Multiple routers, One Internet Input.....

[JrunkDunc]

I am sure this has been answered, but while searching sheds some light, each configurationis a little different so let me try to explain what I want to do and see if it is possible.

(1) Cable Modem
(2) Linksys WRT54G (Different versions, one v3, one v4)
(1) D-Link DI-624

What I would like to do is setup my cable modem in my room, hook it up to the Linksys Router which serves my Desktop, Two Laptops(wirelessly), and my Xbox 360(Wirlessly). -----> Connect one of the Lan Ports to the other Linksys down the hall. Now I am hooking it up to the WAN on the second Linksys Is this correct port? Have the second router feed the internet to that room which has 2 Desktops and the ocassional Wirless Laptop User. Then -----> Connect a Cable from one of the lan ports on that Router to the DI-624 Upstairs, again through the WAN port, to serve to the rest of the house which uses wireless, except for another Xbox 360 which plugs in through one of the DI-624s Lan Ports?

I hope this makes sense and if not please let me know and I can clarify a bit more. Thanks Alot

Dunc

[TBone0106]

Good plan, wrong hardware -- you're BEGGING for problems here. Trying to get two routers working on the same network is a royal pain. Three just compounds the mess. And three wireless routers is a perfect formula for insanity. (Not to mention you might melt your dental work or nuke the cat...)

Unless your house is HUGE -- or made of steel -- one wireless router should be able to handle all your wireless traffic; in that case, you can eliminate the DI-624 right off the bat. What you really in the room down the hall is a wired switch or hub rather than another router. You can get a wired switch/hub at a pretty low price (I recently bought a Netgear 10/100 hub for something like $17 after rebate, including shipping), or you may be able to force one of your routers to be 'dumb' by disabling DHCP, disabling the wireless side, and using only the LAN ports.

Good luck!

Terry

[JrunkDunc]

The problem Lies in the fact that the other side of the house is not a strong enough signal for reliable internet (Old House in College Town , LOTS OF BRICK AND CONCRETE).

I got the LAN to work on the second Linksys but the Wireless Signal doesn't relay to the internet on the First Router.

Here is a link to an image of what I have Sorry I made it in like 10 seconds and it is whats going on.


http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/9316/imageiq5.jpg

To explain:

Internet
|
Linksys 1 - PC(Wired) - 2 Laptops (Wireless) - Xbox 360(Wirelessly)
|
Linksys 2 - 2 PC(Wired) - 1 Laptop (Wireless)
|
D-Link - Xbox 360(Wired) - 3 Laptops (Wireless)

Thats what I would like to so I can blanket the entire house with reliable signal. All Three Routers will be connected by Ethernet Cable to eachother.

Is it possible?

[Greenstead]

Yes possible. All router connections by LAN port to LAN port. Disable DHCP in Linksys 2 and D-Link.

[revthomasd]

What would the IP's need to be on these routers? I have something similar going.

[cszeto]

revthomasd,

That's not what you described on - http://forums.practicallynetworked.com/showthread.php?p=29719

[revthomasd]

The physical topology is not what I described on the other post, but that is not the only potential issue that might be a problem. Therefore, the question is entirely relevant. From reading the prior posts here, I better understand what might surface in the near future as the network reaches the entire facility where I am located. Knowing how someone else configured multiple routers and possibly multiple subnets (depending on access requirements) is as important a future issue as is where I locate my modem and whether I am experiencing interference because of cable location. I very much appreciate the variety of threads available here. They have been of great help. Thanks all!

[cszeto]

Ok, as in the earlier posting across this thread, please sum up your configuration for clarification (especially if you do not have your DSL bridged as previously posted in the other thread). It also would not hurt if you closed the loop on the outcome of your previous thread too.

[revthomasd]

Ok, as in the earlier posting across this thread, please sum up your configuration for clarification (especially if you do not have your DSL bridged as previously posted in the other thread). It also would not hurt if you closed the loop on the outcome of your previous thread too.

My configuration is still with a bridged modem-router directly from DSL. The issue with the longer cable between the modem-router is unresolved for now. I relented and put them back together in the same office. The network continues to grow and now includes 4 additional wireless routers. The building is very old and all the walls (interior and exterior) are reinforced concrete. Multiple routers were required to get coverage where it was needed. Since all locations need access to the backup server, I put them on the same subnet. Everything except wireless access and security are turned off (no NAT, SPI, DHCP...). There is no other wired access in the facility.

I helped to see how others had approached multiple routers and the IP schemes they used - also whether they used the WAN or LAN ports for linking them together. On paper, I liked how the LAN-to-WAN setup worked. However, it would not function here. I linked them from LAN to LAN port and it works as we need.

The only thing I have not done is try dd-wrt firmware to crank up the power on the router at the end of this chain. Due to the building construction, coverage is minimal. That may just be a fact of life in that part of the building.

The thing that troubles me is that there are so many points of failure in this system. The cabling between routers is reasonable secure where it is run, so I am not concerned with someone damaging it. But each electronic device is a cause for failure at some point and there are too many of them (IMHO). If it had been possible, I would have run cable to each location and just let them plug in. This would limit their choice of location, but would better preserve the function and purpose of the LAN. Since the wired schema was unacceptable, we went with wireless.

[cszeto]

dd-wrt does not work on all equipment, only some Linux-based equipment with the proper memory and hardware configurations. In most cases it also voids most manufacturer warranties too.

It sounds like the supporting requirements to address your physical building challenges may be beyond the capabilities of lower-end SOHO equipment. The SOHO equipment available in most retails outlets are designed to address the generalized configurations of a typical household. All bets are off (capabilities, support, etc.) when it is used in anything outside of its limited design targets (e.g. larger houses, non-typical building materials, etc.).

The higher end "Enterprise" grade equipment may be more complex, but is usually designed to be more flexible, so that configurations/deployments can be adopted to meet specific needs.

[revthomasd]

....It sounds like the supporting requirements to address your physical building challenges may be beyond the capabilities of lower-end SOHO equipment...

You are absolutely right, but we have what we have. I am pleased that it works as well as it does, but also disappointed that its not all it could be. Fortunately the lower end SOHO equipment is sufficient for the critical parts of the facility. Perhaps we'll get the chance to chip in higher grade parts in the future. Thanks again - T

[boarder428]

What would the IP's need to be on these routers? I have something similar going.
you want your routers to match the net that the first router connected to cable/dsl modem is and you want to assign the other routers with an address outside of the DHCP range of router 1

for example if your router connected to the modems ip is 192.168.0.1 and it's DHCP range is 192.168.0.60 to 192.168.0.255 set the second router to a static ip of 192.168.0.2 and so on for router 3 although I don't know if router 3 is possible, I have not tried that combo, only done 2 routers so far.

also make sure to diable DHCP in the other 2 routers. Usually setting a static ip will disable DHCP but all equiptment is different. also you can usually change DHCP ranges per routers.

[cszeto]

boarder428,

You are "right on" with your recommendations, but revthomasd probably already made it through that piece based on the 7th posting on this thread:

"I linked them from LAN to LAN port and it works as we need."

[revthomasd]

Thanks for the reply. That's what I did - works great. I now have 4 routers chained together and have (so far) not experienced any outages or problems. However, LAN-to-LAN port failed. I bridged the modem to router1[LAN], [port-1] to router2[port1], [port2] to router3[port-1], [port-2] to router3[port-1], [port-2] to router4[port-1]. Even after a power failure, it all comes back in place. I wouldn't suggest anyone do this as a rule due to so many points than might fail. However, it IS working - and everyone's happy. This thread is probably done for. Thanks all!

[cszeto]

revthomasd,

Thank you for confirming your working configuration as well as the candid sharing of its complexities.