[Phranken9]

I just moved into a house with some friends, we have 4 computers, (3 PC on WinXp, one Mac on X.2) and 2 Playstation2s connected to the routers at various points. Our current setup is as follows:

Modem->Router1->Switch->Computers

This works fine right now, can get access when connected, but we have a cramped computer area and someone is always without access (port limitations). Ideally we'd like to setup the computers in each room, and would be able to do it with all the routers we have, we were looking at something like this:

Modem->Router1->Mac+Router2->Switch+PS2+1 PC-> PC 2+3

I think the problem might not be within the Software settings, rather in the Hardware. Both routers are set to different LAN IP's and are giving different ranges for the DHCP server so they are not conflicting there. I have not changed the subnet masks (possible conflict).

I also don't know the correct combination of ports to use (eg Cable from Router1 (Uplink/Standard Port) goes into Router2's Uplink/WAN/Standard Port).

All our cables are CAT-5 Straight-through, Do we need crossover cable to go router-router?

BTW, the routers are both the Linksys 4 Port EtherFast Cable/DSL Router (# BEFSR41 v.2)

Any help/advice is always appreciated, thanks in advance

[Camelot]

You're going to have all kinds of problem with that setup.

According to your map, PC3 connects via PC2 which, assuming it's running Windows ICS, performs NAT translation on the traffic, which it then passes to the switch which passes it on to router2, which then performs a second NAT translation, passing the connection onto the Mac, which presumably is running Internet Sharing, so it performs another NAT translation and passes the connection up to router1 which, surprise surprise, performs NAT translation before it passes it onto the cable modem.

Confused? so will your network devices be.

No one in their right mind will be able to keep track of the IP subnets in effect at various parts of the network, let alone troubleshoot a problem if something doesn't work as expected.

A far better solution would be:

Modem -> Router 1 -> Mac
-> Switch -> remaining systems.

Since router1 has a 4-port switch incorporated in it, connect the Mac, and any other system in the same room directly to this switch.

Take one of the ports on the router and run a crossover cable to a second switch (NOT a router). This second switch can be up to 100 meters (327 feet) away.

Hang the other systems off this second switch. Connect all the systems to the switch. Don't try running through another PC's connection sharing.

[jtbowden]

Yeah, two routers are bad. However, my home network has two routers. We got one free. (They replaced a faulty one and then gave us the repaired one.) Anyway, because I already had the router and I needed more switch/hub space, I changed the DHCP server setting to be disabled on one of the routers, thus crippling it to just a switch. Works fine, no problems. So, assuming you can do this, this should fix your problem, turning your second router into a switch.

If it is a LinkSys, just go to http://192.168.1.1 on a computer connected to the router you want to change (disconnect it from the rest of the network to be safe), go to the DHCP tab and click the "Disabled" radio button next to "DHCP Server"

[Phranken9]

Sorry guys, I think my diagram was a little confusing, hope this one helps out a bit more.




So if If I run out and buy a crossover cable and run it from Router1 to Router2 (with disabled DHCP) then I should be ok? I'll try this out tonight and see if I can get it to work. Thanks guys

[GlobalNomad]

Originally posted by Phranken9:
Sorry guys, I think my diagram was a little confusing, hope this one helps out a bit more.




So if If I run out and buy a crossover cable and run it from Router1 to Router2 (with disabled DHCP) then I should be ok? I'll try this out tonight and see if I can get it to work. Thanks guys

1. Why would you buy a second Router when you could just use another switch?


I would do:

Modem connected to Router 1...

Apple + Switch + fast PC + 2nd fastest PC (all connected into Router 1)

Then Have the other stuff hang off the switch...

It looks to me like your trying to make things complicated.

[Phranken9]

Originally posted by GlobalNomad:

1. Why would you buy a second Router when you could just use another switch?

I didn't buy the router recently, I just moved in with these guys and already had the router from previous location (Same brand and model were a coincidence) , thought I might be able to use it here.

Originally posted by GlobalNomad:
Then Have the other stuff hang off the switch...

It looks to me like your trying to make things complicated.

Was hoping to do that because of the layout of house, with each stop being a separate room. With each computer being in the respective person's room (PC2 and PC3 share), we'd be able to clear up a lot of space in the common room, and it'd be nice to have the computers in our own rooms. I really didn't think this would be as much of an issue as it seems to be turning out to be.

[GlobalNomad]

Originally posted by Phranken9:
I didn't buy the router recently, I just moved in with these guys and already had the router from previous location (Same brand and model were a coincidence) , thought I might be able to use it here.



Was hoping to do that because of the layout of house, with each stop being a separate room. With each computer being in the respective person's room (PC2 and PC3 share), we'd be able to clear up a lot of space in the common room, and it'd be nice to have the computers in our own rooms. I really didn't think this would be as much of an issue as it seems to be turning out to be.

It won't really be complicated. It is just time comsuimg.
With my router for example that is behind the other router, you need to set its Internet at DHCP, instead of PPPoE. Just get the stage one working and then plug the stuff off from there.

Start small, then work you way up adding things on otherwise if you plug it all in and start from there it could get messy. like having to mess with the settings and what not.

So i would
1. get the router 1 working with the internet. Then plug in the Mac and get it working and then plug in the second router and get it working with router 1. Then it should be easy to just plug the other stuff into router 2.

You might want to see if you can make router 2 act like a switch (so it keeps the same ip range as router 1, mostly because its easier to send files accross) instead of using DHCP with NAT.