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

Cromulent · 14 Nov 2023 at 16:21

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.

Cromulent · 14 Nov 2023 at 18:11

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.

Can you suggest a decent router that isn't crazy expensive? I currently have a TP-Link AXE5400.

Cromulent · 14 Nov 2023 at 19:18

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.

Cromulent · 14 Nov 2023 at 20:31

Caged said:
Unless something has changed in the past year, Fusion is virtualisation, it's not emulating an x86 chip.

I know. I've been using the AArch64 versions of all Linux distros.

Cromulent · 15 Nov 2023 at 12:38

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.

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.

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:

Cromulent · 15 Nov 2023 at 12:58

ChrisD. said:
No, I didn't update as I'm on a client site on guest Wi-Fi and it's like using dial up.

This is what I meant:

Cromulent · 15 Nov 2023 at 13:38

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 · 15 Nov 2023 at 13:59

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.

Nasher said:
Don't have the server directly internet facing as that basically makes you internal network part of the internet

Thank you both. That makes sense.