Use 2 Linksys Routers Together

Ok. I just got a switch for Best Buy. It's a Linksys EZXS55W 5 Port Switch. I still cannot get the computer, TiVo, and Xbox connected to it to connect to the internet, or the computers connected to the wireless router.

DSL Modem>Wireless Router>2 computers and new SWITCH
From the switch>computer TiVo and Xbox
The cable coming from the router goes into Port 1 on the switch. What is wrong?

:hotbounce
I know you said that you think found the problem with one of your routers BUT, I think it is Configuration Problem because you went bought a switch and still your Network Configuration still does not work. So I’m giving you the information on how to connect “Two Linksys Routers Together” and HOW to connect device to them and then I’ll talk about the new switch you bought just in case your correct, because the information on how use have configure your Network Environment and Routers is fuzzy to me!! So here we GOOOO!!!!


First of all lets start with the your first router the “Linksys BEFW11S4 Router” that you have in one of you rooms separate from the other router. This router should be the “Gateway Router” IF you use it to connect to the internet. This is the also your “NAT Box.” When the linksys router boots up, you should have your “WAN Port\Internet Setup” under “Internet Connection Type” setup to “Obtain IP Address Automatically” so the router can receive it’s IP Address from your ISP, they assign them using a “DHCP Server.

NOTE:
That the linksys routers are Three Devices in One---(1.)Switch (2.)Router (3.)NAT Box. Also a Basic Router (part 2 of the three devices of the linksys router) has two interfaces, the linksys router for example has two interfaces know as: (1.) WAN\Internet Setup (2.) LAN\Network Setup. So when you see the configuration page of the linksys router you should see a similar name like the ones above. So to be sure you under stand, the Linksys BEFW11S4 Router(2) has two interfaces (1.)Internet Setup(WAN side interface) and (2.)Network Setup(LAN side interface). Also the “Switch”(1) is a another device within the 3-and-1 linksys router, which works at the Layers 2 and 1 of the OSI Model. So if you didn’t need the “Router Part” of the linksys router you can just use the linksys router as a “4-port Switch” without configuring the “Router Part.” Also when it comes to the Uplink Port, all it does is crisscrosses the transmit(TX) and receive(RX) lines on one side of the striatethrough cable, so that you can plug the outer end of the cable in a regular port on a switch or hub. BUT with the “Linksys BEFW11SR Router” you can use a stratethrough cable to connect hubs and switches to a “Regular Port” without using an uplink port because they are what you call “Crossover Autoswithching Ports.” (if fact the BEFW11SR Router does not have uplink port even marked on back of the router, so in other words you can think that there all uplink ports!!). This is all based on “MDI and MDI-X terminology.” So know back to you question!!!

Now on the “LAN\Network Setup,” (OTHER Router interface) you can use the Default Configuration of the router (which is by default configured as a DHCP Server beginning IP Address Range 192.168.100.0) OR you can set a “Static IP” for the IP Address Space of your Network. For example you can configure it for a Static IP like 192.168.247.1. After that, ALL of your connection on your “Switch Side” MUST BE configure starting after that IP Address of the Linksys Router’s LAN\Network Setup Port, like: 192.168.247.2-3-4-5 and so on, because your “Linksys Router’s LAN\Network Setup Interface” is PART of your LAN---that why its called “LAN Side Interface” and every machine must have a separate IP. So lets say you ISP gave you an IP of 25.161.193.89, that IP would be assigned to you “WAN\Internet Setup Port” and then you “LAN Side” would have the IP you assigned like: 192.168.247.1. So to make sure you understand, when connecting devices (computers, xbox, tivo, ect…) to your Switch Side, make sure they are configure with an IP after the LAN Side.

Gateway:
The IP Address of the “LAN Port” which is: 192.168.247.1 is the Gateway IP that you’ll have to configure in the “TCP/IP Properies of ALL OF YOUR“Windows 95,98,ME,2k,XP Machines” WITHOUT this information you will not be able to get out of you LAN Segment.

DNS:
If you look at the “Status Configuration Page” ON your “Gateway Router” (Linksys BEFW11SR) you will see the IP Address of DNS Servers of your ISP. You will also need to enter this information in TCP/IP Peripheries of ALL OF YOUR “Windows Machines.” Without this information YOU WANT BE ABLE TO CONNECT TO THE “Internet.”

So now “Linksys Router BEFW11SR” is now setup!!!! (Except for one more step which will be discus latter.)

TROUBLESHOOTIN-
Now configure one of you PC for the LAN Side Interface like: 192.168.247.2 AFTER your LAN Side Interface, then in windows open up the command prompt and PING the IP Address 192.168.247.1 and 25.161.193.89 (which the IP Address are those of your LAN Configuration NOT THE ONE LISTED HERE!!! )

PING 192.168.247.1

PING 25.161.193.89

IF you have the configuration of the Computer and Router(which is assigned by ISP) CORRECT!!! you should get a reply back from the IP that you PING (4 time with the Windows PING command), IF you do for both ping then everything is configured right!!!

LINKSYS ROUTER BEFW11SR CONFIGURATION


Now your first router is configured, the NEXT STEP is to configure second router “Linksys BEFSR41 Router.” Every thing that you done with the First Router you will also do, but just a little different. First of all we’ll setup a new LAN Segment (in other words setup another Network) this Segment is going to have an IP Address Range of 192.168.248.0(this is your IP’s NOT MINE). The Linksys BEFSR41 will route IP Packets destine for the Network of 192.168.247.0 AND the “Internet” to the OTHER Network Segemnt. (the other Network Segment on Linksys BEFW11SR Router)---hens the name “ROUTER”!! So we go to configure the “WAN Port” with an Static IP Address, so in the configuration page of the router BEFSR41, we are going to give it an IP Address of the Network it is going to ROUTE TO! For example we want route to the Network on Linksys BEFW11SR, so we got to give the “WAN Port” of the Linksys BEFSR41 Router the IP of: 192.168.247.3, because that interface is on the Network of 192.168.247.0. (on the Linksys BEFW11SR)

After you done that, you need to configure the “LAN Port” with a Network Range of: 192.168.248.0(your new LAN Segment---you IP’s NOT MINE). For example configure the “LAN Port” of the router to: 192.168.248.1.

Once you got all that done configure one of your PC with the IP Address on Network 192.168.248.0. After you done that PING the IP Addresses of the router “LAN Port” and “WAN Port” like you done it with the first router. And again, IF the IP’s reply back to you 4-time with a reply then you have a correct configuration of the second router.

NOW take your Xbox, Tivo, and all of your Computer and give them and IP Address in the Network Range of 192.168.248.0. After that, you also need to configure the “Default Gateway” and if you remember the first example, that IP is the IP of the “LAN Port Router IP Address) witch: 192.168.248.1. For example give your Xbox the IP:192.168.248.2 with a default gateway of 192.168.248.1, and Tivo with an IP of 192.168.248.3 and with a default gateway, and ALL of your Computer with an IP of 192.168.248.4-5-6-7- ect. and with an default gateway.


After all that is done, go back to the configuration page on the “Linksys BEFW11SR Router”(1st one) and go to the Advance Routing Tab>Static Entry and make an new Static IP Address in the Routing Table. Make sure the IP you put in the entry is the IP of the Second Linksys Router witch is: 192.168.248.0 make sure the Host Address Rang is “0” and that the Default Gateway of the Static Route is that of the “WAN Port” on the Second Linksys Router. For example: 192.168.247.3. This make sure that when the Destination IP is for the other Network Segement for example: 192.168.248.0, that the Network 192.168.247.0 will be able to route to it and vice versa!!!! Without your screwed, you want be able to browse the Internet from the Second LAN Segment (2nd Linksys Rotuer). Also the “Interface” (LAN\WAN) choose “LAN” for you static route.


Now I hope your sill with me and not bald, it is time to connect the routers together with some CAT5. When you got your routers, they came with 2feet patch cord witch is a “Stratethough Cable. Take one the cable (you might need more depending on how far apart they are) and connect it to the “WAN Port” on the Second Linksys Router. (Router BEFSR41) and connect the other end the “Switch Part” of the First Router. (Router BEFW11SR). And take All of your Computer, Tivo, Xbox and connect them to your Second Router Switch Interfaces. (Router BEFSR41). Make sure they have their OWN IP Address and make sure the Default Gateway is configured for the Second Router LAN Port Interface configure IN the “Windows TCP/IP Properties.”

Now if the second router is junk, then just connect the “Switch” up to the First Router (Router BEFW11SR) Switch Part. And the re configure all your device (in Windows TCP/IP,ect…) the Network Address of: 192.168.247.0, and the Default Gateway of the “LAN Port” of the First Router and then PING them to make sure that there is a connection.

Mr. Nobody,
I followed you, until you got to the part about the Advanced Routing table in the first router. I don't know what to put where. I took a ss of the page...could you tell me where to put the stuff? thanks for all your help!

I did some playing around with the settings, and was sucessful...for about 3 seconds. For the destination IP I had 192.168.248.1...the LAN IP of the 2nd router. Subnet: 255.255.255.0. Gateway: 192.168.1.109, the WAN IP of the 2nd router. Hop count: 0 Interface: Local.

I was listening to some MSN Radio on the computer, while I had it hooked up to the 1st router. I left WMP open and unplugged the network cable, and plugged it into the 2nd router's WAN port. After some tinkering, I unplugged the 2nd router for a few seconds, and plugged it in. WMP loaded a song, and thats about the most internet I had on that computer. I heard the song play so I opened IE right away, but I was too late. So this tells me that it did work, at least for a few seconds. I think I'll take the switch back to BB, seeing as how tomorrow is day 30 on the 30 day return policy. Hope I can get this up tonight....thanks to Mr. Nobody. What do I need to do now though?

Right as I was about to hit Post a new song started playing from the MSN Radio. But, I can't ping anything other than the 2nd router, nor will IE or anything else connect outside. Maybe WMP is playing cached songs, but I kinda doubt it.

:hotbounce
To: Bloo Ice

To help clarify the fuzziness about “IP Routing Tables” let me tell you what a router does when it receives an “IP Packet” that is “Address” to it, then I’ll answer your questions.

So here we gooo!!!!

When either of your Linksys Routers intercepts an “IP Packet” that is “Addressed” to it, (that is address to either their WAN Ports or LAN Ports---the Default Gateway in Windows is the IP of the Router), it will remove the “Frame” (Layer 2 of OSI Model) and it will then take the “IP Packet” and buffer it into RAM. It will then look at the “Destination IP Address” to see IF it has an “Route” to that “Network” if it does, it will reframe it with the MAC Address of the one the Router WAN/LAN Interfaces that the Routing Table told it to do, IF a MACH to the destination address is NOT IN the Routing Table, there is always Route if all else fails, that is the “Default Route.” Then the ip packet will then take that route and you will have to cross your fingers in hope the ip packet get there!!! That’s all there is to it! Minus all the other techno jobo that really go into routing!!!!

Now when you set the “WAN and LAN Ports” on your linksys routers, you build the default setting in the linksys router “Routing Table.” To see what I mean go to the configuration page and “Setup>Advanced Routing look on that page for a button that says “Show Routing Table,” you should see the default route and the IP’s of the WAN\LAN Ports. So if you look a the First Routers Routing Table, you should see a fourth entry in the routing table to route to your second router Network Segment. ROUTING TABLE ENTRIES ARE VERY VERY INFORTANT!!! If there is no entry for the detonation your ip packet is destine for, the ip packet will NEVER EVERY GET THERE!

I forgot to tell you last time to disable the “NAT” on the Second Router and in the Static Route that you made on the First Router set the “Default Gateway” to the “WAN Port IP” of the Second Router which is: 192.168.247.3. There is much more to all of this but it will take to long to talk about it. So I’ll make up a Network Configuration for you!!!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FIRST ROUTERS IP’S-
Internet Connection Type\WAN Port: assigned by ISP, should be set at: Obtain IP Address Automatically.

Network Setup\LAN Port: 192.168.247.1---Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0


Now go to the “Status” page to see a summery of the setting you just configured. Make sure they match here.





ROUTING TABLE ENTRY-
Go to “Advance Routing” page and look for the “Static Routing” configuration.

For the setting put:

Make sure “Select Set Number” is on “1.”

Destination LAN IP: 192.168.248.0---Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0---Default Gateway: 192.168.247.2---Interface: LAN & Wireless (it will send the IP Packet out on the LAN\Wireless Port Interface NOT the WAN Port---this is where you configure which interface MAC Address to reframe the IP Packet with!---each interface has a different MAC Address)

Make sure that the “Destination LAN IP” Address is set to: 192.168.248.0 and NOT TO: 192.168.248.1, you want to ROUTE TO the Network: 192.168.248.0 and NOT TO a Specific Machine on THAT Network. If you do ALL IP Packet “Destine” for the Network: 192.168.248.0 will go to that Specific Machine and NOT TO the Network. If I understand you right, that how you have it configured and it is WRONG!!!


Go to the “Show Routing Table” button to see if the entry you just made is in there!!!


NOTE:
Remember that the Switch Device is one of the Linksys 3-in-1 devices. The “Switch” is a 4-port switch BUT there is a TWIST, that is a “Invisible” Fifth Port that is “Hard Wired” to the “Input” of the Router’s Internal LAN Port. Just thought I would demystify the relationship with the “Routers LAN Port and the Switch!!! Because you can’t see the routers lan port interface (physically)”


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SECOND ROUTERS IP’S-
WAN Connection Type\WAN Port: 192.168.247.2---Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0---Gateway: 192.168.247.1

LAN IP Address\LAN Port: 192.168.248.1---Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0

Go to the “Dynamic Routing” page and look for a “Working Mode” choose “Router”(this turns off the “NAT” part)
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NETWORK DEVICES IP’S-
Computers: 192.168.248.2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9---Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0---Gateway: 192.168.248.1---DNSyou will have to go to the first router and look on the “Status” page to see WHAT “DNS Servers” your ISP gave you, so that you will be able to connect to the “Internet” just put that info. here!!!)

Xbox: 192.168.248.10---Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0---Gateway: 192.168.248.1---DNSsame as above)

Tivo: 192.168.248.11---Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0---Gateway: 192.168.248.1---DNS(same as above)

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OTHER INFORMATION!!!

These are ALL “Class C” IP Addresses!!

PING the configuration to make sure you have a connection! Also PING the Internet like www.google.com, this will make sure that you can connect to the internet and that the TCP/IP setting are correct!

Windows Media Player plays a “Live Data Stem” from the MSN Radio Web Server, it only buffers the data, and it is gone after it is played!

Make sure you plug the one end of the Ethernet Cable to the WAN Port of the Second Router and the other end to the Switch Part of the First Router!!!

WARRING !
MAKE SURE THAT YOU CHANGE THESE IPADDRESS AFTER YOU TRIED THEM AN IT WORKS! BECAUSE IF YOU DON’T, ANYONE YOU READS THIS WILL KNOW YOUR IP ADDRESS AND WILL FIND A WAY TO HACK YOU!!! EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE “NAT” CONFIGURED ON THE FIRST ROUTER, THERE ARE WAY AROUND IT!!!

Thank you so much for your help, but earlier tonight I confirmed that the second router is dead. The WAN port on it does not work. It cannot get an IP at all, I even tried plugging it straight into the modem, and many many resets and reboots. I've been posting in the other thread, and in there I said that I tried the switch in the laundry room, with a 2ft patch cable going into the 1st router, and then another patch cable going into my tablet pc, and it did work, meaning I have a problem somewhere between the first router and the second router/switch/computer, depending on what it is hooked up to. Do you know any way that I can diagnose exactly where this problem is? You seem VERY knowledgable about networking.

Just for kicks, I tried what you said, but it still would not work, again, confirming the 2nd router is dead. But thank you so much!!

Also, forgot to mention, that I realized I wasn't listening to MSN radio, rather than Choice Radio, but I got to it through the radio button of WMP. It was playing cached songs, because I left it open and it would keep playing the same 4 or 5 over and over and over.

puke:
IF you want to diagnose the second router exactly, configure it as a Single Router, hook it up to your modem (read the following before you do so) let the ISP give you an IP and configure a pc for troubleshooting. If it all works and you can connect to the internet, then its NOT THE ROUTER!!! You must of made a mistake when you configure the two routers. Double check your configuration.

I have one more idea for that troublesome second router. The way I’ve been telling to configure your router was for a “Cable Modem,” which is a direct connection to your ISP all of the time. You don’t have to “Log In” to your ISP. But this all changes with cretin DSL ISP’s. For example, IF you use a SBC DSL ISP, you will have to “Log On” before you can assess the Internet. After you have log on, you will receive an IP Address from your ISP. This can account for why you WAN Port is not being assign an IP Address (IF THIS ROUTER IS YOUR FIRST ROUTER!). You will have to change the configuration of the WAN Port from “Obtain IP Address Automatically” to “PPPoE,” with this set you will have to fill in your “User Name” and “Password” your ISP gave you. And when you power on you router it will long in for you! AND THEN it will be assigned an “IP Address” to your “WAN Port.”


Also when you reset your router, every thing that you turn off, will be right back on, and every IP you changed, will be reset backup to default.(you should know that!!). So you said that you reset the router several times, because of this, the router IP will be: 192.168.1.1 and the DHCP Server will also be enabled. So you are going to have go to your TCP/IP Properties in Windows, set it to “Obtain an IP Automatically,” that mean, IP from the DHCP Server enabled on your router. So you will need to reboot your PC, and it will be assigned an IP from the router. Now log on to the router, and turn off DHCP Server and change you IP.

Tip Of the Day:
When you change you LAN IP Address from: 192.168.1.1 to: 192.168.247.1 and you click save settings, the Web Page WILL FREZZ, why, because the router is now in a different “Broadcast Domain,” then your Computer, your no longer broadcasting in the Network of: 192.168.1.0 you are now broadcasting in the Network of: 192.168.247.0, so what you need to do, is reconfigure your pc for a Static IP of 192.168.247.2. After you done that, the router and your pc will now be in the SAME Broadcast Domain. REMEMBER, every time you reset the router, your going to have to do the above, unless you want to use the DHCP Server on the router. You can now access your router.

So the configuration of your Router will now be:

WAN Port---PPPoE---IP from ISP

LAN Port---192.168.247.2---255.255.255.0

The “Routing Table” will be the same as before.


Log on to the router and go to the “Status” page and see if the ISP gave you an IP this time, if so, configure your network with what I already gave you!

BEFOR YOU GO ANY FURTHER, lets PING the IP of 192.168.247.2 you should get 4 replies back, do so for the WAN Port (you’ll have to get this info from the status page) also you should receive 4 replies.

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NOTE:
When you set the WAN Port manually, you must have the IP, Subnet Mask, and Default Gateway exactly the way I told you, you also can’t have it out of the IP Address Range, your Host Address can’t be 257, that will be illegal and even though you click on save the setting they wont be, witch will also account for your WAN Port not keeping an IP. Be careful, when you are entering the information!!!
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If it still don’t work, replace the router with a new one or hook that switch you hopefully still got to the router that works and configure your Network Devices.


PS.
Draw a picture of your Network Configuration exactly the way you have it, it will help me see what you might be doing wrong!!!

My DSL doesn't require a sign in, nor does the IP change. I've had the same IP ever since I signed up, and that has been for several years. I've tried the 2nd router w/o the first one, and it is just junk. It was out in the garage for about a year, through the freezing sub 20degree F temps to the 110+ summer heat. I guess I shouldn't have stored it there.

I have 2 Linksys Wireless routers daisy chained together, you really don't have to go through that much programing to get it to work.

1st router- Internet port connected to my cable modem via standard 568a
ethernat cable (RJ-45 connectors)
-Ports 1-4 are connected to my server and desktops and 2nd
router
-Configuration is default dchp ( I configured WAP, and WEP but
this is optional

2nd router- Internet port connected to my 1st router via a 568a to 568b
CROSSOVER cable (RJ-45 connectors)
-Ports 1-4 are connected to my Laptops when they are close to
my router
-Configuration is pretty much default except I think I set the
router's IP to 192.168.1.104 to be in the range of the DHCP
of the first router and gate way to 192.168.1.1 (ip of 1st
router (again WAP and WEP configured optionally)

I am able to connect to the internet on ether router, and able to ping every IP on the net. I havn't set up my samba server (NFS works though)completely but since I am in the process of building a Linux router/firewall to go in between the 1st router and the wan its on the back burner. Personally I would set up your network like this:

Wireless Router
Internet port to DSL modem
Port 1 to switch on the uplink port(shared with another port usually 5)
Port 2 to the server
Enable DHCP (other wise you have to configure every computer)
though I would set your LAN to what ever range you really need

Switch
Uplink port to port 1 on the router
Ports 1-4 (assuming port 5 is the uplink)
The switch should not need any configuring

Computers
If you really want to you can assign IPs but it is not necessary. Just make sure all of them are on the same subnet ie

Router
WAN-DHCP
LAN
ip 192.168.1.1
sbn 255.255.255.0
DHCP 192.168.1.100/150

computer 1
ip 192.168.1.101
sbn 255.255.255.0
gtw 192.168.1.1

computer2
ip 192.168.1.102
sbn 255.255.255.0
gtw 192.168.1.1

Thank you, but I have found out that the problem in my setup is in the wall jack. Even with a computer connected it, the performance is slower, and constantly transferring data, but it never goes anywhere.

Do you need any wiring diagrams/pin outs?

Don't think so. When I get some time I'll just remove the jack, and tape all the wires back together, blue to blue, green to green, ect ect. Thanks though.