Using 2 Routers Together...Wierd Issue

[Nucleus111]

I'm using 2 home routers with both firewalls and NAT enabled. From the first day I connected everything it all worked fine. Then, power went out for a while and when it came back online, the second router could no longer make any outgoing connections to the first router (1st router is connected to modem). Not sure what exactly I did, but playing around with settings and changing IP addresses, I was able to get it working again. Well, I had another power outage and now this time I can't get it to work at all. If I disable the firewall setting on the second router and just leave NAT enabled, then it'll work. I've also tried powering-up the routers in different sequences thinking maybe something with the routing tables.

Basically-
Modem ---> Router1 --->
- DMZ PC
- Port Forwarding PC
- Router2 ---> Personal PCs 1-3

Anyone have any ideas?
Many Thanks.

 

[scauffiel]

The only suggestion I've got for you (because I was just burned by it) is turn off the routers for a good period of time, meaning over five minutes, before turning them back on. Turn off the modem too.

Turn the modem back on and wait until you've got steady green for a good while. Then I'd try turning the first router back on (connected to the modem) and wait for it to be steady green. Then the second router.

I was told by tech support for my router at home that it required a five minute turn off time before restarting it. Just an idea, hope you get it worked out.

Steve

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

How are the router's connected? What are you trying to accomplish with the two routers?

 

[Nucleus111]

Originally posted by: scauffiel
The only suggestion I've got for you (because I was just burned by it) is turn off the routers for a good period of time, meaning over five minutes, before turning them back on. Turn off the modem too.

Turn the modem back on and wait until you've got steady green for a good while. Then I'd try turning the first router back on (connected to the modem) and wait for it to be steady green. Then the second router.

I was told by tech support for my router at home that it required a five minute turn off time before restarting it. Just an idea, hope you get it worked out.

Steve

That's exactly what I did, but not sure if I waited 5 mins. or not (I think I did, but could try again).

What are you trying to accomplish with the two routers?

A better, isolated DMZ zone.

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

OK, upon consideration, I see where you're heading. I'm not sure why they're not working, I think I'd reset them to factory defaults and start over. When you get them working write it down!

 

[Nucleus111]

Originally posted by: gunrunnerjohn
When you get them working write it down!

That's not the issue. It's just that after power goes out it doesn't want to work again.

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

Have you tried powering things down one-at-a-time to see where the problem actually occurs? I'm not sure what the issue is, perhaps this will help isolate it. Do all of the computers experience issues after power down, or only the ones on the second router? Maybe the WAN settings on the second router need to be adjusted. Can you get them talking again by going to the second machine's WAN page and doing a release and renew of it's IP address.

Since the second router is connecting to a fixed location, you may be able to set up the WAN port with static IP addresses and the DNS server pointing to the first router, that might eliminate it getting lost.

 

[Nucleus111]

Originally posted by: gunrunnerjohn
Have you tried powering things down one-at-a-time to see where the problem actually occurs? I'm not sure what the issue is, perhaps this will help isolate it. Do all of the computers experience issues after power down, or only the ones on the second router? Maybe the WAN settings on the second router need to be adjusted. Can you get them talking again by going to the second machine's WAN page and doing a release and renew of it's IP address.

Since the second router is connecting to a fixed location, you may be able to set up the WAN port with static IP addresses and the DNS server pointing to the first router, that might eliminate it getting lost.

Everything you said is exactly what I'm doing. The second router uses a static IP in the range of the first router. Also the DNS and gateway info is the IP of the first router. Again, all was working exactly this way before the power went out. This problem is all stemming from my second router (SMC 7004ABR). With the SMC, I don't have the option of turning off NAT, only the "firewall" capabilities (the first router, Belkin, I could turn on/off either function). So, with respect to the second router (and I didn't have to do this before) - if I disable the "firewall" it will work just fine. As soon as I turn on the "firewall" function, all outbound traffic will stop.

I appreciate all the help

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

Note that the firewall being off still leaves the NAT translation in place, so you're still pretty well protected with it off, since the Internet is still behind the first router. I'd just turn off the firewall in the second router and declare yourself the winner.

 

[Nucleus111]

Yeah, that's how it's been running since and I'm pretty much fine with that. I'm just the type of person that must know why it no longer works.

Besides, the 2nd router is a SMC Barricade 7004ABR that had limited features so I'm not sure what exactly I'm losing with the firewall feature turned off?

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

You're losing the DOS attack protection, but I can't imagine that getting through the first router anyway. I also don't know why the second router can't connect, unless there's some oddball setting in the first router that's blocking the addresses... I've connected routers like this, just to see if it would work, and mine worked first time, and I even used DHCP on the second router. FWIW, the second router was an SMC7004AWBR with the firewall (such as it is) enabled, no sweat.