Need suggestion for Networking

[detailer310]

Hello,

I'm setting up domain network (server 2008 r2) for a small company with maximum 20 computers. Will be having around 5 servers DC, FS, ISA etc and others are users on client side. And ofcourse this network will be using fiber internet through ISA as proxy server.

I'm just stuck in choosing IP class from A, B or C? I would like to go with A class 10.x.x.x for this network. Can i pick any range randomly from this class or do i need to go through IP subnetting process?

Like i decided to go with 10.10.10.1 - 10.10.10.255 will this be alright? or should i go with some calculations etc?


The future plan will be the almost same, no more users will be added in this network if needed then maximum 5 or 10 users will be added when hired.

I know network experts will get my point straight forward..

I would appreciate experts guide line.

Thanks

 

[Emerald]

that should work fine

 

[detailer310]

then What would be the process for IPs if i would have 300 users?

 

[choucove]

While in theory you can use any class of IP addresses for your networks, no matter what number of hosts you have, it really comes down to subnet masks. I still recommend sticking with a class of addresses with the primary number of usable hosts designed for that network class. For instance, since you have need for far less number of host devices than 254 total, stick with the Class C addresses.

However, again, everything that really matters is just the subnet mask. You can use the 10.10.10.0 network address and assign every computer the 255.255.255.0 subnet mask and it functions the exact same as using the 192.168.10.0 network with the 255.255.255.0 subnet mask. It is just more clear for most places and people working on network equipment that if you are using a 255.255.255.0 subnet you are working in the Class C IP addresses.

 

[Emerald]

then What would be the process for IPs if i would have 300 users?

use 10.10.11.xxx with 10.10.10.xxx Gateway. make the subnet mask 255.255.0.0 for both IP ranges

 

[bill001g]

then What would be the process for IPs if i would have 300 users?

The optimum answer if you wanted only a single subnet would be to use a /23 subnet. In your example you would use
10.10.10.0/23 or 255.255.254.0 which would give you usable address 10.10.10.1-10.10.11.254

 

[detailer310]

While in theory you can use any class of IP addresses for your networks, no matter what number of hosts you have, it really comes down to subnet masks. I still recommend sticking with a class of addresses with the primary number of usable hosts designed for that network class. For instance, since you have need for far less number of host devices than 254 total, stick with the Class C addresses.

However, again, everything that really matters is just the subnet mask. You can use the 10.10.10.0 network address and assign every computer the 255.255.255.0 subnet mask and it functions the exact same as using the 192.168.10.0 network with the 255.255.255.0 subnet mask. It is just more clear for most places and people working on network equipment that if you are using a 255.255.255.0 subnet you are working in the Class C IP addresses.

Thank you for detailed reply, what you wrote it does make sense.

Why I would like to use class A ips instead class C ips because usually other network devices (DSL modems/wifi routers etc) here comes with default class C ips assigned and configrations that's the only reason I'm preferring class A.

but just have little confusion about using subnet mask? you said i can use class c subnet mask 255.255.255.0 with class A ips but why not use it's own mask which is 255.0.0.0? Even when i was working in a company before they were also using class C mask but along with class A ips? Can you please help me to understand this?


Thanks alot.

 

[choucove]

In reality there would be no reason why you couldn't use a Class A address group with the Class A subnet 255.0.0.0 just fine, the subnet mask just manages how many subnets you can have and the total number of host devices. Using the 255.255.255.0 subnet you can only have 254 devices on a single network, but it gives you quite a bit of flexibility for managing multiple networks with ease.

In other words, you could have a 10.10.10.0 network, a 10.10.11.0 network, a 10.10.12.0 network and so forth. Using a Class A subnet mask, though, you have a more difficult time with multiple networks if needed. It would have to be like 10.10.10.0, 11.10.10.0, 12.10.10.0 and so forth.

 

[detailer310]

Chaoucove,

Yes now it does make sense and it clears out my confusion about using subnet masks.

Though we will not having more than 20 users on our network but would be using A class addresses with 255.255.255.0 mask and I'm sure it will also not conflict with other devices which comes with C class address configurations. Am i right?

Thanks alot....it is really useful.