diff --git a/ansible/roles/minikube/defaults/main.yml b/ansible/roles/minikube/defaults/main.yml
index f42a416..e753f38 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/minikube/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/ansible/roles/minikube/defaults/main.yml
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ minikube_cpus: 6
 minikube_memory: 12288
 minikube_disk_size: "200g"
 minikube_driver: qemu2
+minikube_network: socket_vmnet
 minikube_container_runtime: containerd
 
 # Remote access configuration
diff --git a/ansible/roles/minikube/tasks/main.yml b/ansible/roles/minikube/tasks/main.yml
index 36965a7..aca060f 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/minikube/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/ansible/roles/minikube/tasks/main.yml
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 ---
 # Minikube installation and cluster setup for indri
 # Uses qemu2 driver for full VM with kernel mount capabilities (NFS, SMB, etc.)
+# Requires socket_vmnet for proper networking (minikube service/tunnel commands)
 #
 # NOTE: minikube start may have issues when run via SSH.
 # If cluster fails to start, manually run on indri:
-#   minikube start --driver=qemu2 --container-runtime=containerd \
+#   minikube start --driver=qemu2 --network=socket_vmnet --container-runtime=containerd \
 #     --cpus=6 --memory=12288 --disk-size=200g \
 #     --apiserver-names=k8s.tail8d86e.ts.net --apiserver-names=indri \
 #     --apiserver-port=6443 --listen-address=0.0.0.0
@@ -14,6 +15,19 @@
     name: qemu
     state: present
 
+- name: Install socket_vmnet via homebrew (required for qemu2 networking)
+  community.general.homebrew:
+    name: socket_vmnet
+    state: present
+
+- name: Start socket_vmnet service
+  ansible.builtin.command:
+    cmd: brew services start socket_vmnet
+  become: true
+  register: minikube_socket_vmnet_start
+  changed_when: "'Successfully started' in minikube_socket_vmnet_start.stdout"
+  failed_when: false
+
 - name: Install minikube via homebrew
   community.general.homebrew:
     name: minikube
@@ -36,6 +50,7 @@
     cmd: >
       minikube start
       --driver={{ minikube_driver }}
+      --network={{ minikube_network }}
       --container-runtime={{ minikube_container_runtime }}
       --cpus={{ minikube_cpus }}
       --memory={{ minikube_memory }}