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Going Wireless With a Static IP

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6 replies

by bob

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I have a Netopia dsl modem. The modem feeds a 16 port switch, which feeds a wireless router.
This Netopia modem is a static ip modem.

My question is this:
Will the wireless router offer static IPs as well, or does the static IP stop at the modem? I mean can the modem and switch broadcast static IPs while the wireless router is broadcasting dynamic IPs?

Or, must the wireless router be static as well?

How would a roaming wireless device connect to a static IP without having to configure the pc for static IPs each time. I would think that just the WEP Encryption code would all one would need to connect to the network.

This Too. I am not trying to file share between PCs on the network. Print sharing, yes.
It is the internet connection sharing that is the most important function of this router I propose to use.

6 replies

by nicknielsen

It's easy to configure the wireless router to support DHCP (dynamic IPs) with no problem by configuring the router to assign addresses in a different subnet. This will allow the router to operate as a DHCP server and not interfere with the static IP received from the DSL modem.

For example, if your DSL modem assigns a static IP address of 192.168.1.96, configure the wireless router to assign IPs in the 192.168.10.x subnet. Assign a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0.

Edit: clarify

by bob

I understand that configuring the router to assign addresses in a different subnet is how the wireless router can operate as a DHCP server. I believe this means that it will assign dynamic IPs to the network PCs. I don't quite understand the methodology in configuring the wireless router.
I really appreciate your assistance with this issue. Can you elaborate a bit further on this subject, please.

by dumphrey

depends on what you need to do. If you just want to provide internet access to other devices, then you can configure DHCP on the wireless router. This will provide a "private ip address" to each device that contacts it(as well as primary/secondary DNS settings). The ip address on the router only matters in terms of connecting to your machines from the internet side.
Now, if you have machines you want to have static ip addresses for, you can remove a block of ip addresses from the dhcp server on the router, and use the addresses in this block for static addressing. Example, 192.168.1.1/24 --> 192.168.1.200/24 are assigned through DHCP, but, this leaves you 192.168.1.201 --> 192.168.1.254/24 for static devices.
When setting up the wireless device, you can go into the network connections, choose your wirelesss device, properties, tcp/ip properties, and set up if you want to use dynamic or static ip addressing. Network connections set up your preferences for addressing, and wireless profiles handle the wirelss access encryption.

so:
step 1: Open router and configure dhcp ip addresses. Leave enough for static address you want to use.
Step 2: Open network connection control panel, properties of the wireless connection, Internet Protocol (tcp/ip) properties. Now you have 2 choices, Obtain an address automaticlay (ie dhcp), or assign an address (static). If assigning a static address, put in an address in the range you left out of the dhcp set up in the router, put the ip address of the LAN interface of the router in the gateway, and the ip addresses of you dns servers. At this point, if you have no encryption on the wireless yet, your device should connect and access the internet. If it does not connect, make sure you typed all numbers correctly.
Step 3: Set up wireless security.

Hope this helps

by greybeard770

You didn't include mfg and model numbers but, I think your Netopia DSL modem is also a NAT/DHCP router with a private (192.168.x.y) address and a public address. If it and your wireless router are both giving out DHCP addresses you will have problems. You will probably be better off is you disable the router and DHCP capabilities on the wireless router and just let it function as an access point. The WAP will need an IP address for management purposes.
DHCP services lease dynamic IP addresses. Routers don't 'offer' static IPs. People put static addresses on routers or other devices. I am not suggesting you do that in your scenario.
Your wireless clients can get a dynamic IP address from the Netopia through the AP.
If you only have the one AP then wireless clients aren't really roaming in that network. They either associate to the AP (using the correct encryption) or they don't.

by nicknielsen

It depends on the ISP. BellSouth (I mean AT&T) configures their Netopia DSL equipment to provide only a single private address. After that address is assigned all other DHCP requests are ignored.

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