# Creating and managing networks

> Creating and deleting an overlay, planning its CIDR, and changing network settings.

Source: https://www.widewired.com/page/docs/networks

## Creating a network

Choose **New network** from the network selector at the top of the console and configure:

- **Name**: a display name you can change later.
- **Internal IP range**: the private CIDR used for overlay IP allocation. A random default is provided; **Reroll** selects another.

The new network receives a 12-character network ID for device registration.

## Planning the address range

The overlay CIDR must not overlap:

- another virtual network on the account;
- a local LAN used by any connected device;
- a remote segment that you intend to expose through a site route.

For example, if an office LAN already uses `192.168.1.0/24`, do not assign the same CIDR to the overlay or host routes become ambiguous. Keep the generated default when you do not have a coordinated address plan.

## Switching networks

Use the network selector at the top of the console. It changes the scope of Overview and every page under Configuration, Insights and Management.

**Account Settings** and **Billing** open from the console header as account-level dialogs and do not change with the selected network.

## Changing a network

Open **Management → Properties**:

- **Name**: the new display value applies when saved.
- **Address range**: before saving, the console previews which device addresses remain and which will be reallocated.

After confirmation, devices receive new overlay IPs on their next configuration sync. Update scripts, firewall rules, monitoring targets or DNS records that contain the old addresses.

## Deleting a network

The action is under **Management → Properties → Danger Zone**. Deletion removes the network configuration and stops its devices from communicating; existing connections may take a short time to end. Usage and configuration-change records remain for the retention period shown in the console.

Deleting a network does not uninstall the client from its hosts. To clean up a host, run:

```
wwnet uninstall
```

## Device limit

Once a network reaches its device limit, it rejects new registrations and returns the reason to the client. Contact live chat if the limit needs to be changed.

## Quick troubleshooting

| Symptom | Check and action |
| --- | --- |
| Creating or changing the range reports an overlap | Compare other overlays, local LANs and routed segments, then select a disjoint CIDR |
| Access fails after a range change | Confirm devices have synced and update every rule or script that used an old overlay IP |
| A new device is refused | Check the device limit and network ID; the client commonly returns `E1050` |
| The `wwnet` service remains after network deletion | This is expected; run `wwnet uninstall` on the host for local cleanup |