DHCP/subnets/routed network

rict · Joined: 24 Oct 2006 Posts: 8

I am looking at a network layout which is routed - a mixture of 5GHz (for backhaul) and 2.4GHz APs. I am still to decide on the exact topology and equipment to be used, and also on the gateway solution.

The advice I have been given by a WISP (they don;t use First SPot) is that DHCP should be run from the APs rather than centrally (which I think is how FirstSpot works??) - this makes for a much more efficient network as opposed to having all 2.4GHz APs on the same channel.

Does the software support such a topology? i.e. a routed network with different subnets and DHCP controlled at each distributed hotspot?

alan · **Forum facilitator** Joined: 26 Sep 2003 Posts: 4435

Using FirstSpot DHCP server will work, provided that your routers support "DHCP relay".

Refer to firstspot_guide.pdf for details.
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Shadoza · Joined: 06 Apr 2006 Posts: 54 Location: Chaparral NM

We are using Microsoft's DHCP server on the same machine that we run firstspot. We have no issues.

diegohabla · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Posts: 14

could you post a little explanation of your configuration mixing MS DHCP sever and Firstspot, i´m looking for something like that cause firstspot dhcp is crashing in last versions

alan · **Forum facilitator** Joined: 26 Sep 2003 Posts: 4435

You just need to set FirstSpot DHCP server to Disabled and restart FirstSpot. You need to make sure the 3rd party DHCP server (e.g. Microsoft DHCP) is handing out IP correctly.

BTW, the current v4's DHCP server should be quite stable. Have you tried it?
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diegohabla · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Posts: 14

Yes I have, Alan, my problem know as i told you in other post is that some of my clients are getting the same ip, so windows xp is giving an error of duplicates ips on the network, i´ve experienced this problem since version 4.09. Any solution or why?

alan · **Forum facilitator** Joined: 26 Sep 2003 Posts: 4435

We did fix a DHCP problem in 4.0.11. Please check out http://patronsoft.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=945 for details.
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diegohabla · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Posts: 14

ok, but im actually using version 4.012...
so the bug is not fixed

Shadoza · Joined: 06 Apr 2006 Posts: 54 Location: Chaparral NM

I may be able to help with setting up Microsoft's DHCP service. We too are using a completely wireless system, with a point to point, point to multipoint, and a mesh network after that.

We are handing out Real IPs with microsoft's DHCP service. All we did was set up the DHCP service to hand those IPs out, and disabled FirstSpot's DHCP server. It isn't too hard to do, as long as you know what has to be done. Are you using NAT or are you issuing out Real IPs?

Also, what OS are you running? We are running Window's Server 2003.

alan · **Forum facilitator** Joined: 26 Sep 2003 Posts: 4435

I think Microsoft DHCP server is only available in Windows server OS.

diegohabla, when the problem happens again, before you restart FirstSpot, please email me (firstspot@patronsoft.com) the following files under dhcp directory:

- CheckExpiration.txt
- dhcpservice.ini
- FreeIPList.txt
- trace.txt
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