Everyone does it differently.
Everyone does it differently.
You need more IP addresses for your office setup. With 500+ devices—like NAS, printers, laptops, phones—and only three gigabit internet lines, you can expand your network by using a switch or router that supports VLANs or multiple subnets. This will let all devices share the same network while staying on separate segments. Simple networking means organizing devices into groups for better performance and security.
Theoretically, you can obtain an unlimited number of IP addresses based on your configuration. By default, you should be able to reach the range from 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255, which exceeds 65,000 addresses.
It might simply be insufficient IPv4 allocation. This would mean contacting the ISP to resolve it, but only if they are willing to act. Updated July 22, 2020 by BobVonBob Noted right after mentioning it, that’s not the usual process.
You likely need an advanced router such as pfSense, Untangle, MikroTik, or edge routers. You probably desire a larger subnet like /22, but your main goal is probably multiple internal subnets—perhaps one for Wi-Fi and another for wired devices.
Explore different approaches for managing IP addresses. Set up VLANs and configure routing so devices can communicate. Or implement access controls to restrict guest network access. Establish a separate subnet. For example, 192.168.1.1/23 generates around 510 usable addresses. /22 provides 1022 addresses, etc. Your router should handle these ranges, though most standard models won’t. Exceptions apply for your ISP’s offerings. Regarding the 3 Gigabit connections, specialized or enterprise solutions are usually required. Most typical routers aren’t built for that level of traffic. A PFSS device with multiple WANs might work if you’re managing a larger setup. Do you know this?
I question whether all his gadgets connect to the internet... it would be... äh... doesn't matter. @ZWELINHTET given the limited details here, I think you just need to adjust your router's IP range and subnet mask settings (especially if it supports DHCP). It might help to watch some tutorials or guides about DHCP and IPv4, perhaps even IPv6.
When you have many devices, you must choose a router that outperforms your ISP's basic service. Adjust the subnet mask to support additional IP addresses. Note: 255.255.250.0 provides more than enough IPs—about 1275 total (subtract one for the router, leaving 1274). Updated on July 22, 2020 by Saksham
Set up routers and configure VLANs as required. Apply subnet masks suitable for around 60k devices using .255.255. Adjust IP ranges accordingly. Enable port forwarding and VPN capabilities when needed for remote access.
Other people have suggested avoiding a /24 subnet. Instead, expand it to a /22 for more than 1000 IP addresses in one network. For example, starting at 192.168.0.1 with a mask of 255.255.252.0 would cover up to 192.168.3.254. You may need a stronger router based on your current setup. To manage all your internet connections together, tools like pfSense can help balance WAN interfaces through the firewall. You could also use VLANs with advanced networking gear to organize your network better.
I really wouldn't just put everything together in one network. Set up separate IP ranges for your printers, Wi-Fi devices, guest network, regular users, and administrators. Choose a Linux server and install a user-friendly firewall (PFSense or OPNSense work well). Use a VLAN-capable switch and label the ports accordingly. Connect your internet lines to the switch and assign VLANs to each group. Link those VLANs to the appropriate devices—like restricting printers from going online except for updates, limiting guest access to DNS and web ports, and giving admins full network control. Your office users should only have necessary access, while internal WLAN devices should mirror regular user permissions. An Administrator WLAN could be a good idea if you're comfortable with the setup.