Advice for Network Configuration

[mwarren]

I apologize in advance for my immature knowledge, and humbly request your help with my network configuration:
I have an ActionTec C1000A (Century Link) modem/router that is set as my DHCP with a gateway of 172.18.12.1
Underneath the ActionTec, I have 3 desktop computers (CompA, CompB, and CompC running Windows 8) and a Netgear ProSafe FVS318Gv2 (DHCP turned off) with a gateway of 172.18.12.201
Underneath the Netgear router, I have 2 servers (ServerA and ServerB running Windows Server 2012). ServerA static external: 67.40.65.169, Server A static internal: 172.18.12.200, ServerB static external: 67.40.65.170, Server B static internal: 172.18.12.36

My biggest problem is having the 2 servers on really what seems to be a separate network (the cat5 from the ActionTec to the Netgear is plugged into the Netgear WAN port). The ONLY reason I have the Netgear ProSafe in my network is because I need to expose ServerA and ServerB publicly (I can't accomplish this using the ActionTec firewall, so I had to bring the Netgear ProSafe in so that I can expose them using the Netgear router).
Furthermore, my showstopper is this: I cannot touch ServerA or ServerB from CompA,B, or C internally (separate network) or externally (I have NO idea why). Oddly, any computer outside my network can touch ServerA and ServerB??? I am so confused.
I having been at this for over a week. I have tried to attach the Netgear ProSafe as a component of the ActionTec network (plug the cat5 into the Netgear ProSafe LAN port), of course that solves my showstopper (CompA,B, and C can all see ServerA,B), but I lose public access to ServerA and ServerB.

I have a strong feeling I am making this much more complicated than it needs to be. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. In addition, I have a diagram if you are interested that I can mail.

Thank you,

Matt

 

[smitbret]

I apologize in advance for my immature knowledge, and humbly request your help with my network configuration:
I have an ActionTec C1000A (Century Link) modem/router that is set as my DHCP with a gateway of 172.18.12.1
Underneath the ActionTec, I have 3 desktop computers (CompA, CompB, and CompC running Windows 8) and a Netgear ProSafe FVS318Gv2 (DHCP turned off) with a gateway of 172.18.12.201
Underneath the Netgear router, I have 2 servers (ServerA and ServerB running Windows Server 2012). ServerA static external: 67.40.65.169, Server A static internal: 172.18.12.200, ServerB static external: 67.40.65.170, Server B static internal: 172.18.12.36

My biggest problem is having the 2 servers on really what seems to be a separate network (the cat5 from the ActionTec to the Netgear is plugged into the Netgear WAN port). The ONLY reason I have the Netgear ProSafe in my network is because I need to expose ServerA and ServerB publicly (I can't accomplish this using the ActionTec firewall, so I had to bring the Netgear ProSafe in so that I can expose them using the Netgear router).
Furthermore, my showstopper is this: I cannot touch ServerA or ServerB from CompA,B, or C internally (separate network) or externally (I have NO idea why). Oddly, any computer outside my network can touch ServerA and ServerB??? I am so confused.
I having been at this for over a week. I have tried to attach the Netgear ProSafe as a component of the ActionTec network (plug the cat5 into the Netgear ProSafe LAN port), of course that solves my showstopper (CompA,B, and C can all see ServerA,B), but I lose public access to ServerA and ServerB.

I have a strong feeling I am making this much more complicated than it needs to be. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. In addition, I have a diagram if you are interested that I can mail.

Thank you,

Matt

Connect the NetGear using LAN -> LAN. You shouldn't be using the WAN port on either device.

 

[mwarren]

Thank you very much for taking the time, Smitbret.
I sincerely appreciate it.
I have tried making the LAN <-> LAN and it DOES indeed solve the issue intra-network connectivity...but I lose the Netgear's Firewall provision to expose the two servers publicly using their public IPs (67.40.65.169, 67.40.65.170).
I think my biggest setback is that the ActionTec C1000A does not provide an option (as the Netgear does) to map multiple WAN addresses (not sure if that is the correct terminology).
Thanks again for your help. Much appreciated.
Matt

 

[smitbret]

Thank you very much for taking the time, Smitbret.
I sincerely appreciate it.
I have tried making the LAN <-> LAN and it DOES indeed solve the issue intra-network connectivity...but I lose the Netgear's Firewall provision to expose the two servers publicly using their public IPs (67.40.65.169, 67.40.65.170).
I think my biggest setback is that the ActionTec C1000A does not provide an option (as the Netgear does) to map multiple WAN addresses (not sure if that is the correct terminology).
Thanks again for your help. Much appreciated.
Matt

If you have the need for anything more than the most basic routing functions, you'd probably be better off using the NetGear as the router and just let the Actiontech be just a modem. Connect the Actiontech to the WAN port of the NetGear and everything else connect to the LAN ports of the NetGear. If you know how to configure the NetGear, it will undoubtedly serve the router function better than the Actiontech.

 

[mwarren]

Thanks again for your time, Smitbret. Really appreciate it.
That was my initial configuration, but my network stability was terrible. I burned through Netgear ProSecure (bridging mode) and then bought this ProSafe, thinking it was the router. When the instability continued in both bridging and non-bridging mode, I started pointing the finger at Century Link (ActionTec provider). Century Link insisted their equipment was solid, so I initially took the Netgear router out of the picture completely (leaving only the ActionTec) - INCREDIBLY STABLE...only one problem - I need to expose those two servers