Connecting 2 Routers and PCs to the Internet: Help Needed

[BlackJack]

I want to build up a network with two RP614 routers.R1 is connected to a cablemodem and the R2. R2 is linked to two computers. Now can you help me so that I can go from one PC to the internet over the two routers ? Or do you know a good forum for these sort of problems ?

thx to all answers

 

[dduardo]

um, why do you need two routers? I have a linksys router connected to three computers and my dsl modem. Security wise your not going to be any better with two routers.

I also don't understand why you need to hook up R1 to the cablemodem and R2. Do you already have an existing network that your adding too? In that case you need a switch, not another router.

Finally, why do you need a computer to have access to the internet from two routers? Your not going to get fasters speeds from your cable modem.

Can you please elaborate on how your network is setup and what your goals are.

Thanks.

Dave

 

[BlackJack]

Okay Question after Question :

Why 2 Routers:

Because my father bought two, but even I told him we neede 1 Switch and 1 Router

Connect to the Cablemodem:

R1 has to be connected to the cablemodem so I can go online. Then link it to the other PC's. No there isn't an existing network.

Access to the internet:

Huh? You probably missunderstood me there. I need to access the internet from the 2 PC over the Routers (to the cablemodem).

Sorry for that bad information before.

 

[dduardo]

yeah, just sell the extra router on ebay if you can't return it. You only need one

Cable Modem->Wan of Router
Two Computers -> Lan of Router

Based on the model number I found your device to be a Model RP614
4-Port Cable/DSL Router with 10/100 Mbps Switch

If this is true then you just stick with the above method of connecting the computers to the router. Since you only have two computers 4 ports is more than enough.

 

[BoulderHead]

BlackJack,
‘Wethinks’ you don’t fully understand something. Most routers include a multi port switch built in;
http://www.linksys.com/Products/product.asp?grid=23&prid=20

On the back side of such a device is a port labeled WAN, and this is what connects to your cable or DSL modem. There is also an Uplink port to expand your network by connecting to another hub or switch, but you don’t have enough computers to warrant such a configuration. There will also be some ports labeled 1, 2 ,3, 4, etc, and these are the ports that both of your computers will connect to. But the bottom line is that everything now depends on the components your father purchased. Can you link us to a picture so the limitations of the hardware can be looked at? In other words; what exactly did he buy?

[edit]
Scratch that, dduardo succeeded in actually recognizing the component descriptions whereas I failed to do so, teehehe.

 

[BlackJack]

thx very much for all your help

still one unanswered question: Will it work if I know replace R2 with a switch ?

Explained it to my father and he told me to buy a switch . What's the average of a switch? Not more then 50 quid I hope

 

[dduardo]

you don't need a switch. All you need is one of the routers you purchased. If you get 3 more computers then you need a switch.

4 ports minus 2 computers = 2 free ports.

 

[BlackJack]

True, but the cables aren't long enough from the PC's to the Router . I would have to extend the cables . That's why my father bought two routers in the first place

 

[dduardo]

How long do you need the cables to be? If all you need is a longer ethernet, then go out and get a longer cable. (http://www.cables4sure.com/products.asp?id=31 ) Is 75feet ~ 23m long enought? Another option is to get an ethernet repeater.

There is a reason why man created wireless.

 

[russ_watters]

Originally posted by BlackJack
True, but the cables aren't long enough from the PC's to the Router . I would have to extend the cables . That's why my father bought two routers in the first place

Cables are cheaper than the hardware. Get longer cables. FYI, Cat5e cables (standard ethernet cables) are good to 100m.

And to clarify (again) - you already have a switch. Its inside the router.

 

[BlackJack]

Yes, I'm quite sure that longer cables were cheaper but I forgot to tell you one thing, the cables are already fixed, meaning I would have to pull them out off the wall, which takes too much time. So don't you think a switch would be cheaper ? Other question : Can I turn a router into a switch ?

 

[dduardo]

You could turn a router into a switch if the software permitted it. I've looked through the whole documentation of the router and see nothing for doing that.

Another option: get a cat5 coupler as seen here: http://www.cat5ecableguy.com/cat55ecabcou.html

Or if your planning to sell your home one day, you might want to get an ethernet wall outlet panel (like the telephone outlet but for cat5 cable). I don't think someone buying a house finds loose ethernet cabling appealing.

Final question: Who chose the router? It has more parential control than a daycare with web browsing and newsgroup access, auditing of web browsing with email reporting, and scheduled web blocking.

If your parents know anything about these features you better start encrypting your traffic and using a proxy. You also might want to brute force the password on the router if your parents change it from the default.

 

[BlackJack]

thank you very much dduardo you're great!
Well my father choose the router but I think he doesn't even know what he bought . Yeah I went through the manual too and you can block most things but... I already have the password set . Well I don't think my father cares what I do .

Question: This is a problem I've thinking fo since quite a while: How do I use a proxy ? Is there a list with proxy-servers or good program ? How can I encrypt my traffic ? Final Question: Whats the best UNIX available at the moment? I just want to try one out, I thought about Redhat 7.2 ? Your opinion

 

[dduardo]

Yes, there are programs that let you connect to public or private proxy-servers. If you want encrypted traffic then you want to use virtual private networks (VPN). Here is some information on Encrypting Network traffic on Linux:
http://encryptionhowto.sourceforge.net/Encryption-HOWTO-5.html

Have you hear of GNU is not Unix. Well Linux iisn't Unix, It is like Unix, but it isn't Unix.

Unix Flavors - FreeBSD , OpenBSD , OS X
Linux Flavors - Redhat (Fedora) , Debian , Suse

If your just starting out I suggest getting knoppix. You don't need to modify the hard drive, just burn the cd and boot from it. You can download the ISO image from here:
http://www.linuxiso.org/distro.php?distro=44

Once you feel comfortable and decide to use linux more regularly, I would go with Suse, Fedora, or Mandrake. The installation is very easy, and getting easier with every release.

Finally, after many years of experience, you might want to move to Debian or OpenBSD.

And if your feeling ultra elite and want ultimate control over your computer, then you might want to build your own flavor/distro from scratch.

---------------------------
Links:

http://www.knoppix.org/ <-Click on KNOPPIX Link
http://www.suse.com/us/index.html
http://fedora.redhat.com/
http://www.mandrakelinux.com/en-us/
http://www.debian.org/
http://www.openbsd.com/
http://www.freebsd.org/
http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/

 

[BlackJack]

I actually hoped I could configure my network now but nope.
My prob is that I can't see the second router. I can talk to the first router ( I set it to the IP: 192.168.0.9 and disabled DHCP) but can't get through to the second router or to the cable modem .

Plz help me

 

[dduardo]

Duh, because you have a NAT within a NAT. Why don't you just get a switch or ethernet coupler and make your life easier. If you want to be stubborn and use the two routers then your going to need to setup a static routing table.

Setup:

1. Cable Modem is connected to router 1
2. Router 1 will need DHCP turned off.
3. Router 1 will be connected to computer 1 and router 2.
4. Each device connected to router 1 will get a static IP address
5. Router 2 will also need DHCP turned off.
6. Router 2 is connected to computer 2
7. Computer 2 will get a static ip
8. Create a routing table on router 1 that makes all traffic with Computer 2's ip address go to router 2's ip address.

 

[BlackJack]

Well you're right. I get a hub tomorrow, because it's too difficult and I haven't got enought time . Thx very much too you dduardo you're a genious and btw. can you configure my network ? Just joking thx.


visit my art page : I'm better in that then building networks


http://www.frozenwinds.com/Portal/pic_showsub.asp?cat_id=5&cat=Blacky%27s