Just joined: Small business network help

I didn't realize this forum was central to HJT logs and virus removal posts.

I was actually hoping to discuss small networking and get some help with my neighbors small business network that's on a 192.1681.x range converted over to a 10.1.1.x range and the troubles he's facing.

Although this may not be the topic of this forum if anyone would like to take a shot here it is:


my friend runs a small print business and he is having network problems. I know how to setup networks from scratch fairly well, when all hardware and systems are setup correctly its a by-the-book situation.


But he has thrown all sorts of printing hardware and windows computers in the mix on a private 192.168.1.x address range, so I can only assume that each windows computer is assigning itself an ip thru its own DHCP service while I know for a fact the printers and scanners are static ip's.


To top it off he has no router just the cable modem (biz class ISP) with a switch plugged into it and that has a port (lets just say its the last port #8 for the sake of the discussion [Switch A]) attached to a cable with a smaller 4 port switch (also full [Switch B]) attached to it.


My main reason for posting this thread is to get him setup on a public 10.1.1.x address range


Here are the devices:


-Dell Tower (XP) [Switch A]

-Dell Tower (Vista) [Switch A]

-Dell Tower (Win 7) [Switch A]

-Dell Tower (Win 8) [Switch A]

-Dell Tower (Win 8 next to HP Latex Printer) [Switch A]


-Cable Modem (4 port)

-Netgear(?) Switch (8 port) (Connected to modem)

-Generic Switch (4 or 5 port) [Switch A]


-Konica Copier [Switch B]

-Konica Copier's EFI Fiery (NIC) [Switch B]

-Konica Color Printer [Switch B]

-Konica Color Printer EFI Fiery (NIC) [Switch B]

-OCE Lg. Format Printer [Controller]

-OCE Lg. Format Scanner [Controller]

-OCE Controller (Dell tower) [Switch A]

-HP Latex Printer [Switch A]


I may be leaving some out here but im also going to try and draw a topography map for you guys to make it easier to distinguish.


I am seeking help getting them converted over to a 10.1.1.x range so that they are able to communicate with the internet.


I believe their cable ISP only allows one static ip address.


I'll need to get the administrative passwords to all the printers/scanners/copiers/controllers to get them changed over to static ip's.


Last time I tried to do this, I tried to change the modem over to a static range in the admin settings of the modem itself, but I really think this guy HAS to get a router before any of that will be possible. (likely needs a small Linux server as well to do DHCP and SMB and CUPS as well)


Any small biz network gurus out there setting up similarly sized networks have any tips? especially any who have jumped into someone elses mess and successfully changed them over to a 10.1.1.x network, is the router REQUIRED stuff here? it seems like the modem was able to be told to take the 10.1.1.x address range but it wouldn't "server" the ip's out to the rest of the machines, im sure this is where the server and DHCP come in at though.



Sorry for the large and primitive picture but here is the network topology (and for added effect of chaos I drew it as it appears on the floor >:]~)


http://i59.tinypic.com/mm6j42.jpg

 

*most* windows computers do not have DHCP Server services.
There is nothing wrong with the class c 192.x.x.x range, so why change it?
How about you check to see if the computers are static IPs too?

Unless he has the cable modem setup to be a bridge, it will fill the role of a DHCP server. So the cable modem is the router (unless it is bridged).

Changing to a class a 10.x.x.x address does not make it public, what do you think public IP range will do?

If you do an ipconfig,find the gateway and type the gateway address into a browser what comes up?

Seriously sounds like you could do more damage than good. You need more help than I can type right now..

 

also..
Also you need to reserve the IP ranges he is already got statically assigned to the printers, etc. So on the cable modem you can change the range of address it hands out.

The ISP may only give you one static PUBLIC IP, but with a PRIVATE 192.x.x.x , with a 255.255.255.0 subnet you can have 254 devices on the network..