Network Configuration

[Carl Hilton]

We currently have three router/hub/switches one, for each floor of our
building. We have numerous subnets which are now randomly scattered all over
the building using static IP's. I am contemplating going to DHCP and am
interested in knowing if there is a technical reason, why I should try to
keep the subnets focused on each floor. Currently the majority of the
traffic is going either out to the internet or to our computer room servers,
all located off of one of the routers/switch/hubs. This means that the
majority of traffic on the other two router/switch/hubs is just being
purshed to the third, which is leaning me to believe that there is NO reason
to try to create a DHCP configuration whereby each floor will get their own
subnet.

Carl

 

[Phillip Windell]

The scope of this is so large it is nearly impossible to answer in a simple
newsgroup message. You have the physical topology, the logical topology, and
the capabilities of the
individual hardware device just to even begin the conversation.

Now if you are getting about 200 machines then you may need to look at
subnetting just because of that. Broadcasts are the biggest killer of a LAN
and those aren't effect by "where the user usually goes", and the user
doesn't even have to be at their machine doing anything. Broadcasts don't
cross routers, therefore the routers will recover lost bandwith.

You can also design the system using VLANs. It this case where the user is
physically located doesn't even matter. The users are segmented "logically"
by what they do and what they use, and not where they are or what floor they
are on.

 

[Wayne B.]

Having an overabundance of subnets is overkill unless
there's a particular reason behind it. If you were to
have any type of networking issue that dealt with just
one segment of your network, you would save yourself some
footsteps if you were to gather your same segment nodes
in close proximity of each other. In some cases it makes
it easier dealing with physical connections as well.
Depending on how many machines that you have on each
floor, 1 segment/floor makes sense to me. And ofcourse as
we all know, DHCP is an Admin's best friend. (most of
the time)

I'm pretty sure there are other reasons that others will
touch on also. Good luck. Wayne B.