To register a network, define scope, document ownership, and complete the required system or registry steps with proof you can audit later.
You can read the phrase in several ways: adding a laptop to a company LAN, enrolling Wi-Fi users, listing public IP space, or creating a presence that other networks can route to. This guide maps those meanings, then gives step-by-step actions you can follow. The goal is simple: get a working, traceable setup that passes audits and keeps traffic flowing.
What “Register A Network” Actually Covers
Network work varies across contexts. A small office may want staff online and guests separated. A data center might need an autonomous system and IP ranges. A remote team could spin up cloud VPCs and connect them to on-prem links. The table below shows the most common goals and where each one “registers.”
| Goal | Where It Registers | Proof Or Result |
|---|---|---|
| Staff LAN online | DHCP, DNS, directory service | Lease, name record, device in inventory |
| Guest Wi-Fi access | Captive portal or voucher system | Ticket, time-bound account |
| Secure Wi-Fi for staff | 802.1X/RADIUS with certificates | Issued cert, auth logs |
| Public website reachability | Domain registrar and DNS host | Registered domain, DNS zone |
| Internet routing under your control | Regional Internet Registry (RIR) | ASN, IP blocks, IRR objects |
| Cloud network presence | Cloud VPC/VNet and IAM | Account-scoped network, policies |
| ISP service activation | Provider account and CPE | Active circuit, provisioned router |
| OT/IoT device rollout | MAC lists, NAC, VLAN plan | Segmented access, device catalog |
How to Register a Network For Small Offices
This section covers the most common path: a small office that needs a clean, named network that staff can join and guests can use without risk to company data. You will see the exact phrase how to register a network in action across planning, naming, address space, and records.
Plan The Scope And Owners
Write the purpose, sites, and who approves changes. Pick one person as the config owner and one as the records owner. Store plans in a shared folder so handoffs are clear.
Choose Address Space And Subnets
Use private IPv4 ranges that routers will not forward on the open Internet, such as 10.0.0.0/8, 172.16.0.0/12, or 192.168.0.0/16. Keep one range per site if you have several offices, and split staff, guest, and devices into their own VLANs. Keep room for growth by leaving spare subnets between ranges.
Name SSIDs And VLANs
Pick simple SSIDs: one for staff and one for guests. Do not expose company details in the name. Match VLAN tags and SSIDs in a spreadsheet so help desk staff can find issues fast.
Set Up DHCP, DNS, And NAT
Use a firewall or router to hand out addresses, point clients at a trusted DNS resolver, and translate private space to a public address. Pin printers and servers to static DHCP reservations so their names and IPs stay consistent.
Control Access
Use WPA3-Enterprise with 802.1X on the staff SSID and a simple portal on the guest SSID. On wired ports, enable port security or NAC where your switches allow it. Save authentication logs for at least ninety days.
Document Everything
Draw a small diagram, export a device list, and keep a change log. The record is part of registration too. When an auditor asks “who approved this subnet,” you can answer in seconds.
Register A Network On The Public Internet — IP Blocks And ASN
Some teams need more than a private LAN. If you want to control BGP routing, bring space with you between providers, or sign routes, you need an Autonomous System Number and IP resources from your regional registry. The steps below keep it simple.
Create A Registry Account
Pick the RIR that serves your region and open an account. Complete organization identity checks and add contacts for admin, tech, and abuse mailboxes.
Decide What You Need
Ask two questions. Do you plan to advertise routes with BGP to more than one upstream? If yes, you need an ASN. Do you plan to bring your own IP space? If yes, request IPv6 now and seek IPv4 by transfer or provider-independent space where policy allows.
Gather Justification
Write how many routers, links, and customers you will serve, and how addresses will be used over the next twelve months. Include diagrams and peering details. Keep copies ready as PDFs.
Apply For An ASN
Submit your form with multi-homing evidence or a clear routing policy. When approved, you will receive a number in the global ASN registry. Add route objects in the Internet Routing Registry that your peers use.
Request IP Blocks
IPv6 is broadly available from all registries. IPv4 is often gained through transfer markets. Your registry portal guides you to the right path. When space is issued, publish IRR route and aut-num objects so filters can include your announcements.
Secure Your Routes
Create Route Origin Authorizations in your registry portal and publish them so RPKI validators can confirm that your ASN may announce the prefix. Many upstreams drop routes that fail validation.
Set Up BGP With Providers
Share your ASN, prefixes, and max lengths. Keep a copy of the peering letter. Apply inbound and outbound filters. Start with conservative MED and local-pref so changes are predictable.
Two references you may want on hand: the IANA AS Numbers page that lists the RIRs and how AS numbers are allocated, and ARIN’s requesting resources guide. Link them inside your runbook so new staff can trace policy to source.
Wi-Fi And LAN Registration Details That Save Time
Small changes prevent big headaches. Use short DHCP lease times on guest space. Reserve longer leases for staff. Turn on client isolation on guest SSIDs so phones cannot scan one another. Pin management access to a staff VLAN that never bridges to guest traffic. Rotate shared keys on a schedule, and prefer per-user credentials for staff.
SSID Tips That Age Well
A clean name beats a clever one. Keep SSIDs short, use plain characters, and avoid emojis. Do not leak office location, team, or device hints. Hide nothing; “hidden SSID” does not add real security and creates roaming pain.
Layer 2 And 3 Hygiene
Turn on spanning tree guards, DHCP snooping, and dynamic ARP inspection where gear allows it. Use separate management IP ranges that never pass through NAT. Keep logs in one place with time sync across devices.
DNS And Domain Touchpoints
Even small teams brush up against public DNS. If you host a website or mail, register a domain with a reputable registrar and point names to a reliable DNS host. Keep the domain under the company’s billing, not a personal card. Use short TTLs while you deploy, then raise them once records settle. Store registrar logins in a password manager with two-factor enabled.
Change Windows And Rollback
Pick a low-traffic window for risky work and mark it on a calendar. Before you start, save a backup and write a one-line rollback plan. After you finish, post a short note in your change log: what changed, who pressed the keys, and what you watched to confirm success. This simple habit turns scattered tweaks into a trackable program.
Records And Evidence You Should Keep
Registration is as much proof as setup. A tidy record can save days during an outage or review. Keep the items below and you will thank yourself later.
- Address plan with VLAN tags and who owns each range.
- Inventory of routers, switches, access points, and firewalls with serials.
- Wifi SSIDs, auth methods, and rotation dates.
- Copies of peering letters, RIR approvals, ROAs, and IRR objects.
- Backups of running configs and a short guide on how to restore them.
- List of monitoring checks and alert contacts.
Common Roadblocks And Quick Fixes
Captive Portal Loop
Set correct DNS on the guest VLAN and allow the portal’s walled-garden domains. Clear device caches or use a fresh browser session to test.
NAT Breaks A Vendor Tunnel
Place that traffic in a no-NAT rule or give the device a public address on a separate interface. Match any UDP timeouts the vendor lists.
BGP Will Not Come Up
Check that MD5 secrets match, that timers align, and that your provider sees your LOA. Look for filters that drop your max-length.
Route Rejected For RPKI
Confirm that the ROA covers the exact prefix and length you send. If you changed aggregation, update the ROA first.
Duplicate Address On The LAN
Search DHCP logs for a stale reservation. Scan the subnet for conflicts. Pin static devices to an excluded pool and mark the record.
Public Internet Registration Checklist
| Step | What You Need | Where It Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Open registry account | Org docs, contacts | RIR portal |
| Pick resources | ASN, IPv6, IPv4 plan | RIR portal |
| Justify use | 12-month plan, diagrams | Ticket in portal |
| Receive numbers | ASN, prefixes | Registry email |
| Publish IRR | route, aut-num objects | IRR of choice |
| Create ROAs | Covered prefix, max-len | RPKI dashboard |
| Turn up BGP | Peers, filters, LOA | Edge routers |
| Monitor | Routing and reach checks | NMS, looking glass |
Putting It All Together
You asked how to register a network. The short version is this: write the plan, name things cleanly, pick sane address space, and record each step. If you need Internet presence, add an ASN, IP space, IRR data, and RPKI. Keep proofs where anyone on the team can find them. That is how to register a network in a way that scales from a single office to a global footprint. Share a short checklist with your team and keep a link to diagrams beside every change ticket centrally.