Do I need a DHCP server in this case?

[deep1234]

Hi guys, for connecting 12 computers with windows to a switch (26 port) to be able to print on two printers. As far as I know, IP addresses should be assigned statically to each device (ex, 192.168.1.X with the same gateway 192.168.1.1) for them to be able to connect to printer.

In the case of formatting these computers or adding new ones to the switch, is it required to assign the IP address staticlly again for these devices? If the answer is yes will an DHCP server make things easier by making the IP address dynamic with a specific range? provided by Windows Server or Linux?

Thanks.

[Sophism]

You certainly dont need one, but it makes life a bit easier.

I would recommend running one and just leave the printers as static IP's (outside the DHCP Scope of course)

[Max_Payne_UK]

As far as I'm aware, yes you would have to set them with a static if you rebuilt them as there would be no record of what IP the MAC address had held on the switch.

DHCP would make it easier, but it's a bit overkill for 12 computers imo.

Happy to be corrected though

[ANON86364]

The PCs IP addresses do not need to be statically assigned to be able to use the printers. The PCs can be assigned IPs automatically via DHCP service and the printers should have their IPs statically assigned. As far as management, it is purely preference whether the PCs are static or automatically given IPs.

As far as I'm aware, yes you would have to set them with a static if you rebuilt them as there would be no record of what IP the MAC address had held on the switch.

DHCP would make it easier, but it's a bit overkill for 12 computers imo.

Happy to be corrected though

If you do not have a DHCP service running, then yes you would have to manually set the IP in whatever PC you reformat. But to say DHCP is overkill is not really accurate being that any standard router hands out IP addresses and there is free software that runs as a service on a PC to run DHCP. DHCP does make things a lot easier.

[Max_Payne_UK]

Fair point. I did forget that most (if not all) routers now have a DHCP function. I simply read it as he was going to build a server specifically for DHCP on the network. :laugh:

[justmike]

If IP addresses are already being assigned by a router, then to this switch, just set the printers static like 192.168.15.xx or something.

[Draconian Guppy]

Fair point. I did forget that most (if not all) routers now have a DHCP function. I simply read it as he was going to build a server specifically for DHCP on the network. :laugh:

This! IMO seems the OP is out of the loop a bit? Though I've had routers for a couple of years 6+ and almost all of them had DHCP function inbuilt? A normal Linksys54WRT54g should be fine, they go for around $20ish...

[deep1234]

This! IMO seems the OP is out of the loop a bit? Though I've had routers for a couple of years 6+ and almost all of them had DHCP function inbuilt? A normal Linksys54WRT54g should be fine, they go for around $20ish...

Wireless routers usually have DHCP support build in. But I am asking here about the 26 port switch as I don't know if it has DHCP support build in, which as far as I know it don't.

[Draconian Guppy]

OOHHHHHhhhhhhhh my bad... we all understood you were trying to build a DHCP server, really sorry..

Switches just relay in a smarter way then HUBS eg. no packet crashing, but normally unless specified, they don't act as a DHCP server. If you already have something like this:

DHCP server (router or whatever ) -> switch -> All computers unless limited by the user in TCP/IP, will be assigned IP automatically by the server. But in the end you can have basically as many switches as you want AFTER the DHCP server. If you don't have one, static IP's will work just fine for LAN. I've worked in scenarios with up to 16ish computers and all of a sudden the router would die... Assigned static IP's manually and for LAN purposes it would work perfectly, internet however, was a whole other headache, for me at least ( this when the router went kaput, else everything is fine).

You should assign the printer a static IP even if you have a DHCP or not, to avoid confusion or the IP getting assigned to another computer which would cause hell when trying to print

Edit: Also a freshly formatted machine will usually have "detect LAN automatically" and receive IP dynamically assigned by the DHCP.

But basically you should have no issue on IPs if your setup is DHCP(again router/computer/whatever tickles your fancy) -> switch, as long as the router/etc. can handle the load , which i've seen those commercial linksys routers handle up to 50+ users without a hiccup.

So yes, having a router (wireless/wired) with DHCP (Which most do) will make things easy as pie!

[intrinity1]

You certainly dont need one, but it makes life a bit easier.

I would recommend running one and just leave the printers as static IP's (outside the DHCP Scope of course)

I definitely agree! It will make life a lot easier having static printers.

[deep1234]

thanks guys, I will see what I can do.