How to allocate a static IP address to a virtual machine?

Cromulent

Cromulent

Cromulent

Soldato
Joined
1 Nov 2007
Posts
6,222
Location
England
I have 5 static IPv4 addresses and need to allocate one to a virtual machine (VMWare Fusion Pro 13.5) but I have no idea how to do that. I've been looking in my router settings (TP-Link AXE5400) and I'm not sure what settings I need to change. My primary external IP address is a static IP. I want to run a test SMTP server and need a static IP address for it.

If anyone could give me some advice I would appreciate it.
 
The router needs to support it, if it does there should be an option to assign one of the WAN IPs to the host running VMware Fusion then just use host networking. I don't think it's possible to do it if it's using bridge networking.
 
ChrisD. said:
The router needs to support it, if it does there should be an option to assign one of the WAN IPs to the host running VMware Fusion then just use host networking. I don't think it's possible to do it if it's using bridge networking.
Click to expand...
Can you suggest a decent router that isn't crazy expensive? I currently have a TP-Link AXE5400.
 
Cromulent said:
Can you suggest a decent router that isn't crazy expensive? I currently have a TP-Link AXE5400.
Click to expand...
Some TP link models do it but I’m not massively up on models and brands outside UniFi I’m afraid.

You could build your own and run OPNsense then use something else for the wifi.
 
Well my plan has semi-failed in that I'm having issues using Ubuntu 22.04 Server edition in VMWare Fusion 13.5. The installer just crashes. I was planning on using Mail in a Box but because that didn't work out I tried OpenBSD and that failed as well. All of this was done on an AArch64 Mac. I might have to bite the bullet and just get a couple of $5 VPS nodes instead.
 
Literally the cheapest MikroTik routerOS device will do this for you.

People say the learning curve is steep but in reality if you’re playing about with SMTP servers and VMs it won’t be an issue.

MikroTik hEX should be £50-ish new, hEX lite about half that but I would stretch to the hEX if you can. The real power starts with the RB4011 at about £160 and then the one you actually want is the RB5009PR which is all-singing-all-dancing 10GbE/2.5GbE PoE etc. but for what you want, hEX will be more than adequate.
 
Last edited:
Cromulent said:
Well my plan has semi-failed in that I'm having issues using Ubuntu 22.04 Server edition in VMWare Fusion 13.5. The installer just crashes. I was planning on using Mail in a Box but because that didn't work out I tried OpenBSD and that failed as well. All of this was done on an AArch64 Mac. I might have to bite the bullet and just get a couple of $5 VPS nodes instead.
Click to expand...
Let me have a play today if I get a chance and see if I can get Ubuntu installed.
 
@Cromulent what build version of Fusion 13.5 do you have? Where did you get the Ubuntu ISO? I just downloaded ubuntu-22.04.3-live-server-arm64.iso and installed it on my M1 Pro MacBook without any issue.
 
WJA96 said:
Literally the cheapest MikroTik routerOS device will do this for you.

People say the learning curve is steep but in reality if you’re playing about with SMTP servers and VMs it won’t be an issue.

MikroTik hEX should be £50-ish new, hEX lite about half that but I would stretch to the hEX if you can. The real power starts with the RB4011 at about £160 and then the one you actually want is the RB5009PR which is all-singing-all-dancing 10GbE/2.5GbE PoE etc. but for what you want, hEX will be more than adequate.
Click to expand...
Thank you! I'll do some research.
ChrisD. said:
@Cromulent what build version of Fusion 13.5 do you have? Where did you get the Ubuntu ISO? I just downloaded ubuntu-22.04.3-live-server-arm64.iso and installed it on my M1 Pro MacBook without any issue.
Click to expand...
I have 13.5.0 (22583790) (Pro). That is exactly the same ISO as I have. When you installed it did you update the installer or not? This is the error I get:

TzNLYqP.png
 
Last edited:
It is really weird. I've been using VMWare Fusion Pro for over a year now on my Mac Studio and never had problems like this. I must have created numerous Linux virtual machines and never had a problem.
 
Cromulent said:
My primary external IP address is a static IP. I want to run a test SMTP server and need a static IP address for it.
Click to expand...
Surely the VM should sit on an internal IP address, and then on your router you port forward from the static IP to your internal IP address.

Sitting an entire server on a public static IP is bad practice - you want as little attack surface as possible.
 
Last edited:
Set the static IP/mac on the server and create forwarding rules on the firewall.

Don't have the server directly internet facing as that basically makes you internal network part of the internet :D
 
Last edited:
Armageus said:
Surely the VM should sit on an internal IP address, and then on your router you port forward from the static IP to your internal IP address.

Sitting an entire server on a public static IP is bad practice - you want as little attack surface as possible.
Click to expand...

Nasher said:
Don't have the server directly internet facing as that basically makes you internal network part of the internet :D
Click to expand...
Thank you both. That makes sense.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom