JSI Tip 10565. You cannot configure a network adapter that resides on a virtual bus to use a static IP address in an unattended installation of Windows Server 2003?

When you use the TcpipParams header in the Unattend.txt file to set a static IP address for a network adapter that resides on a virtual bus during an unattended installation of Windows Server 2003, the static IP address is ignored and the adapter receives and IP address from the DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server when Windows Server 2003 starts.

Microsoft is researching why you cannot set a static IP address using the TcpipParams header in the Unattend.txt file if the NIC resides on a virtual bus.

NOTE: While you cannot set network settings from an answer file that use the PCIBus, PCIDevice, and PCIFunction headers to identify the NIC, try using the MAC address as the identifier.