I want to connect 2 Wi-Fi routers to create 2 separate networks

[TheDevopsGuy]

Thank you for the pointer @MattS. Formatting is not important, only the information.

I should mention this is a basic home setup, so no DNS server. The hostnames are being resolved by the DHCP server on the primary network, I believe. Or NETBIOS. Maybe it's a Windows thing?

As a worst-case scenario I am planning on setting the printer and media server to static IPs and then updating my local HOSTS to point to those, but I would prefer things to work by magic if possible. I was hoping there would be a "use the DHCP table in the subnet but if not, then use primary DHCP table" setting somewhere.

Open cmd and type ipconfig /all

Check your dns server addresses this is probably your router/modem check if it supports static dns entries

 

[MikeEwins]

Check your dns server addresses this is probably your router/modem check if it supports static dns entries

Right, I am familiar with that, but that gets rid of the magic I was talking about. So it basically sounds like it's not possible for routers/DHCP servers to forward requests. Sort of a pain as there are only two devices to connect with now from the subnet, but it sounds like whenever I want to connect for whatever reason to another primary network device from the subnet I will have to:

• Assign static IP address for primary network device
• Update each and every devices' HOSTS file on subnet to point to static IP

Sounds like a lot of work.

 

[TheDevopsGuy]

Right, I am familiar with that, but that gets rid of the magic I was talking about. So it basically sounds like it's not possible for routers/DHCP servers to forward requests. Sort of a pain as there are only two devices to connect with now from the subnet, but it sounds like whenever I want to connect for whatever reason to another primary network device from the subnet I will have to:

• Assign static IP address for primary network device
• Update each and every devices' HOSTS file on subnet to point to static IP

Sounds like a lot of work.

Dns via hosts file is bad practice in most cases.

What you want is local dhcp server which assigns your local dns server to your hosts. Even if its a local setup and your router doesnt support dns. You can deploy a virtual machine for this. Its overkill though. I’d just stick with using Ip addresses. Unless you want the overhead of running vms or a server.

Else opt for a microtik router or an openwrt router and setup dns on them.

 

[MikeEwins]

Yeah both routers in my case are TP-Link. I can log into either of them and see the DHCP tables for each network along with their host names and IP addresses. Everything is there, it just seems like I should be able to combine the tables into one for the subnet so it can see both -- sorta like it does with IP addresses.

Alright thank you for your insight in any case. Had to bounce it out there.

 

[DelJo63]

edit hosts file in system32 with the hostname and address you need.

This is the only way to make it work as the address is local to your router.

once the etc\hosts file is correct, you meet to

1. ipconfig /flushdns
2. net stop "dns client"
3. wait 30 sec
4. net start "dns client"

the quotes are required as shown and all four are done from an administrator login account

 

[DelJo63]

Btw: For this to work reliably, ALL devices need fixed IP addresses. Lookup Address Reservation which will be done by the router DHCP.