Windows Server: Broadcom Network Adapter with Static IP Address Appears to Revert to DHCP
Summary: The Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties dialog box displays the default IP address settings. This article contains information about how to modify the registry.
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Symptoms
Information on a Windows server whose network adapter appears to revert to using a dynamic (DHCP) address when a static address is configured
When a static IP address is configured on a Broadcom network adapter in Windows Server, it may appear to revert to a dynamic address. The adapter's properties window will show that it is configured to obtain an address automatically; however, the output of the ipconfig /all command will show the correct static address, as does the adapter's registry key.
Cause
This occurs due to incorrect data in the following registry location:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Network\Config
Resolution
The following procedure deletes and recreates this registry key. This procedure is valid in Windows Server 2003, 2008, and 2008 R2.
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Open Registry Editor (Start > Run > Regedit) and navigate to the following location:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Network
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Right-click the Config key and select Delete.
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Click Yes to confirm the deletion.
Note: Microsoft Knowledgebase article KB937056, from which most of the information in this article is taken, recommends rebooting the server at this point, but a reboot is not always necessary. If the following steps do not resolve the issue, perform the above steps again and reboot the server after deleting the Config key.
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Open Network Connections. Right-click the affected network adapter and select Properties.
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When the properties window opens, click OK to close it. This will rewrite the Config registry key without requiring a reboot of the server.
