Suggestions for a networking setup.

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2internets

Junior Member
Nov 4, 2017
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I am wondering what the best way to go about this is. I will lay out my setup of equipment below:

SIDE A
1 - Netgear router (Side A)
1 - Spectrum modem only (Serving internet to the other side of the business) (Side A)
1 - 16 port switch on 1 side of business (Side A)
3 - computers (and various printers) on one side of business (Side A)
1 - Server computer (really just another computer with multiple large drives for file storage) All computers should access this computer (Side A)
SIDE B
1 - Spectrum Router/Modem/Gateway (Serving Internet to 1 side of business) (Side B)
1 - 16 port switch on other side of business (Side B)
5 - computers (and various printers) on other side of business (Side B)

* Various other switches for many printers. All devices are 1GB in speed.

I am basically trying to have have 1 of the internet providers serve internet to Side A and the other internet provider (both are Spectrum) to serve Side B. I also need to have all computers in both buildings to be able to access files from the server. I had this all set up fine until we brought another router/modem/gateway into the mix. Before we were all sharing internet off of the one Spectrum modem but now the other company has purchased internet and so that's where the new router/modem/gateway comes in the mix. So I am trying to find out the best way to achieve all of this.
 
JackMDS

JackMDS

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 25, 1999
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I think that you discussed this issue in Nov of 2017.

Given that is a business need it might be a Good idea to seek a local consultant to supervise such project.


:cool:
 
2

2internets

Junior Member
Nov 4, 2017
15
0
6
You're correct. I did discuss the issue in November and ended up figuring it out. I have since changed the network and thought if someone had a quick insight or if I was missing something then it would give someone here a chance to help someone. I remember the joy I would get helping someone when I was a part of certain forums. To suggest a local consultant to take on a less than 10 computer network with 2 simple routers seems way overkill for expertise. Anyways, I will again figure it out and I appreciate your time.
 
M

mv2devnull

Golden Member
Apr 13, 2010
1,519
154
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I don't see a need for VPN; proper routing should suffice:
Code: 
LAN-A === router === ISP-A
             |
server --- LAN-C
             |
LAN-B === router === ISP-B
 
mxnerd

mxnerd

Diamond Member
Jul 6, 2007
6,799
1,103
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If buildings are next to each other, why would you have 2 ISP services but only use 1? All internet traffic flow through building 1's router?

And you already connect 2 buildings with an ethernet cable and all PC are on same subnet?

Then you don't need any VPN at all.

Exactly how far away are these 2 buildings?
 
2

2internets

Junior Member
Nov 4, 2017
15
0
6
Both businesses are in the same building just separated by a wall. I only use 1 ISP (that we share currently) because I am not sure how to split them off which Is the reasoning for my post. All internet traffic currently flows through building 1's router. Both buildings are currently connected via cat6 and on the same subnet. I realize I don't need a VPN as I was just being nice saying I would look into it.
 
mxnerd

mxnerd

Diamond Member
Jul 6, 2007
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Uh, I still don't understand what you want to achieve.

If you already have everything setup, and both sides already able to reach other PCs, what's the purpose of this post?

Do you want to continue to share internet with business 2 to reduce cost but limit how much they use?

Is that what you want? Also remove router 2 because it does not serve any purpose in the picture. DHCP should be served either by server or router 1.

==

Sorry, I misunderstood what you need.

You have 2 group of computers on the same subnet but wanted to have them have different internet access.

The easiest way is have 3 PCs in the building 1 have static IP, gateway points to router 1. All PCs in building 2 use DHCP server to set gateway to router 2.
 
Last edited:
M

mv2devnull

Golden Member
Apr 13, 2010
1,519
154
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mxnerd said:
You have 2 group of computers on the same subnet but wanted to have them have different internet access.

The easiest way is have 3 PCs in the building 1 have static IP, gateway points to router 1. All PCs in building 2 use DHCP server to set gateway to router 2.
Click to expand...
If the DHCP server is configurable, then it can be set to hand out different gateway for the two sets of devices. That lets all devices use DHCP.

(Whether Netgear or Spectrum can have truly configurable DHCP server ... no idea.)
 
mxnerd

mxnerd

Diamond Member
Jul 6, 2007
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mv2devnull said:
If the DHCP server is configurable, then it can be set to hand out different gateway for the two sets of devices. That lets all devices use DHCP.

(Whether Netgear or Spectrum can have truly configurable DHCP server ... no idea.)
Click to expand...
Yep.

He can use Windows DHCP Server to configure that. But he needs to setup 2 DHCP ranges and enter every MAC addresses for all PCs in buildings 1 & 2, and disable DHCP server on router 1& 2.
 
2

2internets

Junior Member
Nov 4, 2017
15
0
6
mv2devnull said:
If the DHCP server is configurable, then it can be set to hand out different gateway for the two sets of devices. That lets all devices use DHCP.

(Whether Netgear or Spectrum can have truly configurable DHCP server ... no idea.)
Click to expand...
If all devices are using DHCP then how would the computer using DHCP know which range (ISP) to grab internet service to use?
 
2

2internets

Junior Member
Nov 4, 2017
15
0
6
mxnerd said:
Yep.

He can use Windows DHCP Server to configure that. But he needs to setup 2 DHCP ranges and enter every MAC addresses for all PCs in buildings 1 & 2, and disable DHCP server on router 1& 2.
Click to expand...
Since I am not familiar with that process can you either explain it in a bit more depth or point me to a guide that explains it? thank you for the reply.
 
M

mv2devnull

Golden Member
Apr 13, 2010
1,519
154
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I don't know Windows, but ...

When your client device (set to use DHCP) starts, it starts DHCP client that broadcasts to link-local network and (IP-)addressless request to DHCP server. The request has the MAC-address of the client. The DHCP server can then send a reply that offers an IP-address to the client, and various other configuration options.

The simple "home routers" have a DHCP server that sends the IP-address of the router as the "gateway" option. You can usually also set the subnet, i.e. the address range where all devices in the "home LAN" will be. The server has a pool (aka range) of addresses and it offers the next unused IP address to the client. The server may also remember what address was leased to the MAC before, and thus offer that IP, rather than entirely round-robin unused address from the pool.

An another "configuration option" on home router tends to be "static address". You store MAC of a client and an IP address on a list on the router (DHCP server). Now the server won't consider the pool at all, but always give the same IP to that MAC. Furthermore, no other MAC (i.e. device) will get that IP address. Listed clients always get the same addresses via DHCP. "Static".

One can go a step further there: set that unknown devices (MACs) will not be given any address. You cannot simply walk in and plug your "guest" machine into such network.


You have a DHCP server. It has a list of known MAC addresses. It leases dynamic (next unused) or static IP addresses to those MACs. However, it should have not one, but two "pools" or "sets". All the Side A devices belong to one set and all the Side B devices belong to a different set. Both sets are address ranges within the same subnet, but the additional DHCP options that the server sends with the offer should be different: appropriate "gateway" for each set.

Regular home router UI starts to show its limits when you want to do what you in this thread want to do; no tools to config the DHCP server, even though the server software could do it. The routers might have 'dnsmasq' as DHCP server, which can define those sets, but can you access that configuration. The dnsmasq is not the only server implementation:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_DHCP_server_software

If you do have an "always on" server, then running a configurable DHCP server in that would make sense. The mxnerd's post implies that MS has an implementation too. Now you should know the topic you want to read about, or what to request from a local consultant.
 
mxnerd

mxnerd

Diamond Member
Jul 6, 2007
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2internets said:
Since I am not familiar with that process can you either explain it in a bit more depth or point me to a guide that explains it? thank you for the reply.
Click to expand...

Watch the following video or other videos on youtube configuring Windows DHCP server (multiple scopes or not)


Create 2 DHCP scopes.

1st scope for building 1 devices & 2nd scope for building 2 devices.

Enter reservation IP & MAC address for each device in both scopes.

You have to set router 1 IP for scope 1 & router 2 IP for scope 2 in server options.
 
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