Number of devices in the home network

Hello.

I’m new here and have some questions about my home network. I have searched thoroughly but have not found a topic that answers my questions. So here is my request:

The goal is to integrate 180+ network devices into my home network via Ethernet with switches. I have the 10Gbps subscription from Swisscom and the Internet Box 5 Pro.

No subnet has been created and nothing has been changed in the DHCP settings. All network and router settings are set to default.

Up to approx. 180 devices worked fine, but now I can no longer add any more devices, whether via Ethernet or WLAN. It appears as if no more IPs can be assigned, as if the limit of supported devices in the network has been reached.

According to swisscom support, this is the case, but they could not explain to me sufficiently what the limit would be. The support case is still ongoing.

What is the technical upper limit of devices in the network?

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 changed by Vaufesha87

    Hello @Vaufesha87

    The potential problem is linked to the number of devices allocated.

    Beyond the DHCP limit, the Internet Box 5 Pro also has a hardware limit on the number of devices it can effectively manage, especially if you’re connecting more than 180 devices. Even if it supports a 10 Gbps subscription, there are still physical and software limits (such as processor or memory resources) that can affect device management.

    This may be the reason why you can’t connect more devices, even though DHCP seems to allocate IPs correctly. This should be checked with Swisscom support.

    Possible solutions:

    • Create sub-networks (VLANs): If your external hardware allows it, you can create several sub-networks (VLANs) to distribute the devices over different segments. This makes it easier to manage IP addresses and avoid saturating a single subnet.

    • Use one or more managed switches**: A managed switch will enable you to organise your network better, in particular by segmenting VLANs to separate devices and improve IP address management.

    Best regards Doremi

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     changed by Doremi

      Vaufesha87

      There are no officially communicated limits for the number of client devices on Swisscom Internet boxes, but only individual practical experiences of several users who have already reported their “volume problems” here in the community.

      Here is a brief summary of what I remember:

      • up to approx. 60 devices in total, there are never any volume problems in the network of an Internet box
      • There are Broadcom driver-related limits of max. 32 or 64 WLAN clients per WLAN band in order to be able to log on to one of the WLAN bands at all.
      • If there are around 90 - 100 devices that have obtained an IP address from the DHCP server of an IB, there are always stability problems with individual device connections or with the LAN as a whole.

      Based on the fact that Swisscom Internet boxes are purely 0815 consumer routers in terms of their purpose and are therefore not developed or tested for “borderline scenarios”, my recommendation for your very extensive personal requirements would be to reduce the Internet box in your home network to the role of Internet access router and DECT base station and to cascade a separate provider-independent network with semi-professional hardware behind it.

      Show original language (German)
       changed by Werner

      Hobby-Nerd ohne wirtschaftliche Abhängigkeiten zur Swisscom

          Hi @Vaufesha87

          The previous speakers have already mentioned that you may have to reckon with stability problems 😉.

          I can well imagine that your DHCP range is now full. You can increase this in the Internet box settings https://internetbox.swisscom.ch/#network/settings/ip-settings with expert mode activated. (maximum to .2 to 254 with the standard /24 (255.255.255.0) subnet mask)

          If you have more than 253 addresses (the IB uses 2), you will also have to increase the subnet.

          PS: May I ask how you get +180 devices in the home network?

          LG

          r00t

          Show original language (German)
           changed by r00t

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            Thank you for your quick answers.

            According to Swisscom support, the solution cannot be achieved with IB5 settings. The solution would be a layer 3 managed switch which then creates two VPNs. Then only use the IB5 as an access point.

            I can only test again at the weekend, but I will first try to enlarge the subnet/create a second one with a different IP range. The second solution is the L3 switch.

            Here are the detailed answers:

            Doremi Thanks for the input, looks like there are effectively other limits than the DHCP limit, Swisscom confirms this. The exact number could not be communicated to me. For me the limit is about 170 devices. I will test both of the solutions you suggested in turn.

            Werner Thanks for the input. The Internet connection is very stable at the moment, with approx. 170 devices in the network, the Mbps are good. The only problem is that no new devices can be connected. I will implement your suggestion and convert the IB5 to a pure access point.

            r00t Thanks for the input. Fortunately, I don’t have any stability problems at the moment, but I expect them to occur 😅 I will try to implement your suggestions. According to Swisscom, however, this is not possible, you would inevitably need other hardware. As I understand it, this should actually work. I’ll test at the weekend.
            I have about 150 dedicated cloud computing devices at home, similar to a crypto miner but with much less power (about 20 watts, it’s about bandwidth not GPU power)

            Thanks again

            Show original language (German)
             changed by Vaufesha87

                    Vaufesha87 Over ethernet the only limitation is the number of assigned IP addresses, and the throughput IB can handle. For larger number of devices you can set a B class (or even A class) range in the DHCP settings.

                    For larger networks you might want to use a DHCP server on a a distribution switch or something like that.

                    https://ipstack.com/classes-of-private-ip-address

                    This post is in English
                    changed by bitracer

                      Vaufesha87

                      How do you connect 170 devices to the network so that they run simultaneously? If you haven’t changed anything in the DHCP settings of the Internet box, there aren’t that many free IP addresses in the DHCP pool.

                      From my point of view, however, you are right to fear that problems will arise sooner or later. I would place a powerful router behind the IB that can easily handle such a number of devices. Possible solutions have already been described.

                      Show original language (German)

                        Werner Once again a technically sound answer. I’ve never thought about how many competing connections my WLAN AP can handle. But one question remains unanswered:

                        Werner If you have around 90 - 100 devices that have obtained an IP address from the DHCP server of an IB, it always starts with stability problems with individual device connections or with the LAN as a whole

                        How do the stability problems observed by you or others manifest themselves? DHCP range is a point where the IP must not go out. I can’t imagine what could go wrong as long as there are enough RJ45 sockets or WLAN APs.

                        Vaufesha87 The goal is to integrate 180+ network devices into my home network via Ethernet with switches. I have the 10Gbps subscription from Swisscom and the Internet Box 5 Pro.

                        Tell me, in my 5-person nerd household, there are already a few dozen participants flinging data packets into the world. How on earth do you get 180 users into a LAN? 😉 And then connected via Ethernet, the patch cables and ~10 switches alone cost a fortune. You’re already making me wonder too much with statements like that. 😇

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