How do I use two routers?
 

I did a search..but couldent find exactly this. This is my new college house.

Dsl modem plugs into a 8 port linksys (BEFSR81)

We have 4 lines hooked up , 3 go to other rooms and one goes to mine. I , However need two lines (one for Tivo!) so I have a linksys 4 port in my room. I have tried splitting the signal from this 4 port but it ends up crashing the internet for every computer in the house. What do I need to do so this can work?

Any help would be awesome

You could try disabling the DHCP server on one of the routers. In theory, it shouldn't really matter if you have two routers on a network, but in practice, it could.

Or just get a small switch. You'll go insane messing with DHCP & NAT on two different routers.

Since the first Linksys is only using 4 of its 8 ports can't you just run another line to your room?

Perfect advice.


KISS


Keep It Simple Stupid



(not an insult, just a well known phrase used in IT circles) :)



Mr Mephisto

If you're going to use two routers, each will have to be on a different subnet. An example setup might be one router connected to you DSL dhcp'ing an IP address from your ISP. That will be it's WAN address. You LAN address (internal NAT) will probably be something like 192.168.1.1. Your router is able to DHCP anything on that subnet, meaning any device connected to it would pull an address between 192.168.1.2 - 192.168.1.254.

Now, in order to get the second router setup you would set its WAN IP address to something like 192.168.1.xxx (statically set, don't want DHCP here). Your LAN address would need to be set to something like 192.168.10.1. Any device connected to this second router would receive an IP between 10.2 - 10.254 (assuming DHCP is turned on here also).

If only the people in your house are going to be on the internet, I would recommend setting static routes to the computers and the TiVo. This way, if something doesn't work correctly, then you would be able to know which person's computer has that static IP address.

Just make sure your gateways and nameserver settings are correct depending on which router you are plugged into. This will make a difference.

Everything you've typed up there is correct.

But it's a LOT more complicated that simply using an existing free port on the original router.

Why get involved in NATing, multiple router networks, IP addressing etc, when all you have to do is plug in a Cat5 cable?


Mr Mephisto

Heh, I guess I'm a geek or somethin. Or special...dunno. I worked at a phone company that used to throw out their older(as in like year old DSL Routers) away so I grabbed one cause I figured might as well. Well I move and order DSL and Verizon, even after I told her we had multiple computers, sends us a one port hub. To make a long story short, I hooked my 4 port older DSL Router into the open port on the 1 port, turned off DHCP and NAT on my 4 port and it works like a charm.

Mephisto: I just answered his question about using 2 routers. I don't really care how he goes about setting up his network, as your idea is one way to do it as well.

Could also get him a Cisco 2620 and have him start doing VLANs and whatnot and some 3000 series switches, maybe do a little Layer 3 switching? haha

Thanks a bunch everyone for all the awnsers. I will try your method Bendsley, but if cant get it to work I will probobly go with just using the 8 port. The only reason I am hesitant to do that is because it is about 2 rooms away and I would probobly need like a 50 foot or longer cable. Just a small PITA really, cost is not an issue...my roommate works at best buy, my last roll of 20 foot cat 5 cost like $3.00 .