sharing printers/files across routers

[mjrand]

I have a d-link router connected to my cable modem. Computer A is connected to that router. I have a USR router plugged into the d-link router and Computer B and Computer C are connected to the USR router. Is there any way to share files/printers from Computer A to Computer B and C?

Technically everything is on the same network, simply on two different routers. My previous setup had everything connected to the USR and file/printer sharing worked fine. With the new setup, Computer A can't communicate with Computer B or C at all.

 

[oynaz]

Are there any particular reason for this somewhat complicated setup? If not, I suggest you simply purchase a network swich and connect it to one of the routers. Disconnect the other router.
A switch cost something like $20, and this simpler setup will save you a lot of headaches.

 

[mjrand]

Yes. I want to run the d-link in pure 802.11n mode. I only have 1 802.11n card. My others are a 802.11g and 802.11b. So I wire the USR router to the dlink and then connect the other 2 computers to the USR router. So is there any way to make this work with my setup?

 

[mjrand]

Anyone else?

 

[TheStu]

You should be able to setup the USR router to accept its DHCP info from the DLink, that way it is acting as a switch rather than a router. Let the DLink handle the routing, firewall and all that jazz. Then make sure that all the machines release and renew their DHCP info, verify that they are now on the same subnet, maybe even on the same workgroup, and you should be solid.

 

[oynaz]

^^Exactly.

"You should be able to setup the USR router to accept its DHCP info from the DLink, that way it is acting as a switch rather than a router."

This option is known by many strange names, like "Transperant routing" and "Access point mode"

 

[mjrand]

I need the USR to act as a router though, not as a switch. My 802.11g card sometimes kills the router and causes it to restart itself. With my current setup it only kills the USR router. The clients connected to the D-Link stay connected. I need to make sure that the 802.11g card won't kill and restart the D-Link router. What else can I do?

 

[oynaz]

Fix your 802.11g card?

I am not even sure that the Windows File and Print sharing can be routed.

 

[mjrand]

Heh it's not my card that's broken. The power going to the PCI slots in one of my PCs is causing the problems with the 802.11g card. There must be way to do it. The 802.11n computer and the g router are both plugged into the n router so it should definitely be possible to share across them.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Just a quick FYI, 802.11n does NOT play well with a 802.11b/g network, you will likely have many issues if you try to run both.

 

[mjrand]

I am running both right now without any problems whatsoever. This is a draft 2.0 802.11n router. Only thing I need to figure out is how to share files/printers between them all.

 

[mjrand]

Anyone else have any ideas?

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: mjrand
Anyone else have any ideas?

I suppose I don't see the basic issue.

Switch the router that's 'behind' the other router so that it isn't routing, but is instead a simple hub.

Attach it to the router, bearing in mind it now is simply a hub with a WAP(N) on it.

All devices on the new 'hub' get IP information from the primary router.

All devices are on the same subnet now, and all devices can browse and see each other.

(Bear in mind you'll not use the uplink port on the WAP(N) router anymore.)