How should I do my DHCP?

[Van Diekon]

Hello everyone!

 

I have recently started using PfSense at home and would like some advice on how I should use DHCP. My current setup is as follows:

 

ARRIS Surfboard Modem -> PfSense -> Cisco SG300-10 -> Other switches and devices

 

If I want to use different IP addresses for switches (Example: One switch starts at 192.168.2.1 another starts at 192.168.3.1) should I use the Cisco switch for DHCP or the PfSense box?

 

Any advice is appreciated as this is my first time using a firewall.

 

Regards,

 

Van

[Electronics Wizardy]

You probably want to use pfsense for the dhcp server.

 

If you want different ip ranges, id have different subnets and vlans for different types of network devices.

[Van Diekon]

Which device should I do the subnets and vlans through?

[Electronics Wizardy]

1 minute ago, Van Diekon said:

Which device should I do the subnets and vlans through?

make the subnets on your router, then setup vlans on the switches and router.

 

But really probably overkill for a home network unless you want to.

 

Why do you want a different ip range for your switches? Secuirty? Would you make seprate /24s?

 

[Jarno.]

Configure router on a stick with two DHCP pools and you're good to go. This is how Cisco calls it but pretty sure PFsense can support that too. But i think @Electronics Wizardy is after that too?

[Van Diekon]

11 minutes ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

make the subnets on your router, then setup vlans on the switches and router.

 

But really probably overkill for a home network unless you want to.

 

Why do you want a different ip range for your switches? Secuirty? Would you make seprate /24s?

 

Yes, I am looking to separate my networks for Guest usage, production usage and smart devices.

[Electronics Wizardy]

Just now, Van Diekon said:

Yes, I am looking to separate my networks for Guest usage, production usage and smart devices.

Then Id make a few more networks on the router, either do this with vlans or physical interfaces. Then setup vlans on your switches to make it easier to manage. Then setup routing between the subnets as needed.

 

Setup a DHCP server for every subnet on pfsense

[Van Diekon]

15 hours ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

Then Id make a few more networks on the router, either do this with vlans or physical interfaces. Then setup vlans on your switches to make it easier to manage. Then setup routing between the subnets as needed.

 

Setup a DHCP server for every subnet on pfsense

I feel like I should invest for a larger NIC, as that would make the process easier.

[Electronics Wizardy]

2 hours ago, Van Diekon said:

I feel like I should invest for a larger NIC, as that would make the process easier.

What do you mean by larger nic? You can have almost unlimited interfaces with vlans on a single port.