Connecting two routers?

[hahn]

Currently, I have 5 computers that are wired to my network. Two computers are connected through a hub downstairs that is then connected to the main router upstairs. Since finishing school, I have all of my network equipment left over from our apartment and right now I want to connect my Linksys WRT54G wifi router to my DLink wired router and use the wifi router as an extension/wifi access point for my gaming consoles.

I have done a little reading and don't really understand how this would work. With my wired router being the main router that the modem is connected to...would the wifi be secured if the wifi router is being used as the extension?

 

[JackMDS]

Welcome to AnandTech's Networking Forum.

It should be connected this way, http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html

The security is provided by the Wireless part of the Wireless Router/Access Point.

From the weakest to the strongest, Wireless security capacity is.

No Security
MAC______(Band Aid if nothing else is available).
WEP64____(Easy, to "Brake" by knowledgeable people).
WEP128___(A little Harder, but "Hackable" too).
WPA-PSK__(Very Hard to Brake ).
WPA-AES__(Not functionally Breakable)
WPA2____ (Not functionally Breakable).
Note 1: WPA-AES the the current entry level rendition of WPA2.
Note 2: If you use WinXP and did not updated it you would have to download the WPA2 patch from Microsoft. <http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893357>

The documentation of your Wireless devices (Wireless Router, and Wireless Computer's Card) should state the type of security that is available with your Wireless hardware.

All devices MUST be set to the same security level using the same pass phrase.

Therefore the security must be set according what ever is the best possible of one of the Wireless devices.
I.e. even if most of your system might be capable to be configured to the max. with WPA2, but one device is only capable to be configured to max . of WEP, to whole system must be configured to WEP.

If you need more good security and one device (like a Wireless card that can do WEP only) is holding better security for the whole Network, replace the device with a better one.

Setting Wireless Security - <http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html>

 

[hahn]

I attempted to try this tonight when I found an extra ethernet cable but it didn't work. My Dlink router IP is 192.168.0.1; however when I tried to change my Linksys router IP to 192.168.0.254, it didn't work at all and I couldn't access it anymore (after I disabled DHCP on the Linksys).