Multi-homing of approx. 20 IPs on one NIC under WinXP.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Nicholas Pappas
  • Start date Start date
N

Nicholas Pappas

I need to establish multiple IP addresses on computer
having a single NIC under Windows XP; i.e. a "logically
multi-homed" computer (as opposed to a physically multi-
homed computer accomplished through several NICs). I
understand that I can use the control panel to turn off
DHCP / DNS and then add up to 5 static IP addresses (right
click "local area connection" under Network Connections,
select TCP/IP, click "Properties" uncheck "Obtain an IP
address automatically" and uncheck "Obtain DNS server
address automatically" -> Internet-Protocol -> Properties -
and then add the appropriate IP numbers up to 5).
Click to expand...
However, I need to add MORE than 5 IP's, I need to add
about 20. I read that this can be done through modifying
the registry (something I am generally comfortable in
doing), but I do not have anything more specific. Does
anyone know how to edit the registry to allow me to do
this? Or, is there some other way?
 
XP Home can do 5 connections, XP Pro can do 10...
You need a router or server, not sure why you want or need
to have 20 IP addresses, but you probably need to get a
simple server to use as a proxy.


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But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.


message | I need to establish multiple IP addresses on computer
| having a single NIC under Windows XP; i.e. a "logically
| multi-homed" computer (as opposed to a physically multi-
| homed computer accomplished through several NICs). I
| understand that I can use the control panel to turn off
| DHCP / DNS and then add up to 5 static IP addresses (right
| click "local area connection" under Network Connections,
| select TCP/IP, click "Properties" uncheck "Obtain an IP
| address automatically" and uncheck "Obtain DNS server
| address automatically" -> Internet-Protocol ->
Properties -
| > and then add the appropriate IP numbers up to 5).
| However, I need to add MORE than 5 IP's, I need to add
| about 20. I read that this can be done through modifying
| the registry (something I am generally comfortable in
| doing), but I do not have anything more specific. Does
| anyone know how to edit the registry to allow me to do
| this? Or, is there some other way?
 
actually there is some bit of misinfo on this subject.

the CONNECTION limit is 5 or 10 in xp

the amount of assignable ip addresses to a particular mac address is 5. hence.....
only 5 ip addresses can be assigned to an ethernet device. this is a standardized ethernet hardware limit and can't be overcome with software or registry tweaks.

routers circumvent this not by binding ip address info to the mac address, but forwarding packet info by altering the packet information in the ip packets themselves then forwarding them

this is something you may want to look into instead of trying to bind ip addies to your nic. try getting ahold of router software to re-route the packets themselves. it still has the caveat that your transmitted ip origination source is going to show one of those 5 ip addresses but you'll be able to "forward" ip packets as if they originated from another 20 to (252*252*252*252) machines and you're just relaying them.

wi-fi can re-address the mac on an adapter so there is no limit to the amount of ip's assignable to wi-fi as long as you can dynamically assign macs to the device through software.

and my guess is you are trying to set up a router by using a p.c. to a connection with 20 ip's correct? if not then why on earth do you need more than 2 ip addresses. as firewalling only requires 2 unless you're trying to bridge several lans or some such esoteric networking scheme that should be re-evaluated into something simpler if you are.
 
The reason to "multiplex" IPs is to run performance testing with one of the
large commercially available tools: Segue's Silk Perfomer. The server logic
we are testing requires that users come in under different IP addresses
(e.g. so we can test something like redirects based on IP). The test also
requires that we emulate hundreds of users logging in and performing
transactions all at one so that we can evealute performacne as a funciton of
user number load. Of course, the test tool does just that: it allows one (or
several) machines to EMULATE hundreds of "virtual users" whereby each "VU"
is conducting a seperate and distinct HTTP/socket-level communication
instance with distinct session information such as cookies and so on. Our
test machines have one NIC each, and we could add a few more, but adding a
total of 20 is not feasible (not enough available total slots in our 4
machines for one thing).

I am also aware that the major performance testing tool vendors (such as
Segue's Silk Performer and Mercury Interactive's LoadRunner) support "IP
Spoofing" as a way to load test servers whose behaviors on dependant on
client IP. However, my first attempt at multiplexing IPs was with Mercury's
LoadRunner testing SAP Portal 6 and it was NOT successful as far as multiple
IP addresses was concerned. Now I am about to use Silk Performer and I am
facing the same requirement of IP Spoofing, and I am concerned that even
though the vendor says it will do it, the vendor documentation is rather
sketchy - hence my question.

-Nick
 
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