Here are detailed step by step instructions on how to set gateway computer network adapters to work with HotSpot NAT, Windows RRAS, Windows DHCP Server role or ICS.
1. A static IP address is configured on NIC1, the network card connected to the Internet router/modem.
· It is recommended to set the same IP address that is already assigned dynamically by the router.
· To see which IP NIC1 has currently assigned, go to Windows Control Panel – Network and Sharing Center screen.
· Click on Change adapter settings link and double click on the NIC1 (Internet) network adapter.
· From General tab press on Details button.
Here you will see all current network connection details that you need to set as a static IP address.
· Go to the Windows Control Panel – Network and Sharing Center screen.
· Click on Change adapter settings link.
· Right-click on NIC1 (Internet) and select Properties from the menu.
· Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click the Properties button.
· Click Use the following IP address radio button and enter details that you get from ipconfig previously.
· Enter IP address (e.g. 192.168.118.130)
· Click in Subnet Mask field, value will be set automatically based on IP address, be sure that is the same as in Network Connection Details
· Enter the IP address of the default gateway (IP of the Internet router).
· Enter DNS addresses, it is recommended to use DNS addresses of your ISP or public DNS service such as Google (8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4).
· Click OK and close all dialog windows.
2. The static IP address should be set for NIC2, the network card used for communication with the client devices.
Please note that for this card you need to configure IP address (e.g. 192.168.9.1) and subnet mask (e.g. 255.255.255.0) but not Default Gateway IP
· To set the static IP address for NIC2, go to Windows Control Panel – Network and Sharing Center screen
· Click on Change adapter settings link and make right-click on NIC2 (Local) and select Properties from the menu.
· Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click the Properties button.
· Click on Use the following IP address and set the IP address (e.g. 192.168.9.1) and Subnet mask (e.g. 255.255.255.0) but not Default gateway IP.
· Note: The Internet modem/router cannot be used as a DHCP server for your local network clients. The DHCP server must be configured only for the local network.
Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 DHCP Server can not provide more than 253 IP addresses for the local network.
If you want to use more than 253 addresses you can set it from Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2012 or Windows Server 2016 DHCP Server role. Also, you will need to set subnet mask which will give you this ability.
Be sure that you prepare all network devices on the local network to use the same subnet mask.
Bellow are some of examples:
IP range (network – broadcast) Subnet Mask IP Quantity
192.168.137.0 – 192.168.137.255 255.255.255.0 256
192.168.136.0 – 192.168.137.255 255.255.254.0 512
192.168.136.0 – 192.168.139.255 255.255.252.0 1024
192.168.136.0 – 192.168.143.255 255.255.248.0 2048
192.168.128.0 – 192.168.143.255 255.255.240.0 4096
192.168.128.0 – 192.168.159.255 255.255.224.0 8192
192.168.128.0 – 192.168.191.255 255.255.192.0 16384
192.168.128.0 – 192.168.255.255 255.255.128.0 32768
192.168.0.0 – 192.168.255.255 255.255.0.0 65536