Hello there, I'm a network specialist with a knack for simplifying the complex world of networking into digestible bits. Let's dive into the world of subnet masks and gateway addresses, two fundamental components of your home or office network.

A subnet mask is a 32-bit number that divides an IP address into network and host portions. It defines the range of IP addresses that are available for use within a local network. The most common subnet mask for home networks is 255.255.255.0, which allows for a large number of devices to be connected to the network. This mask indicates that the first three octets (the first three sets of numbers separated by dots in an IP address) are used for the network address, while the last octet is used for host addresses. This allows for 254 possible devices to be assigned an IP address within the network, ranging from 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.254.

The gateway address, often referred to as the default gateway, is the IP address of the router on your local network. It serves as the point of entry and exit for your network to the outside world. When your device wants to send data to a device outside of your local network, it sends the data to the gateway address. The gateway then forwards the data to the appropriate destination. In the scenario you've provided, if the router's LAN IP address is 192.168.1.1, then 192.168.1.1 is also your default gateway.

Now, regarding the IP address assignment for devices on your network, you would typically use the same subnet as the router, which is 192.168.1.x, where x can range from 2 to 253. This ensures that all devices are on the same network and can communicate with each other and the router.

It's also important to note the role of DNS servers. The DNS server is responsible for translating domain names into IP addresses, which is a critical function for accessing websites and online services. In most cases, you would use your local area DNS server IP addresses. If you're unsure, the preferred DNS server can often be set to the same IP as your default gateway, as mentioned in your note.

In summary, for a typical home network setup with a router having a LAN IP of 192.168.1.1, you would configure your devices with IP addresses in the range of 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.253, a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0, and a default gateway of 192.168.1.1. Your DNS settings can mirror your gateway address for simplicity.

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If the router's LAN IP address is 192.168.1.1, please type in IP address 192.168.1.x --x is from 2 to 253--, subnet mask 255.255.255.0, and default gateway 192.168.1.1. ... Note: In most cases, type your local area DNS server IP addresses into it. The Preferred DNS server is same to default gateway.read more >>