[SOLVED] 2 routers 1 network

[RoseburgHelpDesk]

Ok so here is the issue:

I have 2 routers and want to access all computers like they were connected to 1 router. Trying to get access to 1 specific computer from all the other computers.

Are these feasible options?

1. Main PC has a wireless connection to one router and wired to another router?

2. Connect second router as a extension to router were the main computer is on?

3. Any other options?

Which is easier, better or both to do?

Thanks in advance.

 

[pcpete]

I'm not fully understanding what you are trying to do. Why not use one router only? Why do you currently have two of them? I'm trying to understand a bit better what you are trying to accomplish.

 

[buzzcut]

what's the purpose of two? Are you trying to extend the range?
Is this for a business? Large building? Concrete not giving you a good signal?
I have a shop at home and use a Wifi range extender which gives me all that I need wifi and lan lines with different SSID and password

 

[RoseburgHelpDesk]

I have to because I am running 2 businesses off 1 Internet connection but also because I have a notebook that no matter what I do does not connect to the main router. Hope that helps with the 2 routers. My main concern is if either of those 2 methods work and if there are other ways to get it to work.

 

[Markverhyden]

Setup the wireless as an AP hanging off of the wired router. Usually something like turning off DHCP on the wireless router and cabling from the wired router LAN port to a LAN port on the wireless router. Unless for some reason you have to have to two distinct subnets.

 

[RoseburgHelpDesk]

I might already have that. I will check it out.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

The logic of having 2 businesses sharing 1x internet connection makes sense for having 2x routers. Although this alone brings quite a few problems especially if it's not setup correctly (which I usually find is the case).
However....you state that you "want to access all computers like they were connected to 1 router". So that right there shoots down your need for a second router.

Pick one, you can't have both.

 

[RoseburgHelpDesk]

Problem is that there is a notebook that will not connect to the main router / modem. That is why I have a second router. Also the second router gives Internet to the other business.

 

[Mokester]

Why won't it connect? The issue isn't being resolved. As Stone stated, it is wise to keep the businesses networks separate so they don't have access to each others network...but as he also pointed out, you want to have access to devices on both networks. Now to some extent it is possible by using static routes if properly configured but messy at best.

If the notebook is the main router business property and that is why you want the two networks to talk, then the straight forward answer is to actually fix the reason why the netbook won't connect and keep the networks separate.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

If one laptop/wireless client will not connect to primary wireless router....there is likely some compatibility problem. Could be encryption type, could be one of those crappy wireless chipsets like those dreaded "Atheros" ones that I love to smash to thousands of pieces. Sometimes changing channels, or encryption type (AES or TKP, etc).

 

[tek9]

Is the laptop configured with a static IP in the range of the second router?

 

[RoseburgHelpDesk]

Laptop connects to secondary router because the laptop keeps connecting and disconnecting from the main router. Not sure why it does it. Tried reinstalling drivers, tried different encryption, etc. The second business only uses the Internet with 1 computer. Nothing seems to fix the problem. I might make the second router an extension router.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Adding another access point, or converting a wireless router to another access point (or to take over as the only access point), would be the best best if you need to keep the network accessible to/from all computers.

Example...say primary/first router is 192.168.1.1, make the LAN IP of the second router something like 192.168.1.2, or 192.168.1.253. Now log into it (at its new IP) and disable DHCP on it (since you can have only 1x DHCP service per network and the primary router is likely running that). Now uplink that second router to the first router by using a LAN port of the secondary router....you will not use the WAN port...since it is no longer routing...now it's just running as a wireless bridge/mini switch.

If using both wireless APs...same SSID, same security settings, same security key..but make sure they're on different channels, 1, 6, or 11.

 

[pcpete]

The computer that connects and disconnects, is that using an atheros chipset? You may need to use a newer or different driver version. This is a very common issue with them.

 

[NETWizz]

Well, I am not fully understanding what you are trying to do other than share an Internet connection with two distinct businesses.

... and access both networks from one computer... Ideally each business will be private from one another; this simply makes sense.


Here is how I would consider setting it up with junk home or soho equipment (technically there will be four(4) subnets counting the Internet as a subnet):

0. Internet (to be shared; this is your first subnet you don't even configure it the ISP does), so plug it into the INTERNET or WAN port of a simple WIRED router... The LAN ports on this router should have DHCP turned on to configure the INTERNET or WAN ports on other routers. Let's say this router hosts 192.168.1.0/24 on its LAN side... to other routers, it will look more or less the same as your modem. It WILL do the Layer-3 translations between 192.168.1.0/24 to the real CIDR block provided by the ISP... Simply treat this as if it multiple private modems. I would probably turn on ISOLATION, too.

1 Connect another router... this time a WIRELESS router... for business #1. Plug its WAN or INTERNET port into a LAN port on the aforementioned router in #0. It's WAN port should get an IP address on the 192.168.1.0/24 network likely with a gateway of 192.168.1.1. Make certain to configure this router to provide non-overlapping LAN IP addresses. For example you might set it to provide 192.168.2.0/24 on the LAN ports. Now plugin (or connect wirelessly) all the business computers for Business #1... they should ALL have Internet.

2. Do the exact same thing with another WIRELESS router with its WAN or INTERNET port up linked to the WIRED router from #0. It's INTERNET or WAN port should be automatically configured with a different IP address from the router in #2, yet it should pull the same default gateway most likely 192.168.1.1 for this port. Again, make certain you do not have overlapping networks that is to say the LAN ports must NOT be on the 192.168.1.0/24 network. While technically you could completely reuse 192.168.2.0/24 since this is another private LAN, I would not do that if you want to be connected to both business networks at the same time, so use something like 192.168.3.0/24 for the LAN ports here.

Now, you have got two (2) business networks that cannot see each other, yet they use the same Internet connection. There is nothing keeping you from connecting a computer with multiple network adapters to both the Wireless/Wired routers described in #1 for Business #1 and Wireless/Wired routers described in #2 for Business #2.

The computer connected to both networks will be smart enough to know that if it wants to communicate with Business #1 to do it via the adapter connected 192.168.3.0/24 network and to connect to Business #2 to do it via the adapter connected to the 192.168.3.0/24 network. Simply put each business network will simply be a directly-connected, layer-2 network as far as the computer is concerned. For reaching out to the Internet it really won't matter if it uses 192.168.2.1 or 192.168.3.1; since, either default gateway on either adapter will be translated to 192.168.1.1 on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and then translated again to the ISP's network.

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Simply put... it should do what you want it to do; I think.

 

[RoseburgHelpDesk]

Well guys I finally figured it out. I used a manual ip address and was able to get it to connect to the main router. So I can skip the second router now. Thanks to all.