Assigning a static IP to a VMware Workstation VM

http://bytealmanac.wordpress.com/2012/07/02/assigning-a-static-ip-to-a-vmware-workstation-vm/

Assumption: the VM is running a DHCP client and is assigned a dynamic IP by the DHCP service running on the host. My host machine is runs on Windows 7 Ultimate x64 with VMware Workstation 8.

Open C:\ProgramData\VMware\vmnetdhcp.conf as Administrator. This file follows the syntax of dhcpd.conf. Add the following lines (change host name, MAC, IP appropriately – these are shown in a different colour) under the correct section (for me it was for a NAT based network – VMnet8). The MAC can be found from the VM’s properties.

host ubuntu {
    hardware ethernet 00:0C:29:16:2A:D6;
    fixed-address 192.168.84.132;
}

Restart the VMware DHCP service. Use the following commands from an elevated prompt:
net stop vmnetdhcp
net start vmnetdhcp

On the VM, acquire a new lease using the below command (if VM runs Linux):

ifconfig eth0 down

ifconfig eth0 up