Netplan is the default network configuration tool on Ubuntu since 18.04. It uses YAML configuration files to describe network interfaces and passes them to either NetworkManager (desktops) or systemd-networkd (servers). This guide configures a static IP address using Netplan on Ubuntu 26.04 LTS.

Tested and valid on:

  • Ubuntu 26.04 LTS

Prerequisites

  • Ubuntu 26.04 LTS
  • A user with sudo privileges
  • Knowledge of your network interface name, gateway, and DNS servers

Step 1 – Identify Your Network Interface

ip link show
ip addr

Step 2 – View Current Netplan Config

ls /etc/netplan/
cat /etc/netplan/*.yaml

Step 3 – Configure a Static IP

sudo nano /etc/netplan/01-netcfg.yaml

Replace the contents with:

network:
  version: 2
  renderer: networkd
  ethernets:
    ens3:
      dhcp4: no
      addresses:
        - 192.168.1.100/24
      routes:
        - to: default
          via: 192.168.1.1
      nameservers:
        addresses:
          - 8.8.8.8
          - 1.1.1.1

Step 4 – Validate the Configuration

sudo netplan try

Step 5 – Apply the Configuration

sudo netplan apply
ip addr show ens3
ip route show

Step 6 – Configure Multiple IPs (optional)

      addresses:
        - 192.168.1.100/24
        - 192.168.1.101/24

Step 7 – Configure Bonding or VLANs (optional)

Example VLAN:

network:
  version: 2
  ethernets:
    ens3: {}
  vlans:
    ens3.100:
      id: 100
      link: ens3
      addresses: [192.168.100.10/24]

Conclusion

A static IP is configured using Netplan on Ubuntu 26.04 LTS. Netplan’s YAML syntax supports complex configurations including bonds, bridges, VLANs, and multiple interfaces. Validate with netplan try before applying.