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Summary



The Bare Metal Recovery (BMR) restore process transfers IP configuration from the source network interface cards (NICs) to the target NICs. Under certain conditions, the BMR restore keeps static IP configuration in the Windows registry, creates a new NIC of the same type as the source and sets it as DHCP. To resolve this issue, delete the old NIC information and set the static IP addresses manually.

Symptoms



When you look at the Network Connections window in the Windows Control Panel, the NICs are set to DHCP instead of static IP configuration. When you attempt to set the NICs to static IP configuration, a Windows error displays indicating that the configuration is already in use.



Resolution



Typically, the BMR restore process transfers IP configuration from the source network interface cards (NICs) to the target NICs. Under certain conditions, the BMR restore keeps static IP configuration in the Windows registry, creates a new NIC of the same type as the source and sets it as DHCP. Any attempt to reconfigure the new NIC from DHCP to static IP causes a Windows error indicating the IP address is already in use. The error is caused by a conflict between the new configuration and the original static IP configuration.

This procedure is a workaround that corrects the networking of the restored Windows computer by deleting the extra, old NIC information from the registry so that you are able to set the static IP addresses manually.

To resolve this issue:

  1. Restart the BMR target.
  2. Run regedit.
  3. Verify NIC information:

    a. Open:
    HKLM\System\currentcontrolset\services\tcpip\parameters\adapters.
    Each key corresponds to one adapter.

    b. Check for the same key under:
    HKLM\System\currentcontrolset\services\tcpip\parameters\Interfaces
    This contains the detailed configuration for the NIC.
  4. Clear NIC information:

    a. Check the key of each adapter in:
    HKLM\System\currentcontrolset\services\tcpip\parameters\Interfaces.

    b. If the subkey IPAddress is defined as the value of the old computer, either:

    - Change its value to 0.0.0.0 or

    - Delete this adapter key under both:
    HKLM\System\currentcontrolset\services\tcpip\parameters\adapters
    HKLM\System\currentcontrolset\services\tcpip\parameters\Interfaces    .
  5. Enter the new IP configuration:

    a. Open the Network Connections window in Control Panel.

    b. Set the TCPIP properties with static IP.

You can now assign the static IP to the computer.