switch to DCHP from static ip

[Warren Block]

On Fri, 1 Aug 2014, al plant wrote:

> Aloha,
>
> The Telcom here in Honolulu has brought in FiberOptic lines in my 
> neighborhood since the old copper was really bad speed. Cost was reduced and 
> speed is now excellent.
>
> I need a how-to for moving an APSfilter print server on my static IP lan  to 
> working with a DHCP network. The Telcom installed a PACE wireless and told me 
> I can add as many  computers as I  need using a Netgear  Gigabit switch.
>
> I have installed one  desktop on the switch and it has worked fine so far.
>
> I never ised DHCP befor so any help would be appreciated.
>
> /etc/rc.conf
> -------------
> lpd_enable="YES"
> FreeBSD 8.*  hostname="mano.intra.net"
> ifconfig-re0="192.168.1.50 netmask 255.255.255.0"
>
> --------------
> For desktop I used >
> ifconfig-re0="DHCP" to replace IP address. I seems to find the network fine. 
> Now I cant find any information about putting a print server on the lan.

Figure what netblock is used by DHCP, probably the same one already 
being used (192.168.1.1/24), figure out what range of those addresses 
are not handed out by the DHCP server, and use one of those addresses 
for the print server.

For example, if the DHCP server is providing addresses from 
192.168.1.100-150, give the print server a static address of, say, 
192.168.1.200.

Technically, you can probably continue to use the same address.  A 
decent DHCP server will ping an address before handing it out, to make 
sure that address is not already being used.  In practice, the firmware 
in routers can be terrible and should be replaced, if possible, with 
third-party firmware for sanity and safety.

Expert level for bonus points: set the DHCP server to hand out a fixed 
address to the print server based on MAC address.  The router might have 
a web interface to set this up.

Summary: continue to use a static IP address for the print server. 
Just make sure that address is inside the same netblock as the DHCP 
addresses, but preferably outside the range of dynamic addresses.