I am looking for input from members in the E14 community that have computer network experience. The block diagram is the drawing of a small farming business network.
The network is one IP subnet spread across three physical locations. The subnet has about 50 IP consumed across the three areas. The edge router is in the office. Wireless point-to-point devices connect the seed-plant and residence to the office.
Inside the seed-plant and residence are routers that route the programmable logic controller and home devices, respectively. This routers will remain. What is happening behind the seed-plant router is expanding.
My plan is to replace the current edge router with a router capable of creating multiple networks. Four subnetworks to start: office, seed-plant, residence and wifi-guest-network that doesn't exist today. These networks will be interconnected and have internet access. The new edge router will isolate the the wireless guest-network and provide internet access only. I hope to combine the VPN access into the router and eliminate the VPN appliance.
One valuable resource I miss since retirement is coffee-break time with the team. It was not uncommon for someone to start a discussion on a napkin drawing. The napkin formed a centrepiece for group discussions.
I’m looking for that napkin discussion with members from the E14 Community. I encourage you to ask questions and provide feedback. Even if you don’t have computer networking experience, please join the discussion. Answering your questions may flush out some ideas I wasn’t thinking about.
After retiring, I took on the role of break-fix for the company that owns this network. Now that the network is stable, and the company is proposing expansion, I feel it is time to implement the network plan I created five years ago.
What are your thoughts?