VCSA install - Unable to save IP settings

[hashpete]

Trying to install latest VCSA  7.0.1 trial in lab under VM Workstation but getting "Unable to save IP settings" during the set up phase no matter what I do.

VM is allocated 2 x Intel Core i7-10700, 11.7 GB memory. Its got a static IP and bridged to the local network which has a DNS server which I am confident is working because I can see the lookups and replies.

Wanting to get a lab running for NSX-T 3.0. Relatively new to this.

Thanks.

[scott28tt]

How exactly are you trying to deploy it?

[hashpete]

I appreciate the reply.

Using a procedure I've found in a few places. One example is : https://diyvirtualization.com/2020/05/28/how-to-install-vcsa-7-in-vmware-workstation-15-step-by-step...

Stuck at step 11 shown.

Thanks.

[a_p_ · Accepted solution]

It's likely a known bug which you are facing.

From VMware vCenter Server 7.0 Update 1 Release Notes

Deployment of a vCenter Server Appliance by using port 5480 at stage 2 fails with unable to save IP settings error

If you use https://appliance-IP-address-or-FQDN:5480 in a Web browser, go to the vCenter Server Appliance Management Interface for stage 2 of a newly deployed vCenter Server Appliance, and you configure a static IP or try to change the IP configuration, you see an error such as
Unable to save IP settings. 

Workaround: None.

André

[hashpete]

Thanks.

Workaround is to use another install method... I've made more progress using the installer to my ESXi host.

[VMWareJason]

What other option of installation is working?

[hashpete]

The error was occurring when I tried to install VCSA directly onto Workstation (Pro 16) on my lab network. I have now installed it under ESXi which is also running on Workstation, using the installer. I wanted to avoid the nesting, but its running fine like that.

[svansiclen]

I have a workaround. Switch to dhcp from static.

1. Set up DHCP Reservation and DNS entry for the appliance. ( I used a domain controller)

2. Do not use the DCUI to switch the appliance to dhcp. This will fail.

3. Instead. alt-f1. log in as root, go to shell and run /opt/vmware/share/vami/vami_config_net

4. configure for dhcp from here.

5. Start a new VAMI connection to https://ip_address_or_fqdn:5480

You should now be able to proceed with configuration

[MarcusZheng]

Fixed!
When I setup my lab, I was having the same issue when deploying VMware vCenter Server Appliance v7.0.1 ova to VMware Workstation Pro 16 when using static ipv4. I can't change the IP from static to DHCP in the Console, Web portal https://vca:5480 or /opt/vmware/share/vami/vami_config_net command via SSH.
Here is the fix. Note, changing DHCP=yes doesn't really use DHCP e.g. you don't need a DHCP server/service for it to work.
1) SSH to the vCenter IP, type shell, edit /etc/systemd/network/10-eth0.network file, change DHCP=no to DHCP=yes, save the file and done! No need to reboot
2) Head over to or refresh https://vca:5480 again to finish the configuration

Sample output below

Command> shell
Shell access is granted to root
root@vca [ ~ ]# cat /etc/systemd/network/10-eth0.network
[Match]
Name=eth0

[Network]
Gateway=192.168.199.2
Address=192.168.199.7/24
LinkLocalAddressing=no
DHCP=yes
Domains=lab.local

[DHCP]
UseDNS=false

[Route]
Gateway=192.168.199.2
Destination=0.0.0.0/0

Once I done that, No more IP information in Step 2 (see attached, No.1) while setting it up via https://vca:5480.

I can only upload 1 attachment, I combined 4 screen caps into 1 and attached to this reply

[purity1]

You can export the VM from ESXi and run it in Workstation if you don't want to nest them?

[purity1]

Thanks MarcusZheng

Sadly this did not work for me.  I couldn't get past stage 2, even with the server using DHCP, and it definately using DHCP.  All DNS records were working and correct for forward and reverse.  The only way I got it working was to deploy in ESXi, and the export the VM

[MarcusZheng]

I had this issue while deploying vCenter ova to ESXi and VMware Workstation. Changing DHCP=no to DHCP=yes in /etc/systemd/network/10-eth0.network fixed both issues. The good thing is even you're setting DHCP=yes, but you don't need DHCP server/service for this to work. 

[VMCreator]

Thank you Marcus. Yes the solution worked for me 🙂

[rlund]

This worked for me also. TY!

[thecloudjar]

Marcus' answer should be pinned as the solution. Worked for me and a few others.

[Octetopus]

It worked like a charm! To be more clear to people who got no idea about SSH and LinuxBash; for SSH use PuTTy. 

After you connect to VSCA IP address with PUTTY, try the vi linux command to visually edit the file!

vi /etc/systemd/network/10-eth0.network

[stedlj]

This has been around for 2 months, I see this as a fail!! Another 2 hours wasted because of VMWare...

[jreininger]

Thanks... That works for me... !

As the author said... I wanted a static IP vCenter as this is a test for me, I set to DHCP went back to the start of the Stage 2 settings and i picked on the screen like "use the IP settings arleady setup" and I got past that to the SSO setup page..

if you forgot how to use 'vi' to edit a text files on ESXi here is a cheat sheet.... (its been TOO long for me -- dont hate)

https://www.vi-tips.com/2012/06/basic-vi-text-editor-commands.html



VMware link saying NO WORKAROUND is pretty sad... 

[a_p_]

Just a quick update.
The issue has finally been resolved, see the VMware vCenter Server 7.0 Update 1c Release Notes

André

[kgreig]

Great, this worked for me. 🙂  I'd setup a DNS server VM under Workstation Pro (using Unbound) to no avail.  That little change to the DHCP setting worked exactly as described.  Many thanks for the tip!