3 routers hooked together, plz help me get this right

[Rich3077]

Okay I have the need to hook 3 routers together.. first router is a regular wired router for my PC's. Second router is a wireless router for my cell phones, and has DHCP turned off in settings, so I guess its considered an access point. 3rd router is a Sprint Femtocell (Airwave) and is hooked up to the 2nd router (wireless access point).

So my network is as follows:

Cable Modem > Wired Router > Wireless Access Point > Sprint Aiwave

I had everything working but I am getting weird random internet disconnects and slow downs.

I decided to log into the Sprint Airwave (3rd router) and disable DHCP (not sure if that is a good idea or not) to see if that would solve my issues. Afterwards it could not connect to the internet so I turned the DHCP back on... now I still cant connect to the internet with that device so its probably not related to my setup.

So I guess my question is.. what is the best configuration to hook 3 routers together?
Should only router # 1 have DHCP enabled?

I don't know enough about networking to know if I have a routing or IP loop (but I am learning) so when I finally get the Sprint Airwave to connect I will post a copy of my ipconfig /all if that would be helpful in diagnosing my issues.

Thanks

 

[goobee]

You can keep DHCP turned on for all of the routers as long as each host has a different IP. (ie: 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.1, 192.168.2.1)

Hook both into the wired router, then point your devices to the corresponding host.

 

[Rich3077]

You can keep DHCP turned on for all of the routers as long as each host has a different IP. (ie: 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.1, 192.168.2.1)

Hook both into the wired router, then point your devices to the corresponding host.

Thanks for the help and fast response.

I have no open ports in the wired router. Its a 4 port router, 3 spots taken by PC's 4th taken by router # 2. I still have a couple of devices to plug in.. like my DVD player.

Will I need to purchase a router with more ports?

 

[goobee]

Yes, you need to keep the wireless routers separated from each other. Your IPs are most likely conflicting.

Get a 5 port switch, you don't need another router.

 

[ImDonly1]

You can keep them all hooked up like now.
The main router leave dhcp on and set the IP to something like 192.168.1.1
Then the next router plug it into a lan port. Set the IP to 192.168.1.254 and turn DHCP off. Set the gateway as 192.168.1.1.
Last router, the sprint airave, plug into the wireless router lan port and again turn off local dhcp and set the IP to 192.168.1.253, set the gateway to 192.168.1.254 and DNS to 192.168.1.1.

If you need more ports, plug some devices into the ports on the wireless router. If the routers are near each other.

 

[Rhyseh]

Get a cheap unmanaged switch if you need more network ports. Adding more routers to your config just complicates your layer 3 config. Switches operate on layer 2 thus avoiding the whole IP addressing considerations.

My reccomendations:
Main Router (Hosting DHCP services) > Switch (Connecting all Wired clients) > Wireless Router (Most routers will allow you to set a DHCP relay, set this to your main router)

Voila you now have an expandable and scalable network where your switch is being used for all local communications and the only thing touching your main router is internet requests and DHCP broadcasts.

 

[Lithium381]

On your 2 routers don't use the "uplink" ports, only the switchports in the back and disable services like DHCP, that way it just creates a large l2 network and only one point of managmeent/gateway/dhcp etc