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Question

How do I map my external IP to a new server?

by Sep 30, 2016 10:35AM PDT

I would really appreciate help on this.

I have a server (server 1) that is up and running using an external IP. We just received a new server (server 2) to replace the old one. We need the external IP that was mapped to server 1 to be mapped to server 2 so we can decommission server 1. My problem is that no one at my company remembers setting it up, or where that external IP configuration is located.

Our network consists of:
• Comcast Business Gateway – I checked the GUI
• ASUS Wireless Router – I checked the GUI (just in case)
• Check Point 2200 Switch/Firewall – I checked GUI (really thought it would be this one.)
• D-Link unmanaged switch
• An unbranded dumb switch with no markings or indicators
• Server 1 – Windows Server 2008
• Server 2 – Windows Server 2012

What I have already tried:
I logged in to the GUIs of the Gateway, ASUS router, and the Check Point. I looked for that public IP mentioned anywhere in the GUIs. – no success
I contacted Comcast Support. They said that everything is handled on our end.
I contacted Check Point support. They wouldn’t help because our subscription ended.
I tried switching the MAC addresses (spoofing) and internal IP addresses of the two machines just in case the public IP was configured to point to a specific MAC address or internal IP. – no success

I really appreciate any help.

Discussion is locked

5 Posts
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Clarification Request
My bet here
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Sep 30, 2016 10:47AM PDT

Is the server is set to a specific IP. So you could change the IP of the old server to something else and the new server would be set to the old server's IP.

This is a basic server skill so if that fails, it only means you need more training and the company may need to admit they shorted the staff too hard.

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Clarification
by NineThirtyAMPST Sep 30, 2016 11:44AM PDT

Thank you for your response.
Yes, the server is set to a specific IP. I tried switching the internal IP of the old server to something else and new server's IP to that of the old server. That did not work, as I previously stated in the original post.

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My bet is that it did work.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Sep 30, 2016 12:03PM PDT

Remember I am replying about "How do I map my external IP to a new server?" which is only the first step of getting a new server deployed. After that you have your services to setup and content to serve up.

While getting the new server in the old server's address is pretty trivial and something I'm sure we can get done here, setting up your server's services and content is something your web master or server admin needs to tackle.

That said, I am running into businesses that have cut too many from their staff. A story like yours follows.

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Ah, I see
by NineThirtyAMPST Sep 30, 2016 1:03PM PDT

Thanks for re-clarifying. I have some more info.

First, we can change the internal IP of the working server to anything in our static range and it will still be accessible from the external IP. This leads me to believe that the internal IP of the server doesn't matter all that much.

Second, if we change any other machine's internal IP to match the working server's IP, then we get an error message that doesn't allow us to. This is not the case for any other two machines on the network. This leads me to believe that this internal IP is special.

So I think that you're right and that the "first step" did work, but I don't think I can turn it over to the server admin (off-site) until I'm certain. If changing the internal IP was all that was needed to answer my original question, then that means the external IP configuration was set to point to that internal IP somewhere. I just need to know where.

Do you have any more bets about where this configuration exists?

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Most Windows machines
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Sep 30, 2016 1:19PM PDT

Are not going to allow changing the IP to be the same as what is on your LAN. To change this, I change the old server IP first to the IP I planned for it to go to, then change the new server's IP. If you do that in the wrong order you get error messages.

There would never be a need to touch any router settings unless you were DHCP'ing the server's IP but no admin I know DHCPs servers.

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