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# Different config options for network topology?
_Help · started by batrat. on Mon, Jun 22, 2026 3:09 PM_
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## Original post
**batrat.** · Mon, Jun 22, 2026 3:09 PM
Hi. This is a simple question about creating networks: What is the practical difference between network_identity, network_name, and group_id? What is the use case for each?
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## Reply 1
**batrat** · Fri, Jun 26, 2026 2:34 PM
Ok so to make this a little more concrete.
I want to build a private isolated network. Participants must be able to use and announce their actual names to the network. The network must be safe in the sense that participants in the network can't reveal the identity of any participant (including their own, preferably) by misconfiguring their Reticulum instances. Use case example: setting up a messaging network for friends/family who may not be so technologically literate. How would I achieve this? Is it even doable?
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## Reply 2
**Mark** · Sun, Jun 28, 2026 4:16 PM
If this is for LXMF messaging and audio calls for example, the best approach is simply to keep announced names at their default "Anonymous Peer" or similar, and name contacts in the respective applications according to who they actually are.
Although there are some new configuration options coming in 1.3.6 to make creating isolated networks/internal networks easier, there's currently no way to completely cut off a network from others, save for ensuring there's no physical connections between them, which is very much an intentional feature of RNS. If there's a physical path, it will be possible to use it. So unless you can ensure that *everyone* does not offer paths to any wider networks or allow announces to propagate there, it's not really possible.
Also worth thinking about whether you'd actually want that. What if someone leaves coverage of your private network, but still want to reach someone "back home"?
One of the beautiful things about RNS is that it actually allows you to announce your destination and be reachable from anywhere, while only revealing to select people who that destination belongs to.
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## Reply 3
**batrat** · Sun, Jun 28, 2026 5:54 PM
Thank you very much for explaining. I did kind of anticipate this would not be easily done. People have to get used to things like this, but I guess that is necessary friction.
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