J721EXCPXEVM: TDA4VM stuck in u-boot, cannot ping server

Continuing the conversation from the this thread since it has been locked 

https://e2e.ti.com/support/processors-group/processors/f/processors-forum/1112170/j721excpxevm-cannot-bootup-using-nfs/4126522?tisearch=e2e-sitesearch&keymatch=%2520user%253A461184#4126522

I cannot ping even if I set static addresses. I did

U-Boot # setenv ipaddr 192.168.1.56
U-Boot # setenv serverip 192.168.1.55
U-Boot # setenv gatewayip 192.168.1.55
U-Boot # setenv netmask 255.255.255.0

Now when I ping

=> ping $serverip
am65_cpsw_nuss_port ethernet@46000000port@1: K3 CPSW: rflow_id_base: 2
link up on port 1, speed 1000, full duplex
*** ERROR: `ipaddr' not set
ping failed; host 192.168.1.55 is not alive

I can still see the ipaddr

=> printenv ipaddr
ipaddr=192.168.1.56

the dhcp command still fails

=> dhcp
am65_cpsw_nuss_port ethernet@46000000port@1: K3 CPSW: rflow_id_base: 2
link up on port 1, speed 1000, full duplex
BOOTP broadcast 1
BOOTP broadcast 2
BOOTP broadcast 3
BOOTP broadcast 4
BOOTP broadcast 5
BOOTP broadcast 6
BOOTP broadcast 7

I cant move past this step. This is with SDK8.2. If I boot with mmc and get to the linux prompt, I can ping both sides (host to evm). This issue is only in U-boot