Connect befw11s4 to befsr41

[echswaizey]

Here is the issue:

I have 3 routers that act as gateways:
1. befsr41 (old model)
2. befsr41 (new cisco enabled)
3. befw11s4 (v2.1)

each has a public ip and provides internet to their client machines.
The wireless (befw11s4 has two wireless clients), and the other two each support one wired client.
All clients have static ip's in the 192.168.x.x, and all have internet access. All of the gateways have static internal ip's in the 192.168.x.x range.
I wanted to setup a file server, so I bought another befsr41 (cisco enabled) to connect everything together. So now, the network looks like this:
cable internet goes from the cable modem to a 5 port switch. From the switch, each gateway receives its own internet connection. All the gateways are connected to the new 4 port router (which is setup to act as a router).
Everyone has internet, and all computers can see each other.
The problem is this: whenever one of the wireless client machines starts up, all is well for about 10 seconds, then the wireless router starts to broadcast non-stop. It causes the TD light on the cable modem to stay lit, and the lights on all the routers go crazy.
The only way to stop this is to temporarily unplug the wireless from the router (the one that's acting as a router). I can plug it back in and all is well.
I also noticed that as soon as I plug the befw11s4 into the router, it shows a 100Mbps connection on the router (the 100 light goes on for both pieces of equipment).
This is interfering with the network, and I need to find a solution.

Thanks in advance to all who answer.

[Greenstead]

There seems no obvious cause for the problem from your description. Does the same happen when you start a wireless PC if the befw11s4 is not connected to the new router (i.e. does the befw11s4 flood the switch?

I would note that it appears the overall design seems over engineered, unless there is some other reasons you have not mentioned. Why do you use separate gateways when you want all the PCs to be connected. It seems a single public IP and the befw11s4 alone is the only router that is needed.

[echswaizey]

No it does not happen if the wireless gateway is not connected to the router.
As a matter of fact, I can stop the broadcasting by unplugging it from the router for a couple of seconds.
I am at a complete loss.

[Greenstead]

And when all this equipment is connected as you describe, if you power up a wired PC, does the same occur ?

All the gateways are connected to the new 4 port router (which is setup to act as a router).
What do you mean by this ? Why do you say it is setup as a router - it can only be using its switch function. All the gateways are connected to the new router LAN port to LAN port ?

How are the PC connectors (wired and wireess) configured - DHCP clients ? Where is the DHCP server ? Only one DHCP server I hope.

[echswaizey]

What I mean by acting as a router is that there are two ways to configure a linksys router; either as a gateway to provide internet access or as a router. I selected the radio button for router, and yes it is using its switching function.

I have tested this with a wired computer using the wireless as its gateway, and yes it does the same thing.

All pieces of equipment are setup with static internal ip's in the 192.168.x.x range. They receive their public ip's from my internet service provider. As such, there is no DHCP server, nor any need for one.

[cszeto]

It seems that you have a pretty complex network built mainly with Linksys equipment that is not performing to what you need. Have you contacted Linksys for possible assistance yet?

If it's something along the lines of firmware interoperability, they should be able to identify that and assist. They should at least be able to put something together similar to your configuration in a test lab to assist considering the amount of Linksys equipment your network is built with.

[Greenstead]

Again I have to say I don't know exactly what the cause is, and I can only offer these points to consider:

- When you power up a PC it soon annouces itself to the network. You will see all the switch and router ports flash as they check their tables and update them. Though it should cease within a few 10s of seconds.

- With the new router added you have created a loop between every PC and itself - I can't say why this is wrong, but I get a bad feeling about it, and I have never seen it done. Linksys might have a technical explanation to support this.

- Again, I would advise there seems no point to the complex configuration you have created. You need only one wireless router connected to the modem and all PCs driven from the single router. It you do that you will not get a problem.