Wifi – How to set up subnets for small business infrastructure

dhcpdomain-name-systemsubnetwake-on-lanwifi

At one location we have a single server (also a DHCP server) and much less than 254 clients. Many are wired, but there are also a couple of wireless routers, which occasionally have their wired ports used too.

Right now the wireless routers have their own subnets (192.168.1.x and 192.168.2.x) and the main wired network is separate (10.0.10.x). It works for the most part, except that sometimes we'll have DNS issues (the main server acts as a DNS server just for the intranet web apps) and I don't think I've ever successfully connected to a client via remote desktop across the subnets, or to Wake-on-LAN one that's wired to one of the wireless routers.

I'd like to be able to Wake-on-LAN any machine if I want to remote into it from one spot in the building, and not have random DNS issues or things break when we plug in a new device. In short, I just want a cleaner setup.

Can all clients just be under the main wired subnet, 10.0.10.x? If so, how do I configure the two wireless routers with regards to DHCP? Is there a way for them to issue 10.0.10.x addresses to wireless clients, without giving out the same IP to two different clients? Is there a way to do this without some computer having to have a bridge service running?

Best Answer

The easiest way to set this up is to disable DHCP on the two wireless routers. Configure the wireless routers with static IP addresses on the LAN ports using the 10.0.10.0 subnet (IPs that aren't being used by DHCP or another device with a static IP). Set the WAN port for DHCP (or set it to another subnet that you'll never use).

Then unplug the cable from the WAN port on the wireless routers and plug it into one of the LAN ports. This will basically bypass all the routing function of the routers and turn them into access points. So your network will look something like this now.

10.0.10.1 - router to the Internet
10.3.10.2 - SBS server with DHCP enabled
10.0.10.3 - Wireless Router #1
10.0.10.4 - Wireless Router #2
10.0.10.100-10.0.10.200 - Workstations, servers, anything else that uses DHCP

Anyone using the wireless need need to get a new IP or reboot.

My office is setup this exact way.

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