Virtual Machine IP address changes even when vAPP options are enabled with IP allocation set to Static-IP pool

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

• vApp options are enabled on the VM level and IP allocation is set to Static IP pool.
• Network protocol profile is configured on the Datacenter level with IP pool enabled and IP pool range is defined.
• On the VM > Configure > vApp > Properties Tab has IP address added as a Dynamic property.
• The IP address assigned to a VM changes once the VM is powered OFF and powered ON.

Environment

• VMware vCenter Server 7.x
• VMware vCenter Server 8.x
• VMware vSphere ESXi 7.x
• VMware vSphere ESXi 8.x

Cause

• This is an expected behavior when the additional property IP address is set to Dynamic property. As per the vSphere Web Services API
  
  ${autoIp:<network>} : An auto-assigned network address on the given network

Resolution

• Power off the VM.
• Go to VM > Configure > vApp Options > Properties
• Edit the property for IP address and change the type to Static Property and select the subtype to vApp IP address.
• Power ON the VM and the IP assigned to the VM will not change upon Power Cycle.