IP addressing and subnet mask question

[JCROCCO]

I have a lan with 7 computers, 1 plotter, 1 print server, 1 file server(snap server) and 1 router all with static IP addresses assigned running winxp pro and NT PTP (no server).

using IP addresses 100.100.100.1 to 100.100.100.21
using subnet addresses 255.255.255.0
subnet gateway on my VPN tunnel is 255.255.255.255
default gateway is 100.100.100.1

is this good, bad, etc? Is there a better range to use? By changing, would it increase performance, speed, reliability, etc?

Again, behind a router and firewall, so this is not accessable to the internet.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[exx1976]

That's VERY bad.. First, the 100.xxx.xxx.xxx subnet is part of a class A network, and, it's also publicly routable.. That means that there are actually public machines out there that already own those IPs and are using them. Should you happen to run into one of these computers and have the need to communicate with it, it won't work.

I'd suggest switching to 192.168.xxx.xxx/24 for your network.

Subnet gateway? I'm not very familiar with what exactly you're talking about here, but 255.255.255.255 is a broadcast address, which means that traffic from that is going to go EVERYWHERE, literally...

The default gateway address is good for your current network setup, assuming that's the address of your firewall/router... If you change the IP scheme to the 192.168.xxx.xxx/24 then you'll need to change the gateway address to match the new network..

 

[JCROCCO]

OK, then should it be 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.1.24, etc?

The 255.255.255.0 could be 255.1.1.1 etc? Whats the difference, or whats best?

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

I'd use 192.168.1.1 through 192.168.1.255 with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0. This defines a standard private LAN class C network, which is ideal for your needs. You can expand to 254 machines within this address range, and you won't run afoul of public IP addresses.