diff --git a/roles/environment/tasks/_configure_network.yml b/roles/environment/tasks/_configure_network.yml
index f4ccc37..8e56586 100644
--- a/roles/environment/tasks/_configure_network.yml
+++ b/roles/environment/tasks/_configure_network.yml
@@ -13,6 +13,14 @@
         | default('')
       }}
 
+- name: Bring up network interface
+  when:
+    - hypervisor_type == "vmware"
+    - environment_interface_name | default('') | length > 0
+  ansible.builtin.command: "ip link set {{ environment_interface_name }} up"
+  register: environment_link_result
+  changed_when: environment_link_result.rc == 0
+
 - name: Set IP-Address
   when:
     - hypervisor_type == "vmware"
@@ -53,7 +61,10 @@
   changed_when: environment_ntp_result.rc == 0
 
 - name: Configure SSH for root login
-  when: hypervisor_type == "vmware" and hypervisor_cfg.ssh | default(false) | bool
+  when:
+    - hypervisor_type == "vmware"
+    - hypervisor_cfg.ssh | default(false) | bool
+    - system_cfg.network.ip is defined and system_cfg.network.ip | string | length > 0
   block:
     - name: Allow login
       ansible.builtin.replace:
@@ -73,7 +84,18 @@
         name: sshd
         state: reloaded
 
-    - name: Set SSH connection for VMware
+    - name: Switch to SSH connection
       ansible.builtin.set_fact:
         ansible_connection: ssh
         ansible_user: root
+        ansible_password: ""
+        ansible_host: "{{ system_cfg.network.ip }}"
+        ansible_ssh_extra_args: "-o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no"
+
+    - name: Reset connection to apply SSH switch
+      ansible.builtin.meta: reset_connection
+
+    - name: Wait for SSH connection
+      ansible.builtin.wait_for_connection:
+        timeout: 30
+        delay: 2