Several fixed IP addresses shared among numerous routers on the same network
Several fixed IP addresses shared among numerous routers on the same network
You can connect extra routers to the primary router by linking them via its interface. Assign each new router a static public IP from your existing list, then configure port forwarding on those devices independently—no changes needed on the main router. This setup lets you expand your network without affecting the core configuration.
It seems you're referring to a setup where a /28 address is managed by your ISP. The initial IP belongs to the ISP, and subsequent addresses are assigned based on the connected device. You have two choices: link a switch to the ISP for direct device IPs or use a router/firewall with 1:1 NAT to route traffic from specific public IPs to internal servers. 1:1 NAT functions like port forwarding across all ports in both directions.
I’d set up my primary router—probably an EdgeRouter—linked to the backhaul fiber, placing all my IPs on it. Then connect the extra routers to a switch within that network. Configure one-to-one NAT on either a router or a managed switch such as the EdgeSwitch from Ubiquiti. If you’re managing 200–400 clients, consider scaling options for better performance.
Option a describes a setup where the ISP links straight to a switch, while each router connects to the switch and can utilize multiple public IP addresses. There isn’t a single primary router. Option b outlines a different arrangement: the ISP connects directly to the main router, which handles one-to-one translation between public and private IPs. Other routers with private IPs either connect to the main router if ports are available or to a LAN switch. The method for managing multiple clients depends on configuration choices. For instance, using PPPoE would demand more processing power compared to DHCP. This setup isn’t something you’d need to consider when launching an ISP business.