Invalid YAML: mapping values are not allowed in this context: network:

I'm trying to configure a static IP and I keep getting this error when I try and execute the changes:

Invalid YAML: mapping values are not allowed in this context:
network: ^

I've edited my /etc/netplan/00-installer-config.yaml to:

network: version: 2 ethernets: eno1: dhcp4: false addresses: [192.168.20.6/24] gateway4: 192.168.20.2 nameservers: addresses: [8.8.8.8,8.8.4.4,192.168.20.2]

I used this guide for this configuration, but I've also followed a bunch of other guides and each time with same result.

All the other questions I've read that are related to this issue have been some problem to do with incorrect indentation or spacing, but I can't see where I'm going wrong. I've followed a few different examples, and have rewritten the file several times to try and make sure I'm not missing a stray spaces but I'm getting the same result every time.

2 Answers

Your /etc/netplan/00-installer-config.yaml should look like this. Netplan is very fussy about formatting. Use my .yaml EXACTLY as I show it.

• 2 space indentation
• no tabs
• added "renderer: networkd"
• "dhcp4: false" is not required, as false is the default
• brackets around [192.168.20.6/24]
• spaces after commas in nameservers addresses

network: version: 2 renderer: networkd ethernets: eno1: addresses: [192.168.20.6/24] gateway4: 192.168.20.2 nameservers: addresses: [8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4, 192.168.20.2]

sudo netplan --debug generate

sudo netplan apply

reboot

I believe that your yaml file is invalid for exactly the reason you suspected: indentation and spacing. Your file says, in part:

network: version: 2 ethernets: eno1:

Notice that the indentation is one space below network:. Compare the supplied templates:

cat /usr/share/doc/netplan/examples/static.yaml 

Which says, in part:

network: version: 2 renderer: networkd ethernets: enp3s0:

Notice that the indentation is, in every case (except nameservers), two spaces. I suggest that you amend your file to:

network: version: 2 renderer: networkd ethernets: eno1: addresses: - 192.168.20.6/24 gateway4: 192.168.20.2 nameservers: addresses: [8.8.8.8,8.8.4.4,192.168.20.2] 

Netplan is also very specific in that it allows spaces in the file and not tabs. Follow with:

sudo netplan generate
sudo netplan apply 

Please see: