using 2 routers on my line

[Joel]

Hi all.

I have a router currently with 4 sockets but I really wanted 8 sockets. Is it possible to use 2 routers, which I have, on the same line? I have read it is not possible to have them because of one IP address given, but what about if I put them on the same line, and used a rj11 splitter to connect them both to the same socket? Then they would surely be exactly the same but just running simultaneously? I have a splitter and two routers, so could try, but thought I would seek advice first...

many thanks

[esh]

Hi Joel,

I think by sockets you are referring to LAN sockets, which you plug your computers into (ie. not the internet socket). If you want to extend your local sockets, buy a switch (or router, but switches can be cheaper) then just run a single ethernet cable from one of the LAN sockets on the main router to a LAN socket on the other. They will configure themselves quite happily, and you do not need to set up the other router for internet access. If you buy a switch, which just has LAN ports, this saves a lot of confusion. Be aware if you buy another 4 port router/switch, you won't actually get 8 sockets, because one on each will be used to link the router and the switch (you will in fact, have 6 ports). So your setup will look like

Code Select Expand


            BT phone line
                  |
               Router
              / |  |  \
            /   |  |    \
          /     |  |      \
     Switch     |  |       6
     | | |      |  |       PC
     1 2 3      4  5
   Other PCs   Other PCs


[DorsetBoy]

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=ethernet+switch

[Ted]

Something like this would do nicely http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Network-Switch-5-Ports-RJ45-LAN-Hub-Splitter-4-Cables-/190442738012?pt=UK_Computing_NetworkSwitches_RL&hash=item2c5745915c

[Steve]

If you turn off the second router's dhcp server and firewall , then assign it an IP address outside of the range of the primary DHCP server. Connect the 2 together via ethernet cable should give you another 3 ports , however I believe unlike a switch the bandwidth is distributed equally across the 3 ports.

[esh]

I'm not really sure what you mean there, Steve. Obviously the switch/router's internal bandwidth is spread across the internal ports and can only process a certain amount of data per second, but you'd hope that would match its specification and number of ports. Old hubs would broadcast all data to all ports, hence potentially causing wasted bandwidth, but this was eliminated with switches, and a router is mostly a switch with some advanced features.

[Steve]

I suppose I'm saying possibly incorrectly that a router acts like a hub and not a switch?

[esh]

I believe that would depend on the router. Mine certainly acts as a switch. Old/cheap ones may not.

[Joel]

I have two DG834Gs, one v3, one v5. I see what you all mean, so do I need an Rj11 to Rj44 lead? or a normal rj44 to rj44 from the back of one to the other, so the second acts like a switch? would it just be better to buy a switch?

[Rik]

RJ45-RJ45. A switch would be better if you don't need wireless.

[esh]

Indeed. Clarifying, ethernet-RJ45 on both ends to connect two routers or two switches. You will almost certainly want to disable the DHCP server on the 'secondary' router as someone mentioned above, otherwise the router without the DSL connection may try and hand out IP addresses (a switch will not do this).

[Lance]

Whilst a switch would be ideal, as you've already got the two routers I would just make do. As has already been said, disable DHCP on the second router, and I would also disable wireless whilst going about it.

[esh]

That's also true. Okay, here is how I would proceed.

1. Use a secondary PC or laptop, disconnect it from the main router. Plug in the secondary router (not to the DSL line) and just run an ethernet cable from the secondary router to your laptop.

2. Log into the router via it's usual IP address (http://192.168.1.1 or http://192.168.1.0)

3. Turn off the Wireless (the primary will do this)

4. Turn off the DHCP (the primary will do this)

5. Change the IP address of the secondary router (likely in LAN configuration), change it to something like http://192.168.1.100 so it will not conflict with the primary's IP address

6. Now connect the secondary router to the primary

7. Off you go!

[Joel]

Hi all

Sorry for this delayed reply.

I do actually have a switch! A belkin one, but a switch nonetheless. It has 5 sockets, including the input, leaving me with 8 in total. Right now I have that plugged in between my computer and the router, so currently have 7 free slots on the line. This has basically resolved the question, so thankyou all, much appreciated!