Unable to configure IP address for VM connected to custom virtual network on Big Sur hosts

Products

• VMware Desktop Hypervisor

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:
It is not possible to stop the built-in DHCP server of a virtual network on Big Sur hosts.

Environment

VMware Fusion 12.x

Cause

On Big Sur hosts, it is not possible to stop the built-in DHCP server of a virtual network. For each virtual network, it allocates the first half of a subnet for the DHCP server and leaves the second half for static IP assignment.

Resolution

To resolve this issue:

1. Use DHCP configuration for a VM connected to virtual network
   1. Select VMware Fusion > Preferences and click Network.
   2. Click the lock icon, enter the administrator password, and click OK.
   3. Click the plus sign (+) under the list of networks.
   4. Connect the VM to the new network through Setting > Network Adapter > NewNetworkName
   5. In guest operation system, make sure it is configured to use DHCP configuration via network adapter settings
2. Use Static IP for a VM connected to virtual network
   1. Select VMware Fusion > Preferences and click Network.
   2. Click the lock icon, enter the administrator password, and click OK.
   3. Click the plus sign (+) under the list of networks.
   4. Connect VM to the new network via Setting > Network Adapter > NewNetworkName
   5. In guest operation system, make sure it is configured to use static IP address via network adapter settings
   6. In guest operation system, configure VM with static IP address within the subnet of virtual network.

For example:
If the network is 192.168.1.0/255.255.255.0, then the first available address for static IP is 192.168.1.128, the IP address and subnet mask could be
IP address: 192.168.1.128
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
Default gateway:192.168.1.1;
If the network is 192.168.1.0/255.255.255.128, then the first available address for static IP is 192.168.1.64, the IP address and subnet mask could be
IP address: 192.168.1.64
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.128
Default gateway:192.168.1.1