Optimal Home LAN Setup

[Van G]

Looking for advice on setting up LAN from cable modem in.

Have the following hardware: WRT54GL (1.1), 8 port Green switch (unmanaged), E3000

Setup: WRT54 connects to cable modem and acts as router in basement closet.

Switch connects to WRT54 (cat6)

E3000 connects (cat5e) to WRT54 and acts as WAP on main floor.

Is this right or is the WRT54 not fast enough to manage network traffic?

Which device would be used to configure the wifi users, in particular, the guest user? Linksys E3000 guest account crashes all the time?

Is there a speed benefit to installing dd-wrt or tomato on either device?

Advice for max stability and speed?

 

[Van G]

Any takers?

 

[imagoon]

You haven't given us anything that really would help us answer your questions.

Why are you trying to do this?

Is this right or is the WRT54 not fast enough to manage network traffic?

Can't answer this, you have not told us what cable speeds you are looking at and what speeds you expect inside.

Which device would be used to configure the wifi users, in particular, the guest user?

Not sure how to answer this question. Which of the 2 wireless routers do you want to provide Wifi?

Linksys E3000 guest account crashes all the time?

No idea on this. This is a statement with a question mark not a question.

Is there a speed benefit to installing dd-wrt or tomato on either device?

Rarely has speed advantages, it tends to add features and stability.

Advice for max stability and speed?

See above.

 

[mammador]

What are your Internet uses? And how much bandwidth do you need/desire?

The setup you have should work for most home Internet bandwidth use

 

[Van G]

Clarification:

I'm looking for advice/confirmation on the setup of the the three devices (WRT54GL, E3000, Switch). I am currently only using the E3000 and switch without issue (other than guest account on E3000).

So, is this the right placement of each device:
Setup: WRT54 connects to cable modem and acts as router in basement closet.
Switch connects to WRT54 (cat6)
E3000 connects (cat5e) to WRT54 and acts as WAP on main floor.

And, is the WRT54 able to act as the router for the LAN and Internet bandwidth?


The guest account on the E3000 works occasionally (guest device is connected to Wifi and then enters password on webpage).
- can this be improved by using Tomato or DD-WRT?

Internet needs are pretty standard (web, streaming, cloud backup, email, usenet,...). Cable service is 42/1 Mbps.

LAN consists of Workstation, HTPC, AVR, iPad, iPhone, PVR, PS3, MFC

 

[imagoon]

WRT54 does about ~53Mbps Wan to (w)LAN so it should be ok for the internet side. If your wired gear is on the switch, any in LAN transfers are switch limited not the WRT54.

I have 0 experience with E3000 + DD-WRT but with the success people have with it I would think it would support guest better.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Cable service is 42/1 Mbps.

Ouch. Your upload is pretty limited, considering your download. I'm on 25/25 FIOS. I couldn't stand to be on a 1Mbit upload, that's like DSL speeds for server apps.

Hope you don't plan on ever using streaming services like twitch.tv.

 

[JackMDS]

Assuming that the E300 is used as a Real Access Point (i.e., no connection to the WAN port and its core IP is on the WRT54 subnet)

Your setting should work OK. The Guest cashes on the E3000 is probably own problem and Not topology problem.



😎



Ho

 

[Van G]

Jack, I assume you mean turning off DHCP and connecting E3000 to one of the LAN ports on the WRT54?

For setting up the E3000 as WAP, I was going to turn off the DHCP server, config static IP to 192.168.1.xx (192.168.1.1 being WRT54).

For the Wifi guest access on the E3000, from what I've found it can only be setup using the Cisco Connect software, and not by logging directly into router.

 

[JackMDS]

@Van G

Yeah the "Old Wild West" was mellow as compare to what is going on in the Wireless (WIFI) consumer market.

It developed to one of the biggest Tech. commercial "ripoff" in History (Yeah, ""you get"" 300 feet indoor, and 600Mb/sec. usable bandwidth 😵 - 🙄 - 😱 - :'( - 🙁 - 😕 - :thumbsdown: - :twisted🙂.

In any case, the guest on the E4200 (I have one) works from the Browser interface and does not seem to suffer from the horrors of the guest account on the E3000.

The good thing is that these "plastic boxes" are so inexpensive that my approach is "save few $$" by reducing for few days parts of fatty unhealthy food, and alcohol that kills brain cells. Then wit the saving get or replace the sub $100 device with another one.


😎

 

[Van G]

That's good perspective Jack. Think I'll just tell my guests to use the neighbours bandwidth until I get around to picking up the E4200.