Two host-only networks, only one with Parallels DHCP server; possible?

[CliffordH]

Folk,

I routinely use Host-only networks with Windows guests, which uses the Parallels DHCP service to provide an IP address.

Now I need to test a Windows server with DHCP enabled. Rather than disabling the Parallels DHCP service, I added a second Host-Only network for testing this server's own DHCP. It doesn't seem possible to disable the Parallels DHCP service for just one of the two Host-Only networks. Instead, in the Parallels Preferences Advanced pane, there's just a single toggle.

Should I instead be using the "privnet" sub-command of prlsrvctl to create a private network?
This sub-command is still unimplemented in Parallels 7 - is it implemented in the new version?
Is there a GUI for setting up private networks (I can't find one)?

In <http://www.parallels.com/fileadmin/parallels/documents/support/server/Parallels_Server_for_Mac_Management_Guide.pdf> from circa 2010, page 42 shows how to enable/disable DHCP for individual Host-Only networks. Has this feature ever been available in Parallels Desktop?

Any other advice on how to test a guest VM that uses its own DHCP?

 

[CliffordH]

I found a solution by myself, thanks for your enthusiasm

I set the Shared network to not use DHCP, leaving DHCP on the HostOnly ones. Then I can test my DHCP server and client on the Shared network.

It seems that a Windows XP DHCP client cannot have two networks with each having a different DHCP server, so the XP test DHCP client machine cannot also have a host-only network, but I think I can live without that. I didn't want to have to give up the HostOnly functionality of the DHCP Server I'm testing.