How to Connect Multiple Servers to One Router & Multiple Client Stations
Network switches are commonly used to expand the number of ports on a network to accommodate multiple clients and servers. When planning additions to an existing computer network or building a new network, port count is one of the many aspects that must be considered.
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Things You'll Need
- Network router
- Network switch with ports to accommodate all servers and client computers
- Network CAT6 straight-through patch cable
- Network CAT6 straight-through patch cable for each server and client computer
Instructions
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1
Plug the CAT6 straight-through patch cable into a port on the private network side of the router (the private network ports are typically labeled "LAN").
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2
Plug the other end of the CAT6 straight-through patch cable into a port on the switch. If the switch is equipped with ports labeled "Uplink" (ports that are separated from the larger group of ports) plug the patch cable into one of the "Uplink" ports.
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3
Plug a CAT6 straight-through patch cable into each server computer and the other end of the patch cable into a "LAN" port on the switch.
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4
Plug a CAT6 straight-through patch cable into each client computer and the other end of the patch cable into a "LAN" port on the switch.
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5
Configure the DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) service with a range of IP addresses slightly larger that the number needed to provide an IP address, gateway IP address and DNS IP address to each client computer. For example, if the number of client computers on the network is 10, the DHCP IP address range could be 192.168.1.113 through 192.168.126. The gateway IP address is the private network IP address of the router, and the DNS IP address can be the private side IP address of the router or the DNS IP address of the Internet Service Provider. The DHCP service could be provided by the router or by a stand alone DHCP server.
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6
Configure each client computer to use DHCP to obtain an IP address.
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7
Configure each server with a static IP address, gateway IP address and DNS IP address. The IP addresses assigned to the servers must be in the same network range as the IP addresses for the clients in order for the server and client computers to communicate through the same switch. For example, if the DHCP address range is 192.168.1.113 through 192.168.1.126, then the server computer static IP address range could be 192.168.1.209 through 192.168.1.223.
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8
Configure the external port on the router with a static or DHCP IP address according to the instructions and parameters provided by the Internet Service Provider. If the router is connecting to another private network, configure the external port with a static IP address in the IP address network range of the other private network.
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9
Reboot the client computers so that they properly obtain IP address information from the DHCP service.
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Tips & Warnings
The IP address network range (referred to as a "subnet") for the server and client computers plugged into the switch must be in a different network range than the IP address on the "WAN", "Internet" or other network ports on the router.
Server computers in most cases should have static IP addresses that do not change so that client computers can always find the server computers on the network.
Resources
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