Bridge/Router... Which one works?

[kornphlake]

There are routers that can act as both a bridge and a router. Why do you need a bridge anyhow? Bridges are simply less advanced switches. Are you using 1980s networking tech or something? lol..

A router can't be a bridge and a router, some routers can be a bridge or a router. To receive a wireless signal and distribute it to multiple ethernet ports a bridge is required, there is no other way.

If you worked on a production line driving screws all day long and had the choice between a screwdriver or a swiss army knife to do the job which tool would you choose? For a dedicated job, I'd prefer a dedicated tool, it's easier to use than a multifunction tool.

 

[Ninjahedge]

OK, how about a bridge and a switch?

Basically something that will take a wireless signal and hook up to 4 machines attached through individual CAT5 cables.

 

[mammador]

OK, how about a bridge and a switch?

Basically something that will take a wireless signal and hook up to 4 machines attached through individual CAT5 cables.

Both have the same basic function. Why not just get a switch with sufficient ports available?

 

[mammador]

A router can't be a bridge and a router, some routers can be a bridge or a router. To receive a wireless signal and distribute it to multiple ethernet ports a bridge is required, there is no other way.

If you worked on a production line driving screws all day long and had the choice between a screwdriver or a swiss army knife to do the job which tool would you choose? For a dedicated job, I'd prefer a dedicated tool, it's easier to use than a multifunction tool.

True, but is it theoretically impossible for a router to act as a bridge/switch? Can't there be a creation of multiple collision domains and one broadcast domain at the same time?

 

[kornphlake]

A router is a box containing a wireless access point, an ethernet switch and some firmware to route requests from multiple private IPs to a single public IP. Some routers can be configured as a bridge to switch multiple private IPs assigned to wired devices over a wireless connection to the rest of the network, the wireless bridge has to connect to another wireless access point, typically an access point connected to a router that would route the traffic to a single public IP. A bridge can't connect to itself for routing, if it did it would be configured as a router not a bridge.

 

[Cr0nJ0b]

Here's what I did:

I had 4 routers (wrt-54g type). I loaded them with the latest DD-WRT and set them up as follows:

R1 = Wired to my core switch, also wired to another PC, Also Wireless for all clients as AP
R2 = Wireless Bridge client and AP, bridged to R1, wired to a Tivo, AP for all clients
R3 = Bridged to R2, AP for Wireless and wired to Wii
R4 = Bridged to R3, AP for wireless, nothing else wired.

dd-wrt has like 3 or 4 different client bridge modes that all do slightly different things...just google for dd-wrt and bridge and read.

The drawback of bridging is a drop in bandwidth
the upside for me is that i could up the power on both sides of the bridge and get pretty stable and consistent connections for all of my devices....and I didn't need to run cable.

 

[Ninjahedge]

Cron, that is sorta what I am looking for.

The 54g was the one that people have always raved about, so when i saw a deal on the E3K and E2K I decided to give it a go and see if I could establish a 5g (n) bridge.

From your post, it seems like you are kind of chaining these guys together. I am not looking for something like that, but simply being able to tell the E2K to look for the network set up by the E3K, connect to it, then connect any machine hardwired to it directly back is what I am looking for.

I don't want to have to dump another $100 on another device I have to power up and stack on top of the others simply to get a signal and connect to a single CAT5 hookup.

I would just like the unit to pick up the signal, and then act as a switch to the other units hard wired to it.... It seems that if you are able to connect it directly using a CAT5 cable back to the other router and do just that, why can't you substitute a cable with a wireless signal?

 

[kornphlake]

You can substitute the cable with a wireless signal, that's what a bridge does. A bridge typically has 4 lan ports just like a router, you don't have to stack it on top of anything, plug it in near your wired equipment and connect wirelessly to your access point or router.

I still think you're E2000 with dd-wrt firmware should be capable of functioning as a bridge, it's not going to be a simple plug and play setup though, a dedicated bridge will do the job with a little less hassle since the firmware will be optimized to be used as a bridge.

 

[Ninjahedge]

That's what I tried, but there was no real current instruction set I could Google that let me know what was needed with the applicable dd-WRT firmware available.

When I tried doing as they said, to the best of my ability, I would get 80% of the way there, swap out the native IP (I am not sure that is even needed. I may have even clicked it over to "auto") and promptly lost all connection with the device.

I will see if I can hook up a spare machine in the back room this weekend and get it running. If it works, I will let you know. If not, I will try to give you a more definite events list so you can either help, or avoid the same in the future....

Thanks all!