IP Address Allocation

Example IP address allocation scheme for a typical Pimeleon router deployment. Customize these ranges for your specific network requirements.

Network Overview

• Router Model: Raspberry Pi 4 or 3B+
• Domain: Example: pimeleon.local or your custom domain
• Management Interface: LAN interface (eth1 or wlan0)
• Typical Capacity: 100-150 devices depending on hardware
• Architecture: Dual-interface with optional WiFi segmentation

Network Configuration

Note: In single-subnet mode (default), both eth1 and wlan0 use the same network. For segregated WiFi, use 192.168.77.0/24 for wlan0.

Static IP Reservations

Infrastructure Services

Reserve low IP addresses (x.x.x.1-50) for infrastructure and static devices:

Service Ports

All services listen on the Pimeleon router IP address (192.168.76.1):

Security Note: All management services are only accessible from LAN. WAN access is blocked by firewall rules.

DHCP Address Ranges

Single-Subnet Mode (Default)

Both wired and wireless devices on same network:

• Network: 192.168.76.0/24
• DHCP Range: 192.168.76.100 - 192.168.76.250 (~150 addresses)
• Reserved Static: 192.168.76.1 - 192.168.76.99
• Lease Time: 12 hours (default)
• Max Lease: 7 days
• Gateway: 192.168.76.1
• DNS Servers: 192.168.76.1 (Pimeleon router)

Dual-Subnet Mode (Optional WiFi Segregation)

Separate wireless network for guest/IoT devices:

Wired LAN (Trusted):

• Network: 192.168.76.0/24
• DHCP Range: 192.168.76.100 - 192.168.76.250
• Interface: eth1

Wireless LAN (Guest/IoT):

• Network: 192.168.77.0/24
• DHCP Range: 192.168.77.100 - 192.168.77.250
• Interface: wlan0
• Isolation: Restricted access to wired network

IP Address Planning

Reserved Ranges

Example Static Assignments

Configure these in your router's DHCP reservation settings:

# Infrastructure (2-50)
192.168.76.10   printer.local       # Network printer
192.168.76.15   ap.local            # WiFi access point (if using external)

# Workstations (51-99)
192.168.76.51   desktop.local       # Primary desktop
192.168.76.52   laptop.local        # Laptop
192.168.76.60   smarthub.local      # Smart home hub

# DHCP Pool (100-250)
# Phones, tablets, IoT devices get dynamic IPs here

WAN/Upstream Network

Pimeleon router's WAN interface connects to your ISP:

Configuration Files

Key configuration file locations:

• DHCP Server: /etc/dnsmasq.d/pimeleon-dhcp.conf
• Network Interfaces: /etc/network/interfaces or /etc/systemd/network/
• DNS Configuration: /etc/dnsmasq.conf
• WiFi Access Point: /etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf
• Firewall Rules: /etc/iptables/rules.v4 or equivalent

Best Practices

IP Address Management

1. Document all static assignments - Keep a spreadsheet or text file
2. Use consistent naming - hostname.local or hostname.domain
3. Reserve sufficient space - Don't use entire /24 for DHCP
4. Group by function - Infrastructure low, workstations mid, DHCP high
5. Plan for growth - Leave room for future devices/services

DHCP Configuration

1. Appropriate lease times:
   • Mobile devices: 2-4 hours
   • Workstations: 12-24 hours
   • Servers: Static IPs instead of DHCP
2. Enable DHCP reservations for semi-static devices
3. Monitor DHCP pool usage to avoid exhaustion
4. Use descriptive hostnames for easier identification

Security Considerations

1. Disable WAN management access - Only allow from LAN
2. Use strong passwords for router access
3. Segment guest WiFi if hosting untrusted devices
4. Monitor DHCP logs for unauthorized devices
5. Keep reserved IPs outside DHCP range

Related Documentation

• Network Topology - Overall network design
• IP Addressing - IP addressing concepts
• DHCP Configuration - DHCP server setup
• Network Interfaces - Interface configuration

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