I'm a sound system technician working in a government office where the official network is tightly secured with only approved devices connected. However, we also have a civilian internet setup with a consumer-grade router that I manage and use for personal devices like cellphones. Right now, I'm running into issues because the central router is several years old, and it sometimes drops the internet connection. I suspect it may be due to the number of devices connected, somewhere around 100-150, which could overwhelm its DHCP server or NAT table. I'm considering a new router, ideally a consumer-grade one that can handle a lot of devices and has a larger NAT table. I personally like TP-Link, but I'd appreciate any recommendations or thoughts!
5 Answers
That sounds like a lot of devices to handle! Have you thought about asking IT to set up a VLAN instead? It might be a better way to manage the devices and their access without risking interference with the corporate network. They could probably help you configure it, and then you wouldn't have to worry about the chaos of handling this on your own!
If you're looking into new hardware, I’d recommend getting a router that has good QoS features and the ability to set up VLANs. This will help segregate your devices for better performance. A wired router with a managed switch might give you even more flexibility and reliability. Just be sure to check out models that can manage a larger number of simultaneous connections because it sounds like you'll need it!
Be cautious with Shadow IT, though—having a separate network can be risky. It might be better if corporate IT managed the civilian network to avoid any potential issues down the line. Just something to consider if you can make that happen!
Just a thought—if many devices are connecting, maybe the router is just being overwhelmed? Upgrading to a newer TP-Link model that has better processing power could make a big difference. They'll have more capacity to manage your network smoothly with so many gadgets connected!
Honestly, the age of your router might not be the biggest issue. Try adjusting the DHCP lease time to something like 1 hour and see if that helps. If it's set fast, it could help with devices getting those 169 addresses when they're having trouble. Also, expanding the DHCP range might give you a bit more breathing room!
Thanks a ton for that tip! I’ll definitely check that out.
Haha, thanks for the suggestion! Honestly, I doubt they would want to get involved. They’re really not fans of anything we do over here, and I’m the only one who knows how to handle these networks.