Two different LAN networks - connected

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
K

Keano16

Distinguished
Feb 12, 2015
42
1
18,535
Hi Guys,

First of all, let me note that I am not an network expert but I have some experience.

Let me explain situation in our building

Company 1 on floor 1: ROUTER (192.168.2.1) - SWITCH - 15 COMPUTERS
Company 2 on floor 2: ROUTER (192.168.1.1) - SWITCH - 4 COMPUTERS

IMPORTANT:
-Two SWITCHES are connected.
-Sub-net mask for both networks: 255.255.255.0.
-Each floor has it's own router and different internet access account (different company).
-Booth floors works great individually.
-Computers are on static IP addresses to prevent computers from Floor 1 to get IP from router on Floor 2.

How can I connect them, to share files and folders? I mean, they are already connected, but obviously there is no visibility.
Also, I want to put NAS on floor 1. How to make NAS see computers on floor 2, considering they are on different default gateway.

Thanks

 
Sort by date Sort by votes
bicycle_repair_man

bicycle_repair_man

Splendid
Jan 10, 2014
5,752
2
28,960
If all the hosts are on the same subnet and the two switches are physically connected, then all the hosts are on the same network. The fact that they use different gateways is irrelevant.

If you plan to buy a NAS, I wouldn't go down the route of sharing files between hosts. As long as you assign the 255.255.255.0 subnet mask to the NAS and give it a relevant IP address, all the hosts should be able to connect to it.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
K

Keano16

Distinguished
Feb 12, 2015
42
1
18,535
Thanks.

So, lets say this is NAS:

IP: 192.168.1.55
Default gateway: 192.168.2.1. (floor 1)

This NAS will see PC's from floor 1 (192.168.2.1) and floor 2 (192.168.1.1) ?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
K

Keano16

Distinguished
Feb 12, 2015
42
1
18,535
Does the same rule apply for the computers on the network?

Will computers on Floor 1 (192.168.2.1) and Floor 2 (192.168.1.1) also be able to see each other? I currently don't have any computers connected to the Floor 1, so I cannot test myself.

Regards
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
B

bill001g

Titan
Aug 9, 2012
28,325
2,755
125,640


You will not be allowed to configure it this way. The gateway must a IP WITHIN the subnet. That is what "gateway" means...how do I get out of my subnet. You can not specify a IP that is already outside.

The networks can not talk without a router between the 2 networks. The routers would have to know how to pass traffic between each other.

I am at a loss as to how you manage to connect the 2 switches together and the DHCP on the routers do not randomly give out ip to the machines since they have to way to tell which floor they are on.

The only other way to get this to work is to assign a IP to the NAS from both networks. This is called a secondary IP address. Some equipment does not support this since it is considered poor network design to do that.

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
K

Keano16

Distinguished
Feb 12, 2015
42
1
18,535
I have left the default windows sub-net for both networks: 255.255.255.0

@bill001g
I understand your confusion. Actually, routers from floor 1 were assigning IP's to computers from floor 2. But that is why I have setup static IP's to fixed computers (ones that are here all the time)
I hope it makes sense?

Regards
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
B

bill001g

Titan
Aug 9, 2012
28,325
2,755
125,640
This is a very non standard install.

I would the see if your NAS can use secondary IP addresses and give it a IP on both networks.

Any other solution you are going to have to go to a more standard design and route between the subnets with a actual router....unless you have a more commercial router the device you call routers likely can not do that function.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
K

Keano16

Distinguished
Feb 12, 2015
42
1
18,535
I have ordered NAS "QNAP TS-231"

In their catalog they claim: "High Efficiency with dual LAN support" + "Failover and dual IP are also supported to ensure continuous system operations."

This one seems to support secondary IP?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
B

bill001g

Titan
Aug 9, 2012
28,325
2,755
125,640
It would be nice if they did not make it so hard to find info, the manuals are generally for the complete line of devices which have different abilities.

It does appear you can do a secondary ip with IFCONFIG commands but it is unclear which devices even support the ability to modify the OS at that level.

I suspect a much simpler way...not 100% sure you can is to assign a different IP to each of the ethernet ports and then plug both ports into the same switch. Hopefully the devices in not too smart for its own good when it see the same broadcast packets on both its ports. In a worst case you could loop your network but I think it is smart enough to prevent this.
 
Upvote 1 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom