUE"
+		templateData.CDROMType = "sata"
+	case "scsi":
+		templateData.SCSI_Present = "TRUE"
+		templateData.CDROMType = "scsi"
+	default:
+		err := fmt.Errorf("Error procesing VMX template: %s", cdromAdapterType)
+		state.Put("error", err)
+		ui.Error(err.Error())
+		return multistep.ActionHalt
+	}
+
+	/// Assign the network adapter type into the template if one was specified.
+	network_adapter := strings.ToLower(config.NetworkAdapterType)
+	if network_adapter != "" {
+		templateData.Network_Adapter = network_adapter
+	}
+
 	/// Check the network type that the user specified
 	network := config.Network
 	driver := state.Get("driver").(vmwcommon.Driver).GetVmwareDriver()
@@ -600,7 +635,7 @@ ethernet0.displayName = "Ethernet"
 ethernet0.linkStatePropagation.enable = "FALSE"
 ethernet0.pciSlotNumber = "33"
 ethernet0.present = "TRUE"
-ethernet0.virtualDev = "e1000"
+ethernet0.virtualDev = "{{ .Network_Adapter }}"
 ethernet0.wakeOnPcktRcv = "FALSE"
 extendedConfigFile = "{{ .Name }}.vmxf"
 floppy0.present = "FALSE"
diff --git a/website/source/docs/builders/vmware-iso.html.md b/website/source/docs/builders/vmware-iso.html.md
index 0efe03a0f..2f4e3e44f 100644
--- a/website/source/docs/builders/vmware-iso.html.md
+++ b/website/source/docs/builders/vmware-iso.html.md
@@ -140,6 +140,12 @@ builder.
     <a href="http://www.vmware.com/pdf/VirtualDiskManager.pdf" target="_blank"><img src="../../assets/images/Adobe_PDF_file_icon_24x24.png"/> Virtual Disk Manager User's Guide</a> for desktop VMware clients.
     For ESXi, refer to the proper ESXi documentation.
 
+-   `cdrom_adapter_type` (string) - The adapter type (or bus) that will be used
+    by the cdrom device. This is chosen by default based on the disk adapter
+    type. VMware tends to lean towards "ide" for the cdrom device unless
+    "sata" is chosen for the disk adapter and so Packer attempts to mirror
+    this logic. This field can be specified as either "ide", "sata", or "scsi".
+
 -   `disable_vnc` (boolean) - Whether to create a VNC connection or not.
     A `boot_command` cannot be used when this is `false`. Defaults to `false`.
 
@@ -207,6 +213,12 @@ builder.
     such as "hostonly", "nat", or "bridged". If the network is not one of these
     values, then it is assumed to be a VMware network device. (VMnet0..x)
 
+-   `network_adapter_type` (string) - This is the ethernet adapter type the the
+    virtual machine will be created with. By default the "e1000" network adapter
+    type will be used by Packer. For more information, please consult the
+    <a href="https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/1001805" target="_blank">Choosing a network adapter for your virtual machine</a> for desktop VMware
+    clients. For ESXi, refer to the proper ESXi documentation.
+
 -   `output_directory` (string) - This is the path to the directory where the
     resulting virtual machine will be created. This may be relative or absolute.
     If relative, the path is relative to the working directory when `packer`