Hey everyone! I'm currently working on implementing a DHCP solution for about 50 classroom computers. The challenge I'm facing is that each computer has two network interfaces: one for internet access and another for internal practice. Ideally, I want both of these NICs to receive the same IP address through DHCP since students often switch between them, but currently, they can only be connected to the network one at a time. In our previous DHCP setup (ICS DHCP), I was able to assign the same IP by creating two reservations. However, I'm struggling to find a way to do this with KEA DHCP. I've tried using global reservations, but disconnecting one NIC results in the other being given an IP from the general pool instead. Unfortunately, I cannot get support for flex-id either. Does anyone have any insights or solutions for this?
2 Answers
Is there a specific reason you want both NICs to share the same IP? If they are on the same subnet and reachable from the same broadcast domain, you could just use different IPs for each NIC. That way, you won’t run into conflicts and can still access both interfaces as needed without issues.
It's generally not advisable to assign the same IP to multiple NICs on the same device, as this can lead to conflicts! You'd get confused ARP responses, and the device might behave unpredictably, needing separate IPs for smooth operation. If you’re allowing students to switch connections freely, it’s likely they’ll run into issues that are hard to anticipate. I'd recommend using other methods to manage remote access, like KVM switches or dedicated management ports. Also, be sure to secure that network environment—it's best to isolate it from the main network to prevent accidental disruptions.
Would it help if I ensure that only one NIC is active at a time? I plan to have them connected to different networks, with only one linked to the actual internet.
I’d like them to have the same IP primarily for SSH access. It simplifies connecting to these machines if I can always use one address.