Setting up LAN - beginner
Setting up LAN - beginner
Hello, I have 2-4 computers I’d like to link together and ideally share internet access as well. Currently I have just one computer, a satellite dish, and a small device that connects these two (it only has two ports for this). Some time ago, I asked my ISP to assign me a public IP address like 62.???...21 which will be directed to 192.168.1.7. This was needed because certain games had multiplayer problems with NAT and port forwarding. I’m not entirely clear on the details, but I think it’s about getting better connectivity. Would it be feasible to add a switch device to that small box and connect all four computers to it? If so, how would my public IP change? Do switches also have their own IP addresses? I’m really unsure how to set this up while keeping the public IP reserved for the specific PC and its settings. Here are some pictures to help clarify the setup.
It depends on what the "small device" actually does. Is it handling routing tasks, or is it just a satellite modem? Mentioning it routes traffic to 192.168.1.7 suggests you have an internal network setup, and the device likely acts as a router performing NAT. We should clarify if it can manage multiple connections, provide IP assignments via DHCP, and support one-to-many addressing.
I believe the setup handles the internal network but only includes two ports—one from the satellite and one connecting to my PC. Replacing the box with a switch seems feasible. The network layout would then appear as shown: gateway - switch: 192.168.0.1 PC1: 192.168.0.7 PC2: 192.168.0.2 PC3: 192.168.0.3 PC4: 192.168.0.4. This way, the public IP for PC1 would stay intact, assuming it's configured correctly in that device.
It appears your small device functions as both a router and a modem, handling NAT effectively. The external IP address you're using is probably set by your service provider and tied to the router's unique identifier, such as its MAC address or serial number.