[Bug]: NAT Networks default LowerIPAddress is 3 for /24 network while it is used internally creating IP conflict in some cases

[matkatesrappa]

Version

7.2.6

Host OS Type

Linux

Host OS name + version

Ubuntu 24.04

Host Architecture

x86

Guest OS Type

Linux

Guest Architecture

x86

Guest OS name + version

Debian 13

Component

Network

What happened?

I set up /24 NAT Network DHCP enabled for VM. While VM got IP address attached to "NAT" it didn't for "NAT Network". TCPDump cofirmed DHCP works and offers address 3. Dhcpcd claims DAD with address 3 and refuses. Setting up IP address manually confirmed that address 3 is used by VBOX.
"vboxmanage list dhcpservers" show LowerIPAddress is 3.
As quick workaround I set LowerIPAddress to 5 and it worked. First offered IP address must be higher than last used address by VBOX.
Solution: revise default value for LowerIPAddress.

How can we reproduce this?

Set up NAT Network. In my case /24. With same VM I got same result with different network addresses, but likely DHCP server is not offering 1-st address for every case.

Did you upload all of your necessary log files, screenshots, etc.?

• Yes, I've uploaded all pertinent files to this issue.