Topic: Can I assign Static IP addresses for client devices?

[turtle2472]

I searched the forums for "static IP" and I can't find anything that fits what I'm doing.  I replaced a Linksys RV042 with the SME Server and it is working well other than I'm having to work to find my client systems now.  

The problem comes with devices like my PSUS and NLSUS.  I would also like to be able to map some of my client drives in XP and Mac OS X to other client computers.  If I have a client computer reboot I then have to find it again.  Big pain with Remote Desktop too.

I know I can force static IPs for some of the systems, but is there any other way to do this with SME Server?  Would I be better off putting the RV042 back into the path of my network so it can handle my IP assignments?

I have read the whole manual and then some but yet couldn't find what I'm looking for.

[TrevorB]

I searched the forums for "static IP" and I can't find anything that fits what I'm doing.

I have read the whole manual and then some but yet couldn't find what I'm looking for.

Hmmmm..., have you read this section of the manual? Reserving IP Addresses Through DHCP

Another task you can perform through this panel is to reserve an IP address for a given system based on its Ethernet address. For instance, you might have another intranet web server within your company that you want to always have the same IP address.

Trevor B

[turtle2472]

Thanks.  I thought I had seen it but couldn't find it again.  Thanks for helping me out.  Sorry for such a trivial question.

Ok, I must not have something enabled to allow me to modify the hosts page. :\  I'll figure this out.

[turtle2472]

I have this error message:
Operation status report
A DNS forwarder has been configured. This means that all DNS lookups will be handled by the DNS forwarder. Hostnames and addresses cannot be modified on this server while a DNS forwarder is configured.

I, sadly, don't know how the DNS forwarder was configured.

[raem]

turtle2472

I, sadly, don't know how the DNS forwarder was configured.

You set your domains to use Internet DNS servers, configure them to Resolve locally (in the Domains panel)

[raem]

turtle2472

I, sadly, don't know how the DNS forwarder was configured.

You set your domains to use Internet DNS servers, configure them to Resolve locally (in the Domains panel)

[turtle2472]

Ok, so I ended up creating a new domain called "home" and filled in everything under it.  It seems to be working this way too.  Is this "wrong" or will it allow what I'm after?  Keeping my DNS for internet traffic offsite while allowing local static IP.

[raem]

turtle2472

If I'm understanding your original question as you meant it, you should configure each workstation or device with a static IP rather than allowing  dynamically allocated IP's. Your sme server cannot hand out static IP's to attached devices.
You should limit your DHCP range on the server in Configure this server option (log in as admin) to avoid the manually allocated range of IPs ie only manually allocate IPs that are outside of the DHCP range & not otherwise in use.

[TrevorB]

Your sme server cannot hand out static IP's to attached devices.

Ahh, not quite right.

All of my servers, printers, routers etc. have a dhcp allocated static IP (defined in the Hostnames panel) and all my workstations have dynamically assigned IP's.
I allocate the xxx.xxx.xxx.100-199 range for dynamically allocated workstations and reserve (via the Hostnames panel):
xxx.xxx.xxx.11-19 for routers
xxx.xxx.xxx.20-29 for printers
xxx.xxx.xxx.30-49 for 'special' devices
xxx.xxx.xxx.50-89 for servers

Rather than configuring the machine manually, you can reserve an IP address from the DHCP server for that specific machine. This has the same result as manually configuring a static IP address, but offers two benefits. First, you have one location to keep track of all assigned static address. Second, through the DHCP server you will provide network settings. If you wish to change those settings, the change can be simply done on your server. All DHCP clients will then receive those updated changes when they renew their DHCP-provided addresses.

You should limit your DHCP range on the server in Configure this server option (log in as admin) to avoid the manually allocated range of IPs ie only manually allocate IPs that are outside of the DHCP range & not otherwise in use.

Correct.

As far as using external DNS, I'm not sure why you need to do this turtle2472??

Trevor B

[turtle2472]

Your sme server cannot hand out static IP's to attached devices.

Ahh, not quite right.

All of my servers, printers, routers etc. have a dhcp allocated static IP (defined in the Hostnames panel) and all my workstations have dynamically assigned IP's.
I allocate the xxx.xxx.xxx.100-199 range for dynamically allocated workstations and reserve (via the Hostnames panel):
xxx.xxx.xxx.11-19 for routers
xxx.xxx.xxx.20-29 for printers
xxx.xxx.xxx.30-49 for 'special' devices
xxx.xxx.xxx.50-89 for servers

Rather than configuring the machine manually, you can reserve an IP address from the DHCP server for that specific machine. This has the same result as manually configuring a static IP address, but offers two benefits. First, you have one location to keep track of all assigned static address. Second, through the DHCP server you will provide network settings. If you wish to change those settings, the change can be simply done on your server. All DHCP clients will then receive those updated changes when they renew their DHCP-provided addresses.

You should limit your DHCP range on the server in Configure this server option (log in as admin) to avoid the manually allocated range of IPs ie only manually allocate IPs that are outside of the DHCP range & not otherwise in use.

Correct.

As far as using external DNS, I'm not sure why you need to do this turtle2472??

Trevor B

The external device was because it is extremely simple to assign static IP addresses and filter unknown MAC addresses with a Linksys RV042.  Then I wouldn't have to worry about configuring the SME Server that I knew little about (not that I know a whole lot now).  

For me, my DHCP range is .200-.249.  Macs are .100-.124, PCs are .125-.149, Misc Network gear is .150-.174 and PDAs/Guests are .175-.199.

I originally had it so no system was allowed access if their MAC address wasn't in my router.  I'm not as worried about this since my WiFi adapter is the only way for someone to join my network without breaking in physically.  So now I just have the WiFi AP filter MAC addresses.

The way I set up the static IPs on SME was to create a new virtual domain called "home" and then to add hostnames to that domain with the DNS resolved locally.  All of my systems now still have net access and the IP I want them to have.  This makes mapping the drives a breeze and using Remote Desktop just as easy.

[raem]

TrevorB

All of my servers, printers, routers etc. have a dhcp allocated static IP (defined in the Hostnames panel) and all my workstations have dynamically assigned IP's.

Thanks for the heads up Trevor.