Probably OT ??

[Mel Smith]

Hi:

Background:
- I run three non-commercial web sites (very low activity) from my
home office.
- My router is a D-link Model Name: DIR-825
- My main (and currently only) server is an older Dell Desktop using
Win XP Pro and running Apache 2.22
- I wish to test-run a backup server on a new 64-bit ASUS Laptop
running Win 7 Home-Premium.
- I wish to switch back and forth between the two servers and test
how things work (or don't work).
- I have another Desktop PC (Win XP Pro) on my local network with the
two other machines I just mentioned.
- My range of local IPs is from 192.168.0.10 thru 192.168.0.17

Problem:
- How do I *quickly* switch back and forth between the two alternate
servers ?

- I *would like* to have the *same* local IP for each of the servers,
but I don't know how to force the assignment of an IP on each the servers.
That is, I don't understand the options when I enter:
C:\> ipconfig /?

But I assume that there is a set of arguments for me to make *both*
server machines as 192.168.0.11 ??

- And I know that each machine on a local network has to have its own
unique IP -- but I will ensure that each of the server machines is only
turned on and active after the other is turned off.

- Of course, the alternate way is to address the router
(http://192.168.0.1), and make the annoying changes there (passwords, and
trying to understand the graphical portion of the password entry system,
etc). This really bugs me, and is painful.


So, how do I *force* my choice of local IP addresses, please ?


Thanks for any guidance/suggestions offered.


-Mel Smith

[Andre]

Post by Mel Smith
- I run three non-commercial web sites (very low activity) from my
home office.
- My router is a D-link Model Name: DIR-825
- My main (and currently only) server is an older Dell Desktop using
Win XP Pro and running Apache 2.22
- I wish to test-run a backup server on a new 64-bit ASUS Laptop
running Win 7 Home-Premium.
- I wish to switch back and forth between the two servers and test
how things work (or don't work).
- I have another Desktop PC (Win XP Pro) on my local network with the
two other machines I just mentioned.
- My range of local IPs is from 192.168.0.10 thru 192.168.0.17
- How do I *quickly* switch back and forth between the two alternate
servers ?
- I *would like* to have the *same* local IP for each of the servers,
but I don't know how to force the assignment of an IP on each the servers.
C:\> ipconfig /?
But I assume that there is a set of arguments for me to make *both*
server machines as 192.168.0.11 ??
- And I know that each machine on a local network has to have its own
unique IP -- but I will ensure that each of the server machines is only
turned on and active after the other is turned off.
- Of course, the alternate way is to address the router
(http://192.168.0.1), and make the annoying changes there (passwords, and
trying to understand the graphical portion of the password entry system,
etc). This really bugs me, and is painful.
So, how do I *force* my choice of local IP addresses, please ?
Thanks for any guidance/suggestions offered.
-Mel Smith

You might try something like:

Set up a DNS server
have two entries for your servers ex:
servera IN A 192.168.0.1
serverB IN A 102.168.0.2

Myweb IN CNAME servera



( more entries ar needed to have a DNS server running, but you will find
that ;-))

You only have to change the CNAME record and restart the DNS server.

have to be tested, I didn't
Regads
André

[Mel Smith]

Post by Andre
Set up a DNS server
servera IN A 192.168.0.1
serverB IN A 102.168.0.2
Myweb IN CNAME servera
( more entries ar needed to have a DNS server running, but you will find
that ;-))
You only have to change the CNAME record and restart the DNS server.

Andre:

I use www.zoneedit.com for my DNS translation. And I don't wish to make
any changes there with them.

All I want to do is to be able to make a *quick* change on my servers in
my home office via ipconfig.exe. I've used one server for three years now,
and I want to add this new 'backup' server to my setup so its unobtrusive
but ready at a moments notice to take over.

So, its either change the router settings (I don't like this), or set up
both servers with the same local IP (I know this has some dangers involved).

Thanks.

-Mel Smith

[Bruce Bowler]

Post by Mel Smith

servera IN A 192.168.0.1 serverB IN A 102.168.0.2
Myweb IN CNAME servera
( more entries ar needed to have a DNS server running, but you will
find that ;-))
You only have to change the CNAME record and restart the DNS server.

I use www.zoneedit.com for my DNS translation. And I don't wish to make
any changes there with them.
All I want to do is to be able to make a *quick* change on my servers in
my home office via ipconfig.exe. I've used one server for three years
now, and I want to add this new 'backup' server to my setup so its
unobtrusive but ready at a moments notice to take over.
So, its either change the router settings (I don't like this), or set up
both servers with the same local IP (I know this has some dangers involved).
Thanks.
-Mel Smith

In the network control panel, turn off "get address automatically" and
enter an IP address of your choosing...

Bruce

[Mel Smith]

Post by Bruce Bowler
In the network control panel, turn off "get address automatically" and
enter an IP address of your choosing...

Hi Bruce:

I'll give that a try tomorrow.

Thanks !

-Mel

[Kees Nuyt]

Post by Bruce Bowler

Post by Mel Smith

servera IN A 192.168.0.1 serverB IN A 102.168.0.2
Myweb IN CNAME servera
( more entries ar needed to have a DNS server running, but you will
find that ;-))
You only have to change the CNAME record and restart the DNS server.

I use www.zoneedit.com for my DNS translation. And I don't wish to make
any changes there with them.
All I want to do is to be able to make a *quick* change on my servers in
my home office via ipconfig.exe. I've used one server for three years
now, and I want to add this new 'backup' server to my setup so its
unobtrusive but ready at a moments notice to take over.
So, its either change the router settings (I don't like this), or set up
both servers with the same local IP (I know this has some dangers involved).
Thanks.
-Mel Smith

In the network control panel, turn off "get address automatically" and
enter an IP address of your choosing...

True. Also, make sure the IP addresses of the servers is outside the range of addresses that the DHCP server in your router hands out. Look in the router
configuration to discover what that range is.

I don't have a Windows machine running right now to check, but I think you can script the IP address switch using the netsh.exe utility.

Best regards,

[Mel Smith]

Post by Kees Nuyt
True. Also, make sure the IP addresses of the servers is outside the range
of addresses that the DHCP server in your router hands out. Look in the
router
configuration to discover what that range is.
I don't have a Windows machine running right now to check, but I think you
can script the IP address switch using the netsh.exe utility.

Kees:

I'm a bit over my head now, but will look at that suggestion. (and I
didn't realize that the Router handed out the local IP addresses). I *know*
that when I go into the 'Advanced' section of the D-link setup (after turing
off and re-starting the router) it has *sometimes* changes the local
IPaddresses of the machines on my local network (I have five machines). But
, I want assurance that all my machines have local IP addresses *I* give
them..

So, if I do *not* turn off/on the router, then it has 192.168.0.11
pointing at my Apache Server machine. If I turn it off/on, then I don't
know *what* IP address will result for the machines. All I know is that I'd
better quickly ensure that it points at my actual current Apache Server.

My head is swimming ! I wish I understood this IPssignment process
better :((

Thanks for ther further guidance !

-Mel Smith

[Kees Nuyt]

On Fri, 31 Aug 2012 18:33:35 -0600, "Mel Smith"

Post by Mel Smith

Post by Kees Nuyt
True. Also, make sure the IP addresses of the servers is outside the range
of addresses that the DHCP server in your router hands out. Look in the
router
configuration to discover what that range is.
I don't have a Windows machine running right now to check, but I think you
can script the IP address switch using the netsh.exe utility.

I'm a bit over my head now, but will look at that suggestion. (and I
didn't realize that the Router handed out the local IP addresses). I *know*
that when I go into the 'Advanced' section of the D-link setup (after turing
off and re-starting the router) it has *sometimes* changes the local
IPaddresses of the machines on my local network (I have five machines). But
, I want assurance that all my machines have local IP addresses *I* give
them..

The point is that some routers with DHCP support built in get
confused when machines on the local network have a static IP
address in the range the router reserved for DHCP.
So you will have to choose addresses outside that range.


Assume your routers DHCP range starts at 192.168.0.11 and provides
room for 64 addresses, you want to assign static addresses above
192.168.0.75. It doesn't hurt to start much higher, e.g.
192.168.0.100 .

If the webserver has to be reachable from outside also change the
port forwarding rules in the router to use the new static local
address, but you already know that.

These are all networking questions and is actually off-topic in
alt.apache.configuration. I'm sure you'll be able to find
tutorials on the web.

Try: D-link static port forwarding
in your favourite search engine.

Post by Mel Smith
So, if I do *not* turn off/on the router, then it has 192.168.0.11
pointing at my Apache Server machine. If I turn it off/on, then I don't
know *what* IP address will result for the machines. All I know is that I'd
better quickly ensure that it points at my actual current Apache Server.
My head is swimming ! I wish I understood this IPssignment process
better :((
Thanks for ther further guidance !
-Mel Smith

Best regards,

[Mel Smith]

Post by Kees Nuyt
The point is that some routers with DHCP support built in get
confused when machines on the local network have a static IP
address in the range the router reserved for DHCP.
So you will have to choose addresses outside that range.
Assume your routers DHCP range starts at 192.168.0.11 and provides
room for 64 addresses, you want to assign static addresses above
192.168.0.75. It doesn't hurt to start much higher, e.g.
192.168.0.100 .
If the webserver has to be reachable from outside also change the
port forwarding rules in the router to use the new static local
address, but you already know that.
These are all networking questions and is actually off-topic in
alt.apache.configuration. I'm sure you'll be able to find
tutorials on the web.
Try: D-link static port forwarding
in your favourite search engine.

Kees:

Thanks for the info. I'll start digging deeper !

-Mel

[Andre]

Post by Mel Smith

Post by Kees Nuyt
True. Also, make sure the IP addresses of the servers is outside the range
of addresses that the DHCP server in your router hands out. Look in the
router
configuration to discover what that range is.
I don't have a Windows machine running right now to check, but I think you
can script the IP address switch using the netsh.exe utility.

I'm a bit over my head now, but will look at that suggestion. (and I
didn't realize that the Router handed out the local IP addresses). I *know*
that when I go into the 'Advanced' section of the D-link setup (after turing
off and re-starting the router) it has *sometimes* changes the local
IPaddresses of the machines on my local network (I have five machines). But
, I want assurance that all my machines have local IP addresses *I* give
them..
So, if I do *not* turn off/on the router, then it has 192.168.0.11
pointing at my Apache Server machine. If I turn it off/on, then I don't
know *what* IP address will result for the machines. All I know is that I'd
better quickly ensure that it points at my actual current Apache Server.
My head is swimming ! I wish I understood this IPssignment process
better :((
Thanks for ther further guidance !
-Mel Smith

I don't know how that run on a D-link, but in DHCPD you can tie a MAC
address to an IP address.
Have a look as I don't have a router home.
André

[Andre]

Post by Mel Smith

Post by Andre
Set up a DNS server
servera IN A 192.168.0.1
serverB IN A 102.168.0.2
Myweb IN CNAME servera
( more entries ar needed to have a DNS server running, but you will find
that ;-))
You only have to change the CNAME record and restart the DNS server.

I use www.zoneedit.com for my DNS translation. And I don't wish to make
any changes there with them.
All I want to do is to be able to make a *quick* change on my servers in
my home office via ipconfig.exe. I've used one server for three years now,
and I want to add this new 'backup' server to my setup so its unobtrusive
but ready at a moments notice to take over.
So, its either change the router settings (I don't like this), or set up
both servers with the same local IP (I know this has some dangers involved).
Thanks.
-Mel Smith

As you said, you want with ipconfig, I don't have a Windos machine (
runing Linux)
To close the DNS subject:
You can have a LOCAL DNS server serving all internal zone requests and
forwarding request for external (www.ggg.com ) to your www.zoneedit.com
servers.

André