DHCP on Wireless Range Extender or not?
DHCP on Wireless Range Extender or not?
The Netgear GS116Ev2 switch is the model you’re working with. You should decide whether to turn DHCP off or on. According to the manual, DHCP mode lets the switch request an IP from the router’s pool, while Static mode keeps the switch using a fixed IP for itself and not for connected devices. Disabling DHCP means you can assign a static IP to the switch only, leaving other devices unaffected. This setup is useful if you want to keep your own network address consistent without sharing it with external devices.
For easier management, connect the switch to a router or DHCP server that provides IPs and power-on configuration. You can also link it directly to a computer for control, either via its web interface or using ProSAFE® Plus Utility on Windows.
By default, the switch’s DHCP client is active. To reach it, use the IP assigned by the DHCP server. To find your switch’s IP, try one of these methods:
- On a Windows PC, run ProSAFE® Plus Utility to detect the address (refer to page 18).
- On Mac or 64-bit Windows, use the NETGEAR Switch Discovery Tool (page 21).
- With iOS or Android, open the NETGEAR Insight app to locate the switch (page 22).
You can also check the router’s settings to see which devices are assigned static IPs. This helps you track usage and avoid conflicts with other gadgets.
Change the DHCP range because the router isn't assigning addresses even after reboots. The manual confirmed the DHCP server is disabled by default. Before the hub, IP conflicts occurred; after switching to the hub, the issue disappeared. The router likely handles multiple devices simultaneously without problems since each device boots at its own time.
You can configure static IPs on devices like switches and routers by accessing their settings through a web interface or command-line tools. Ensure the correct IP ranges are defined so the static addresses appear in the routing table without being automatically included. This way, they remain visible and functional for network communication.
This approach works well. When using the printer, the focus shifts less because the Driver Installer handles MAC or hostname assignment via DNS settings. For other devices, static or dynamic configurations are acceptable. All static IPs should stay fixed. The router doesn’t assign static IPs, which is beneficial but problematic since it can’t verify if a static address is already in use. To prevent conflicts, set the DHCP address range. This range defines the pool of addresses the DHCP server can allocate. Ensure that any devices assigned statically fall outside this pool. In practice, your router lets you adjust the range—most consumer models begin at 192.168.x.100, letting you reserve the first 99 addresses (1–99), though the actual usable count is usually lower due to the router itself. For your setup, using the DHCP range from .64 to .253 means you can statically assign IPs from 2 to 63, and also include an address in .254. This accommodates up to 22 devices without issues.
We need to note that what @Alex Atkin UK describes as "setting it static at the router" isn't technically accurate. He's actually talking about a DHCP reservation. The device (like a printer or PC) would still request an IP address through DHCP, and the router can then reserve that address for it permanently. This is typically handled using the MAC address, though most routers simplify this process in their interface. You can usually view current DHCP leases and choose one to lock in for a specific device and timeframe. A DHCP lease refers to the period during which the router assigns an IP address—often 24 hours—and prevents reuse until the lease expires. If the device stays connected, the lease renews automatically; otherwise, it returns the address to the pool. New devices can then claim the available slot. The DHCP server manages all devices within its address range, so ensure static IPs are assigned outside that range (e.g., a number below .64) and double-check you're not reusing the same static assignment.
It falls within the range of .64 to .253. The text clearly lists values like .64, .65, .66, etc., indicating a scale. I began assigning devices starting from IP .64. I’m still puzzled about how the router keeps static IPs reserved permanently. Also, if the router’s IP range starts after the last assigned static IP, how does it still recognize those devices? You mentioned they wouldn’t be detected if placed outside the new range, which makes sense.
You can either configure a DHCP reservation for the device or apply it directly on the device. If you choose the latter, verify that the IP address falls outside the DHCP range of your routers. Alternatively, adjust the starting address to the next number after your static IPs. The router doesn’t recognize devices on the network unless they attempt to connect to an IP outside your local area. That’s why you need to include your router’s IP in the gateway (and often DNS) settings when assigning a static IP on the client side. When the router distributes IP addresses through DHCP, it handles this automatically.