I thought I'd post this in case someone searches in the future for some pointers. I'll just provide my results.
Pluto+
v0.38-dirty from github here: https://github.com/azolotko/plutoplus/releases
updated via dfu mode
static IP assigned via the config file.
I was testing running sdrA from within Win11 - created the PlutoSDR HD setting with the URI=ip:xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
restart sdrA and that was fine, active radio source was PlutoSDR but the data coming from device was definitely wrong. I could see FT8 trails in the waterfall, but not a single decoded entry. Main spectrum looked like it was constantly buffering, and I figured it was device or sdrA.
I tested using DragonOS on both a USB bootable and within the host OS using virtualBox - totally different story. The biggest clue I noticed was sdrA within Linux "saw" the Pluto+ immediately as an available device no manual Hidden Device entry needed, and I started getting FT8 decodes immediately. I can only guess it has something to do with Pluto advertising itself through zerconf.
TL;DR; - Don't use Windows for Pluto+ and maybe OG if you're using ethernet connection - use Linux.