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Network Setup

Network Topology

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                         INTERNET                             │
│                    (via building WiFi)                       │
└──────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────┘
                           │ WiFi
                  ┌────────▼─────────┐
                  │    M1 MacBook    │
                  │                  │
                  │  en0 (WiFi):     │
                  │  192.168.5.182   │────► Internet access
                  │                  │
                  │  en7 (Ethernet): │
                  │  192.168.1.10    │────┐
                  │                  │    │
                  │  bridge100:      │    │
                  │  192.168.64.1    │    │
                  └──────────┬───────┘    │
                             │            │
                    Virtual  │            │ Physical
                    Network  │            │ Ethernet
                             │            │
                  ┌──────────▼───────┐    │
                  │   Parrot VM      │    │
                  │  192.168.64.3    │    │
                  │                  │    │
                  │  (HTB: tun0)     │    │
                  │  10.10.14.52     │    │
                  └──────────────────┘    │
                              ┌───────────▼───────────┐
                              │   Ethernet Switch     │
                              └───┬───────┬───────┬───┘
                                  │       │       │
                    ┌─────────────┘       │       └─────────────┐
                    │                     │                     │
            ┌───────▼────────┐   ┌────────▼───────┐   ┌────────▼───────┐
            │   Mac Mini 1   │   │  Mac Mini 2    │   │  Mac Mini 3    │
            │  (Debian)      │   │  (Debian)      │   │  (Debian)      │
            │                │   │                │   │                │
            │ enp4s0f0:      │   │ enp4s0f0:      │   │ enp4s0f0:      │
            │ 192.168.1.12   │   │ 192.168.1.13   │   │ 192.168.1.14   │
            │                │   │                │   │                │
            │ wlp3s0b1:      │   │ wlp3s0b1:      │   │ wlp3s0b1:      │
            │ 192.168.6.13   │   │ 192.168.6.14   │   │ 192.168.6.15   │
            │ (WiFi)         │   │ (WiFi)         │   │ (WiFi)         │
            └────────────────┘   └────────────────┘   └────────────────┘

Network Breakdown

Network 1: Building WiFi (192.168.5.x or 192.168.6.x)

  • M1 en0: 192.168.5.182
  • Minis WiFi: 192.168.6.x
  • Purpose: Internet access
  • Gateway: 192.168.5.1 or 192.168.6.1 (router)

Network 2: Local Ethernet (192.168.1.x)

  • M1 en7: 192.168.1.10
  • Mini 1: 192.168.1.12
  • Mini 2: 192.168.1.13
  • Mini 3: 192.168.1.14
  • Purpose: Direct device-to-device communication
  • No gateway (local only, no internet)

Network 3: UTM Virtual Network (192.168.64.x)

  • M1 bridge100: 192.168.64.1 (acts as router for VMs)
  • Parrot VM: 192.168.64.3
  • Purpose: Virtual machines on M1
  • Gateway: 192.168.64.1 (M1 routes traffic)

Connection Matrix

Who Can Talk to Whom

FROM TO HOW
M1 Internet Direct via WiFi (en0)
M1 Minis Direct via Ethernet (en7)
M1 Parrot VM Direct via bridge100
Parrot VM Internet Via M1 NAT (en0)
Parrot VM M1 Direct (192.168.64.1)
Parrot VM Minis Via M1 NAT (en7)
Parrot VM HTB targets Via tun0 VPN
Mini 1 Internet Via WiFi (192.168.6.x)
Mini 1 Mini 2/3 Direct via Switch
Mini 1 M1 Direct via Switch (192.168.1.10)
Mini 1 Parrot VM Via M1 routing (can't directly)

Key Concepts

1. Same Network = Direct Communication

  • Mini 1 and Mini 2 both on 192.168.1.x → talk directly
  • M1 and Parrot both on 192.168.64.x → talk directly

2. Different Networks = Need Router

  • Parrot (64.x) to Mini (1.x) → M1 routes between them
  • This is what the NAT/forwarding commands did

3. Physical vs Virtual

  • en7, enp4s0f0 = physical ethernet ports/cables
  • bridge100 = virtual interface created by UTM

4. Multiple Networks on One Device

  • M1 has 3 IPs because it's connected to 3 networks
  • Minis have 2 IPs (ethernet + WiFi)
  • Each IP is a "door" to a different network

5. Routing/NAT

  • M1 acts as middleman between VM and minis
  • Changes packet addresses so replies work
  • Without this, VM and minis can't communicate