FIOS Business Class w/Statics - Question
jasonvp
Newbie

Hey folks -

I'm considering moving from my Cox business class Internet service over to VZ.  The thing that's preventing me is the lack of info available on how the static IP blocks are configured.  I'm hoping that folks with business class FIOS Internet that have static blocks can help me understand how their network is working.

Let me explain what I have now:  Cox Cable treats their business class Internet connections like an honest-to-goodness circuit.  I have a full /28 block of public IP space from them.  On the external side of my router (which I run and own), I have a Cox-owned IP address configured, along with a default route which points to, I'm assuming, their CMTS.  That aforementioned IP address is in no way, shape, or form part of the /28 that they've allocated to me.

image

I'll include a small diagram to try and explain it.  On my router:

  • Eth1: connects to the cable modem.  The CM in this case is acting in a L2, media convertor function only.  It doesn't partake in the subnet.  It's merely an Ethernet-to-Coax convertor.  Eth1's IP is owned by Cox.  The router's default route is pointing at (I'm assuming) the IP address on the upstream CMTS.
  • Eth2: connects to my internal switch.  The IP on it is the first IP in my public block.  Each server connected to that switch get an IP out of that same /28 and they default to the router.

This is a simple diagram, but it should get the point across: my router is actually routing packets like any router should.  It's NOT acting like a switch or a mere pass-through.

So, my questions for those that have Business Class FIOS with a block of static IPs:

  1. Do you have your own router, or are you using the one VZ provided?
  2. If your own, how many interfaces does it have?  One, or more than 1?  (I don't need specifics).
  3. If it has more than one, how are they configured?  I assume you have one of the IPs out of your block on one of the Ethernet interfaces.  What's on the other Ethernet interface?

Is the interface that connects to the VZ FIOS box on-prem just using DHCP to grab an available IP to do the routing?  Or is it something you configure yourself?  Or am I completely out in left field with all of this?

Thanks!

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Correct answers
Re: FIOS Business Class w/Statics - Question
Hubrisnxs
Legend

That is a pretty standard set up for Business customers, but keep in mind Verizon does not currently establish separate subnets for the static IP range users, even though the address blocks they assign follow subnetting rules.

FiOS customers normally use a transparent firewall, or customers can try IP translations such as 1:1 mappings.

View solution in original post

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Re: FIOS Business Class w/Statics - Question
mfizzy
Specialist - Level 1

The nice thing about networking is it a standard. You do not need a Verizon router. The ONT they install at the location is equvalent to the cox router and transforms from fiber to ethernet. The ethernet line will have all of you IP on it, and you can continue to configure them at your router as normal.

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Re: FIOS Business Class w/Statics - Question
jasonvp
Newbie

@hlppls wrote:

The ONT they install at the location is equvalent to the cox router and transforms from fiber to ethernet.


Thanks for the reply, and excuse me while I dig into what you're saying here.  The ONT (that I already have, since I'm using voice and TV) is sitting in the garage.  It has both an Ethernet and a coax connector on it that I'm assuming would run to a router?  You say it's "like the Cox router" ... but Cox doesn't have a router installed on premises.  They only have a Cable Modem.  The CM converts RF/coax<-->Ethernet and connects to my router.  It doesn't route anything itself.

Is that what the ONT is doing?  Just converting the FIOS signal into either coax or Ethernet?  Or is it also routing?


The ethernet line will have all of you IP on it, and you can continue to configure them at your router as normal.

So this is where it gets a little confusing.  Let's go back to the diagram, updated to assume FIOS:

image

And we'll use some made-up addresses.  Let's assume I get a block of "13" IP addresses (which is the wrong number, but never mind that) from VZ.  We'll say 141.149.109.1-.13.  If we look at my router, it has 2 interfaces that need to be addressed:

Int 1:  Facing VZ and connected to ONT.

Int 2:  Facing internal switch and serving my servers.

Int 2 should theoretically be addressed out of that 13-IP block.  So let's say we call it 141.149.109.1.  We address servers1, 2, and 3 with 141.149.109.2, 141.149.109.3, and 141.149.109.4.  Their default route is set to 141.149.109.1.

The confusing part is: how is Int 1 addressed?

That's what I'm having trouble understanding.  Please note: Network engineer for the better part of 20 years.  So speaking IP is realy easy for me, and understanding routing is something I do on a day to day basis. 🙂

Thanks.

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Re: FIOS Business Class w/Statics - Question
Hubrisnxs
Legend

That is a pretty standard set up for Business customers, but keep in mind Verizon does not currently establish separate subnets for the static IP range users, even though the address blocks they assign follow subnetting rules.

FiOS customers normally use a transparent firewall, or customers can try IP translations such as 1:1 mappings.

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Re: FIOS Business Class w/Statics - Question
Hubrisnxs
Legend

Since you have FiOS TV service you're going to have a littler tougher set up. 

The Verizon router is required to be in the set up in some fashion so the TV's can get the guide and on demand

You'll need to review the advanced set up options here, and see which works best for your scenario

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Re: FIOS Business Class w/Statics - Question
jasonvp
Newbie

@Hubrisnxs wrote:

That is a pretty standard set up for Business customers, but keep in mind Verizon does not currently establish separate subnets for the static IP range users, even though the address blocks they assign follow subnetting rules.


Thanks.  I found a couple of co-workers who are using similar setups with VZ, and they unfortunately confirmed for me that VZ's setup isn't ideal.  I wouldn't get to control the actual gateway into my static IP block because it's really somewhere on VZ's network.  That's no bueno for me; I need the connection treated like an honest-to-goodness circuit, not have it be part of some massive broadcast domain.

Doh.

Oh, and re: the TV setup, it's not a problem.  I don't do VOD, and I don't have VZ's STB.  I use a TiVo with a CableCard.

Oh well.

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