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College Dorm Room Networking Issue (Multiple Devices and Only One Port)

Tags:
  • WAN
  • LAN
  • Networking
  • Mac Address
  • Routers
  • Port
Last response: in Networking
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August 11, 2014 9:10:56 PM

In my dorm room at school, I only have one available Ethernet port to use for my two computers, console, and printer. I like to have all of these devices wired and do not like to use the wireless with all of them. I used to use a switch to turn my one port into a few ports. However, last semester, IT made it so each port only assigns a single IP address. So I can only have one device connected to my port now. My school also uses MAC address registration for our devices. I've been trying to figure out how to hard wire all of my devices since I can not use a switch. I've heard that I might be able to use a router to fix this issue. I was wondering if anyone could explain if it's possible to use a router to do this and if so how. From what I've heard, I would have to plug the WAN port on the router to my one port in the room and then plug everything else into the router. I would also need to make it so the router only assigns ip addresses that my school doesn't use. Please let me know if this is possible. Thank you for reading this.

More about : college dorm room networking issue multiple devices port

August 11, 2014 9:22:18 PM

A router would work although it would likely cause issues with gaming due to the double NAT issue... although it would protect you from the other people using internet on the school network. You would essentially be creating a network within their network.
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August 12, 2014 6:32:53 AM

As caqde said, you could potentially use a router. You would have to ensure the DHCP scope that your router hands out is different from the school. Also though, as mentioned, you could very well be looking at a double NAT issue depending on how the schools network is set up. Double NAT is just a headache waiting to happen.
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August 12, 2014 7:34:24 AM

Most college IT departments know all the tricks. I would assume they have a reason to limit the number of devices attached to port. If they go to all the trouble to limit a switch they can easily prevent you from using a router also.

The simplest way of course is to mac lock the port to a single mac address. Since this can be bypassed using a router it is not worth the effort to even implement. What they likely have done is turn on 802.1x. This requires the device authenticate and it dynamically inserts a single mac. A router can not act as a 802.1x client...what is called a supplicant.. so they prevent this type of bypass.

If the college is smart you will not be able to get past the restriction using networking gear. You can do it with a PC but I will leave you to study 802.1x and find the exploit yourself.
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