Big Sur and Parallels: "Network initialization failed"

LukeI

Bit poster
Since I have upgraded to Mac OS 11 Big Sur when I start my Windows 10 virtual machine I get this error message "Network initialization failed. Your virtual machine will continue working normally but will no have no network connection".

I tried the solution posted on some forums to use Terminal with this command line: "sudo rm /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/NetworkInterfaces.plist && sudo killall -9 configd" but to no avail and the problem still persists.
Anyone with some ideas? Does Parallels 16.1 solves this issue?
Many thanks for your help and support.
 
I can say that I have the same problem with Parallels (16.1.1) and VMWare Fusion (12.1.0) - network in guest Windows 10 does not work in bridged/UAT mode. In parallels i see "Network initialization failed" while in fusion there is simple no internet connection.
It was working for some time in fusion (i think bridged mode only) but once (maybe something else, but I think that after this) I created new VPN connection (but i'm not using it while running VM) this problem started.
 
Indeed, it works, thanks a lot for sharing, Simon :)
Quick note: my <UseKextless> string was not showing '1' but '-1', I don't know if it's something specific to Windows VMs but, in case you have '-1' instead of '1', you can go ahead anyway, the workaround works ;)
 
SimonR4 recommendation fixed my problem.
1. I had -1 as value there
2. Changed to 0 and on next app startup got message about "system extension blocked" > enabled
3. Restart was required
4. On next startup - internet connection was available in my guest win10. Hurrray!
In VM hardware settings i can see that network source is bridged > en5 (which i suppose is network adapter on mac)
Not gona change anything here as it works now.
Thanks.

Not an expert, but based on change it looks like kernel extension(?) was enabled with this change. Is this something that is still supported in BigSur then?
 
Thanks Simon for Sharing. It also works for me. But since the network is working again, the VM is super slow so that I cannot use it. I changed from 0 back to -1 and now the Performance is much better again. Does anyone else has the same effect?
 
I had the same issue after upgrading to macOS big sur this morning. I tried Simon's suggestion, however, I didn't have the entry <UseKextless>1</UseKextless>
I fixed this by changing my network adapter (in Parallels configuration, Network, Type) from Virtio to Intel (R) Pro/1000 MT.
 
Simon's suggestions work... Thanks Thanks!! I will make more tests...
It's impossible a company like Parallels kidding with customers like this... I have production VM need for work stopped because this issue. This consuming more than a day of work coping VM and migrating to VMWare trial for wait a solution and NO return from support that really work.
 
Im the only one that with this solution Windows it's like to use a touch screen method? I have to select the square for every stuff inside windows.
It's not the solution! Cmon!
 
Hi All,

Apple is moving away from kernel extensions, in preference to more advanced implementation. The use of kernel extensions will be forbidden in later releases of MacOS, so I would use this workaround sparingly, as it will break later.
 
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Simon's suggestions work... Thanks Thanks!! I will make more tests...
It's impossible a company like Parallels kidding with customers like this... I have production VM need for work stopped because this issue. This consuming more than a day of work coping VM and migrating to VMWare trial for wait a solution and NO return from support that really work.
I work in telecommunication, we don't upgrade production systems unless there has been some serious testing. Have you tried calling support?
 
Svolto questo passaggio, solo che mi trovo windows in modalità touch screen con i quadratini in selezione, sono l'unico ad averlo cosi?
 
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