Cascading routers?

[marketsons1985]

I'm wondering, currently we have a netgear router coming from our DSL modem, and then we jump into a switch to get our computers online. I'm looking at buying a netgear wireless router with a 4 port switch, which i want to do one of the following with:

1) cascade it from our existing switch

or

2) switch it with our old router and run everything off the new thing.

Will the first option work? and also, will the second one work because it's a 4-port switch and not a router?

I'm so confused!

 

[WannaFly]

marketsons1985, either way would work:

1) If you do this make sure you use a crossover cable or an uplink port. You'll just be using the new Wireless router as a WAP (Wireless access point), you wont be using the router portion of it. Nothing would get plugged into the WAN port.

2) This is the way i'd do it. Easiest and one less thing that needs power! Nothing special here, just make sure its configured correctly.

 

[eelw]

If you are planning to cascade the 2 routers, you should also disable DHCP on the second router.

 

[jonmullen]

Originally posted by: eelw
If you are planning to cascade the 2 routers, you should also disable DHCP on the second router.

If you disable DHCP and dont use the WAN port you have basically disabled the Router part, and are left with a 4 port switch and an access point.

 

[eelw]

Originally posted by: jonmullen

Originally posted by: eelw
If you are planning to cascade the 2 routers, you should also disable DHCP on the second router.

If you disable DHCP and dont use the WAN port you have basically disabled the Router part, and are left with a 4 port switch and an access point.

HUH?

The WAP would be the second router and DHCP should be disabled. If you don't disable DHCP all computers connected to this router would be on a different subnet and not see the other computers on the first router.

 

[skyking]

the best answer to your question is the second option. Just hook it all up through your new wireless router, and sell or use your other router elsewhere.
You can make anything work, one way or another, but you will likely lose the ability to change WEP, SSID, channel, without a complete reset of the wireless router.

 

[JackMDS]

Skying is right.

Unless you have a real reason to stick with the Old wired Router as your main Router you better off getting rid of it.

Port to Wan cascading (if your Wireless Router allows it) creates double NATing, and split your Network.

Extending Regular Port to Regular Port should work but it is a process to set it up.

Link: How do I use a Wireless Cable/DSL Router as a Switch with an Access Point?

 

[marketsons1985]

yeah, noticed that after cascading, my computer and laptop, hooked up to the new router, are on a network all of their own it appears Fine for the next 11 days before I leave for college, and get the wireless all to myself, muahaha