A subnet question for a college campus

Kdov · 11-04-2009, 03:51 PM

Hey All,
I have a question about subnet networks. I have experience in the computer science field, but before I bring an idea I have to the schools IT dept. I wanted some advice. I know the schools network uses a subnet setup. I realize the advantages of a subnet, but because of the subnet it has prevented the video game players at the school to connect and have LAN game across the campus. So my question is.... would it be possible to create a subnet dedicated for video game consoles? In theory this would allow people to reconnect across the campus for LAN games. Would this be possible?

gcavan · 11-04-2009, 09:54 PM

First of all, subnetting really has nothing to do with filtering network traffic.

Secondly, per the forum rules, we cannot advise you how to circumvent network security rules.

Kdov · 11-05-2009, 12:05 AM

Sorry if i put this in the wrong category it was my first post on the site. Any how, I was not trying to violate the forum rules. I am a student employee at the school campus and was just curious if I could bring the previous idea to the IT department were i work.

Apologies again,
-Kdov

xylon89del · 11-05-2009, 12:31 AM

it is possible to do..got quite alot of ways actually..
1 of them is u can create a vlan with dynamic assignment....
people can then register their laptop mac-address with the vlan..wherever they connected to in the campus, their laptop will be assigned to the previous vlan..

Kdov · 11-05-2009, 11:19 AM

I thought it was possible; however I was thinking that we would only register the mac addresses for gaming consoles, like the x box 360 and the ps3. If we allowed people to register there laptops I feel that if too many people were on that vlan that it would start to undermine the purpose subnet system. So if I purposed a project, for myself, to gather the mac addresses of the consoles, and registering those addresses. Would there be any down side to purposing/actually going through with this?

**johnwill** · 11-05-2009, 12:40 PM

In order to implement this idea, it would probably take quite a bit of work on the part of the IT staff. Since I suspect they are more interested in supporting the educational aspects of the network infrastructure, I doubt they have the money or time to devote to game playing.

Kdov · 11-05-2009, 12:50 PM

I see your point...education is the number one priority. I am curious though...wouldn't putting all the game consoles on a separate subnet speed all other subnets? Right now people cannot game within the campus...so they try to play games on xbox live or the ps3 network, and this i'm sure hogs a lot a bandwidth within each subnet( I know there are bandwidth shaping tools in place..so maybe i'm wrong). So if people were able to play LAN games this idea be beneficial?

Thank you again for everyone's input...I am still learning about how subnets work.

-Kdov

**johnwill** · 11-05-2009, 05:17 PM

Actually, I suspect the problem is not subnets, they wouldn't make any difference. If the pipe is full, splitting the traffic into subnets isn't going to change that.

11-04-2009, 03:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
Kdov Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Boston,MA Posts: 8 OS: Window 7	A subnet question for a college campus Hey All, I have a question about subnet networks. I have experience in the computer science field, but before I bring an idea I have to the schools IT dept. I wanted some advice. I know the schools network uses a subnet setup. I realize the advantages of a subnet, but because of the subnet it has prevented the video game players at the school to connect and have LAN game across the campus. So my question is.... would it be possible to create a subnet dedicated for video game consoles? In theory this would allow people to reconnect across the campus for LAN games. Would this be possible?

11-04-2009, 09:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
gcavan Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 279 OS: Win XP, Vista 64, "Intrepid" Ubuntu My System	Re: A subnet question for a college campus First of all, subnetting really has nothing to do with filtering network traffic. Secondly, per the forum rules, we cannot advise you how to circumvent network security rules. __________________ "The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." - Socrates

11-05-2009, 12:05 AM	#3 (permalink)
Kdov Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Boston,MA Posts: 8 OS: Window 7	Re: A subnet question for a college campus Sorry if i put this in the wrong category it was my first post on the site. Any how, I was not trying to violate the forum rules. I am a student employee at the school campus and was just curious if I could bring the previous idea to the IT department were i work. Apologies again, -Kdov

11-05-2009, 12:31 AM	#4 (permalink)
xylon89del Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 7 OS: xp sp2	Re: A subnet question for a college campus it is possible to do..got quite alot of ways actually.. 1 of them is u can create a vlan with dynamic assignment.... people can then register their laptop mac-address with the vlan..wherever they connected to in the campus, their laptop will be assigned to the previous vlan..

11-05-2009, 11:19 AM	#5 (permalink)
Kdov Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Boston,MA Posts: 8 OS: Window 7	Re: A subnet question for a college campus I thought it was possible; however I was thinking that we would only register the mac addresses for gaming consoles, like the x box 360 and the ps3. If we allowed people to register there laptops I feel that if too many people were on that vlan that it would start to undermine the purpose subnet system. So if I purposed a project, for myself, to gather the mac addresses of the consoles, and registering those addresses. Would there be any down side to purposing/actually going through with this?

11-05-2009, 12:40 PM	#6 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,580 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: A subnet question for a college campus In order to implement this idea, it would probably take quite a bit of work on the part of the IT staff. Since I suspect they are more interested in supporting the educational aspects of the network infrastructure, I doubt they have the money or time to devote to game playing. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

11-05-2009, 12:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
Kdov Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Boston,MA Posts: 8 OS: Window 7	Re: A subnet question for a college campus I see your point...education is the number one priority. I am curious though...wouldn't putting all the game consoles on a separate subnet speed all other subnets? Right now people cannot game within the campus...so they try to play games on xbox live or the ps3 network, and this i'm sure hogs a lot a bandwidth within each subnet( I know there are bandwidth shaping tools in place..so maybe i'm wrong). So if people were able to play LAN games this idea be beneficial? Thank you again for everyone's input...I am still learning about how subnets work. -Kdov __________________ "Would you like me to give you a formula for success? It's quite simple, really. Double your rate of failure." -Tom Watson

11-05-2009, 05:17 PM	#8 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,580 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: A subnet question for a college campus Actually, I suspect the problem is not subnets, they wouldn't make any difference. If the pipe is full, splitting the traffic into subnets isn't going to change that. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience