Connecting 2 Routers

[CAC]

Greetings Everyone,

I'm hoping someone can assist me with a small problem I'm having. First I'll tell you what the problem is, then I'll tell you how I have my hardware hooked up.

Problem: The computers hooked up to 1 of the routers are not visible to the other computers hooked up on the other router and vise versa. All the computers can only see computers hooked up to to their respective routers, including my wireless connections.

Hardware:
Dlink DI 704p with DSL Modem connected to Wan Port.
Dlink DI 614+ hooked up to DI 704p port 4 using straight cable to Wan port on DI 614+.

Configuration:
DI 704p is factory set IP address to 192.168.0.1 DHCP server enabled.

DI 614+ changed to IP address 192.168.2.1 DHCP server enabled.

All other aspects of my network are working beautifully - my laptop and PDA both have functional internet access from the DI 614+ wireless transmissions, and all wired computers as well.

I am running different OS
Win2K Pro, Win XP Pro, Win XP Home, Pocket PC 2002, Win98SE.

Well, thanks in advance for any help.

[Iman74]

Why are you connecting to routers? What you should do is replace the router that is not connected directly to the network and replace it with a switch or a hub.

[ktkendall]

U only want to use a wan port for a wan circut that it is designed for, like DSL/cable line modem or in the bigger business class Cisco routers U put things like T1 circuts in the wan port... U probably can use just the 4 port switch part of that second router and will be fine,, You'll need a crossover cable if there's not a dedicated uplink port to go from a port of the other routers switch side to a port on that routers switch side, So basically what I am thinking is that you will not use the wan port at all on that second router...

[bonzai]

-- "Problem: The computers hooked up to 1 of the routers are not visible to the other computers hooked up on the other router and vise versa. All the computers can only see computers hooked up to to their respective routers, including my wireless connections."

The job of a router is to separate the network. Your computer on one segment won't be able to "see" another computer that is on a different segment (meaning you won't be able to see each other listed on Network Neighborhood). However, you will still be able to connect to each other.

[CAC]

First off, thanks to the members for their inputs. To respond to Iman74, you are correct in assessing that I should be using a hub or switch and I guess a separate wireless access point for my wireless peripherals, but I was hoping I would be able to somehow make my network function with the equipment I have. By the way Iman74, your blinking eye is really cool.

KtKendall, your suggestion is worth a shot and I'll try it this weekend when I purchase some crossover cable. One question though. Do you think I'll need to change the IP address on the second router? See this is where I'm a little confused. The first router issues the IP addresses automatically through DHCP, port #4 usually gets asssigned 192.168.0.130, which is the port the second router is hooked up to. Should I change the address on the second router to reflect that and if so would that conflict with the second router assigning addresses also.

One more thing, I am in the process of building a server and was wondering if configuring "router access" in admin. tools on Win2K server would fix my problem. Thanks

[ktkendall]

I think that if all we want to do is just utilize the switch portion of the second router then just go in and statically assign an ip to the LAN side of that 2nd router that won't conflict with something that may be in the range of the DHCP assignments from the first router, but is in range for your network...All I am thinking here is that why not utilize the 4 port switch of that second router since U have it there and would have to go out and buy one anyways, U may save the trip and dollars if this works...

[CAC]

KtKendal your advise was right on the money. I Purchased the crossover cable this weekend and rewired by removing the straight cable from port #4 of the first router that connected to the wan port on the second router.

I went ahead and connected the crossover cable to the same port #4 on the first router, the other end to port #1 on the second router. What I also ended up doing was changing the default gateway on the second router to 192.168.0.1 and disabled DHCP on the second router as well. This allowed the first router to assign all the IP addresses.

Everything is working great! All the computers see eachother on the network (wired & wireless), and all have internet connection.

KtKendall, thank you so much for help.

[Iman74]

Damn, if I knew that was possible I would probably would have done that myself instead of getting a wireless access point. Oh well. Good tech tip. Thanks.

[ktkendall]

Good, glad to hear it is working and Thanks for letting US know how things worked out!!!