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I have a device on my local network that has a static IP address of 10.0.0.100 (apparently, this setting is set internally and I cannot change it without accessing the device itself). I have no idea what the subnet mask is, and I wish to gain access to the device so I can change some of its settings, including its IP address and subnet mask.

The problem is, my network is set to 192.168.1.1/24, which I believe currently prevents me from accessing the device, as it's of a different subnet mask.

Is there any way that I can access that device?

Thanks!

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  • Add a second interface in the appropriate network, and hope that there are only switches and hubs between you and the device.
    – Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams
    Nov 23, 2017 at 7:39
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    The real question is about devices on a different subnet. Don't mix up "subnet" and "subnet mask". (The former defines the network's identity, the latter only the size.)
    – u1686_grawity
    Nov 23, 2017 at 7:53

1 Answer 1

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Just change your address temporarily, fix the device, then change back.

Many operating systems even support multiple IP addresses (possibly in different subnets) on the same interface. (Windows only supports this with static (i.e. non-DHCP) configurations.)

Be sure to pick an address that's as close as possible – e.g. 10.0.0.101 – and minor differences in subnet masks won't be a problem. (Realistically, the other device will be using something from /8 to /29.) You can configure, let's say, 10.0.0.101/24 and it will work, because the other device will be within your subnet, and you will be within the device's, and that's the only thing that matters.

(In other words: The subnet mask answers "Is this host local, or do I need to go through my gateway?", so as long as both devices agree on the other being local, it will work.)

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  • Thanks a lot for the help. What device whose address should I change? Is it the laptop I use to access that device or the gateway (router) of both my laptop and that problematic device? Thanks again!
    – voronoi
    Nov 24, 2017 at 6:15

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