Router to router connection

[DougK62]

I always seem to forget when to use a crossover and when to use a straight cable. I'm putting a new router in between an existing router and a switch. Here are my connections:

(1) Router One LAN --> Router Two WAN
(2) Router Two LAN --> Switch and rest of network

I think that (1) is a crossover and (2) is a straight. Is this correct?

Thanks :beer:

 

[JackMDS]

I doubt that connection 1 will work at all.

However the WAN input is an Uplink.

Connection 1 = Straight.

Connection 2 = Crossover.

AnandTech - FAQ. CAT5 Straight, Crossover. What is CAT5, which one should I Use?

 

[DougK62]

Thanks for the input. I didn't know that the WAN ports are uplinks. BTW, if it matters (1) is a Cisco 2600 and (2) is a Linksys BEFSX41.

 

[Night201]

Let me warn you, I did this setup once and the BEFSR41 was out of sinc with the Cisco 2620 router we have. I tried changing all the speeds in the router and changing the duplexing and everything and nothing worked - Cisco couldn't even help me. The upload/outbound sync was not in-sync. This router was connected to a T1. We got the 1.5mbps downstream, but out upload was very unstable (ranged from about 50-400k/sec - usually hovered around 200k - that's only about 1/7 of the speed it should have been.). Many packets were being lost, etc...

Well, when all was said and done, nothing worked. It was frustrating, so I got rid of the Linksys router. Instead, I just used another computer I had laying around and put another nic in there. I am using that computer as the router. So, the setup I have is:

T1 - > Cisco 2620 (2600 series router)
Cisco 2620 router -> NIC 1 in computer via a cross-over cable
NIC 2 in computer to uplink port on a 16-port linksys switch via a regular cable.

I am going to be adding another 16-port switch this weekend.

Let me know if you run into any problems or have any questions. Just giving you a heads-up to a possible problem.

 

[DougK62]

Thanks for the information - I'll definitely keep it in mind. Hopefully I won't have problems like that. Right now I've added the Linksys router off of one of my hubs to do some testing before implementation tomorrow. It's working perfectly fine. Granted, it's a little downstream from the Cisco router and not directly connected physically to it, but it's still a good sign.

Thanks again :beer:

 

[Night201]

What's your setup going to be like? What's connecting to what?

 

[DougK62]

T1 ---> Cisco 2600 ---> Linksys BEFSX41 ---> three daisy chained Netgear hubs ---> all the win98/NT computers and two gestetner printers

Thanks.

 

[Night201]

That problem I was talking about will lie between the 2 routers. After you connect the Linksys to the Cisco, try to get a computer up and running on it. Go to dslreports.com and do a speed test and check the upload and download speeds. Let me know how it goes.

 

[Buddha Bart]

whats the point of the linksys?

It sounds like you don't need it for a router, you just need the switch built in. In that case, don't use the WAN port on the linksys.

bart

 

[Night201]

He would need it for the DHCP to assign IP addresses.

 

[Buddha Bart]

the cisco can do the dhcp serving

bart

 

[DougK62]

Originally posted by: Buddha Bart
whats the point of the linksys?

It sounds like you don't need it for a router, you just need the switch built in. In that case, don't use the WAN port on the linksys.

bart

Why would I buy a router if I only needed a switch? The Cisco router is part of a "managed" package from our provider - meaning that I can't touch it. I bought the Linksys because I wanted to implement network address translation.

Night201 - I got it all up and running and I get test times the same as before I did it. Thank goodness Thanks for your interest, though.

 

[JackMDS]

Quote: Why would I buy a router if I only needed a switch?


Entry Level Cable//DSL Routers are a combo of a Switch, and simplified implementation of NAT. This NAT by the way it is implemented serve also as a Firewall.

Your Cisco2600 has all of these goodies inside without a Switch. This is why you need only a Switch!

So why did you buy a Router?

 

[DougK62]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
Quote: Why would I buy a router if I only needed a switch?


Entry Level Cable//DSL Routers are a combo of a Switch, and simplified implementation of NAT. This NAT by the way it is implemented serve also as a Firewall.

Your Cisco2600 has all of these goodies inside without a Switch. This is why you need only a Switch!

So why did you buy a Router?

I will say it again - maybe I wasn't clear before. Please try and understand. The Cisco router IS NOT MINE. It is my service provider's equipment and it cannot be altered. They set it up initially and will not change it to allow for NAT. I cannot even get access into it. This is a feature of our "managed" T1 service that we have a contract for and cannot break. So, in order for me to use NAT I had to buy my own router to setup behind the Cisco.

BTW, your cabling advice was not correct. Connection (1) was a crossover and connection (2) was a straight. I thank you for your time and replies, though.

 

[mboy]

Better off buying something like a Sonicwall SOHO3 or Pro 100 (yeah they cost a lot more), but u can do NAT and DHCP off of either AND u will have a real, bonafide Firewall with inbound/outbound ACL's, Content/keyword filtering, and REAL protection!
You could even go with one of those Webramp 700s that are floating around that can be easily flashed to the original Sonicwall SOHO box and have a VPN endpoint as well as NAT and DHCP. Mine with the vpn/unl. user upgrade chip was under $70. That would be PERFECT for your situation!
Then add some inexpensive switches (10/100)s and connect an uplink in the switch to one of the LAN ports on the webramp/sw (sinc e the LAN ports are only 10mb, might as well have all the pc's into the switches to get a 100mb LAN (how I have mine set up at home)

 

[rw120555]

OK, I'll ask one of my stupid questions here: I thought a router had to do NAT. I mean, isn't the idea that one external IP goes into the router, X number of local IPs go out -- and when the local machines connect to the rest of the world, everything goes through the external IP? I'm not doubting what DougK62 says, but I just don't understand it. But, my personal experience with routers is limited to my Netgear rp334, so I'm sure there is a lot I don't know about.