How to Set a Static IP on Ubuntu with Netplan (Ubuntu 24.04)

Applies to: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS servers (netplan.io 1.1.2)

Ubuntu configures its network with Netplan: YAML files in /etc/netplan/ that Netplan turns into settings for systemd-networkd (on servers) or NetworkManager (on desktops). We checked every example below with netplan generate on Ubuntu 24.04.

Before you start on a remote server: a mistake can cut your connection. Keep console access ready (the VNC console in your VPS panel, or IPMI on a dedicated server) and use netplan try.

1. Look at the current settings

ip -br addr                # interface names and addresses
ip route                   # current gateway
ls -l /etc/netplan/
sudo netplan get           # the merged configuration

2. Write the configuration

Create /etc/netplan/60-static.yaml (replace eth0, the addresses and the gateway with yours):

network:
  version: 2
  renderer: networkd
  ethernets:
    eth0:
      dhcp4: false
      addresses:
        - 203.0.113.10/24
      routes:
        - to: default
          via: 203.0.113.1
      nameservers:
        addresses: [1.1.1.1, 8.8.8.8]

Indent with spaces only, never tabs. For IPv6, add the address to the same list (- 2001:db8:1::10/64) and a second route with to: default and your IPv6 gateway; we confirmed that Netplan creates both default routes.

3. Set the permissions

sudo chmod 600 /etc/netplan/60-static.yaml

Otherwise Netplan warns: Permissions for /etc/netplan/60-static.yaml are too open. Netplan configuration should NOT be accessible by others.

4. Test, then apply

sudo netplan generate      # checks the syntax, no changes to the network
sudo netplan try           # applies, and rolls back after 120 seconds unless you press Enter
sudo netplan apply         # applies permanently

Messages you may see

• `gateway4` has been deprecated, use default routes instead. Replace gateway4: 203.0.113.1 with the routes: block shown above.
• Invalid YAML: inconsistent indentation, with the file, line and column: fix the spaces on that line.

Files from cloud-init

Many VPS images have /etc/netplan/50-cloud-init.yaml, written by cloud-init. Netplan reads all files in alphabetical order, and later files override the same settings in earlier ones. To stop cloud-init from rewriting the network configuration at boot:

echo "network: {config: disabled}" | sudo tee /etc/cloud/cloud.cfg.d/99-disable-network-config.cfg

Then either edit 50-cloud-init.yaml or keep your settings in your own file, and remove conflicting settings from the other file.

Check the result

ip -br addr
ip route
resolvectl status | grep -A2 "DNS Servers"
ping -c 3 1.1.1.1

More IP addresses on one interface: add IPv4 addresses with netplan. Working out masks and prefixes: subnet mask cheat sheet. VLANs and bonding: VLAN tagging and network bonding.

Official documentation: Netplan documentation.