NodeConnect

  NodeConnect IP Subnet Calculator . . . CIDR: Calculate

Lab time! Want to build a DHCP server?  In this lab, I will show you how to build your own DHCP server on a router using Cisco Packet Tracer, as shown above. By the end of this post, you will be able to create your own DHCP server with a Cisco 2911 router, perhaps in a home lab setting, and prepare you to build your own on other hardware.  Why a Router?  A DHCP server is a centralized, automated service that assigns important network configuration details to devices on a network, such as IP addresses. Without it, we would have to create manual entries for our entire network, which can be time-consuming and lead to errors. Traditionally, there are dedicated servers to handle these functions. There are many ways to implement a DHCP server in your topology, including a dedicated physical server, a virtual machine, cloud-based gateways, and firewalls. However, there are specific benefits to using a router as your DHCP server: Reduced infrastructur...

When I was first introduced to subnetting, it was difficult to understand the math and the process behind it. I watched videos but it did not click. I focused more on how to calculate it than on the reasoning behind it. Why do we subnet? I remember seeing forward slashes followed by numbers, classes, letters, network and broadcast addresses - important terms that was overshadowed by just trying to grasp why certain numbers were used.  Years later, I hear the word "subnetting" in one of my courses, and it reminded me of my struggles. Yet, I was excited. It was a time for redemption. Example after example, I started to get them right but also got to understand how to create a subnet with sufficient space for devices. Because of this, I have grown to love subnetting.  For me, it took time - a break that lasted about two years followed by a curriculum that focused on the topic for a few weeks. If you find yourself struggling with subnetting, do not worry. It takes time. If someth...