Nesting routers - how to do it??

[drwoo123]

Problem:

When I plug my laptop into the same hub that has my linux box and ssh / use emacs etc. it is blazlingly fast. Same thing only I unplug the laptop from there and use the wireless connection in my house, the setup is roughly 20 times slower (I know wireless is 11MB but still shouldn't be that kind of difference). I have a kingston hub - weird thing that happens is the following, the link light that is connecting that hub to my router blinks on and off every time there is a delay in my typing.

Meaning the following occurs.

1. Using a wireless setup - i ssh into linux machine - and then start typing while watching the uplink light on the hub (connected to a wireless router).

2. As uplink light vanishes for 1 second, which coincides with the delay in my typing.


My Setup

1. Kingston 8 port hub.
2. Netgear MR814 Wireless Router
3. Netgear RT314 Wired Router (my older one).

Currently the setup is Internet Connection -> MR814 -> Kingston Hub -> Linux Box.

I tried Internet Connection -> RT314 -> Kingston Hub -> Linux Box and same problem so I know its not the router.

Now I am going to try Internet Connection -> MR814 -> RT314 -> Linux Box and see what happens.


My question is:
1. Should the cables (all straight through and CAT 5) be connected to any particular ports on the routers. I know for the Kingston it has to be plugged into the uplink port (port 8) and then I set the switch in the front to straight through (maybe I should set it to crossover - i tried and both seem to work just fine -- ??).

2. Has anyone else had the problem of the uplink light turning off and then back on - I spent good money on this hub and would hate to throw it out - also b/c I don't think the hub is broken, just something I am missing somewhere.]

3. What setup would you recommend to do this.

I posted HERE as well - hopefully someone should be able to handle this.

thanks again.

 

[spidey07]

quite possibly a cable problem.

Also wireless is ridiculously slow ususally in the 1-2 Mbs range.

I'd try buy a new cat5 cable and use it between the problem devices.

 

[drwoo123]

I just tried plugging the cable that was going to the uplink port of the hub directly into the linux box - problem is gone. So i know for sure that the cable is fine, and that the router plugged directly into the internet is fine.

Now the only option is that either the hub I was using has gone bad - or when nesting, this is to be an expected problem???

Again, maybe I'm doing something wrong in terms of the way I have nested the router / hub.

thanks for your try though.

 

[spidey07]

inernet connect --> router --> hub ---> pcs/network devices

That is just fine. I'm not familiar with your model hub but on some the uplink port is "shared" with another port and only one can be used. Generally if your troubleshooting a network you simplify things and try and find a common trend.

As an aside cable problems can be very tricky...meaning the cable will work with one device but not the other. I'd try replacing the cable as well. Just because it works on the PC and not the hub doesn't mean the cable is good. Especially if the cables were not store bought and were homemade.

 

[drwoo123]

Cool - well I've ordered some new cable - it was store bought - but you are right that might be it. In the meanwhile, if I want to do

internet -> router -> router-> linux machine

Do I need to pay attention to particular ports on the second router ie. should the cable go into the port labeled internet, or one of the other ones.

thanks again.

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

Why are you daisy-chaining the routers? If it's just to get the extra ports, why not use a $15 switch? If you have something else in mind, what are you trying to accomplish?

 

[WTT0001]

Break down and buy a switch