Connecting two routers and two switches to one network.

[rbd12345]

Hi I am currently trying to set up a network for an organisation and cannot seem to be able to get any of the routers or switches on the same network. We now have Cat5 network ports connected to the switches throughout the building.

 

We have a Netgear WGR614v9 (Router 2) connected to a Netgear WGR614v9 (Router 1)

We also have a TP-LINK TL-SF1008D (Switch 2) connected to a Netgear R114 (Switch 1) connected to a Netgear WGR614v9 (Router 1).

 

Printer 1 is connected to the Netgear R114 (Switch 1)

Printer 2 is connected to the TP-LINK TL-SF1008D (Switch 2)

 

Network Port 1 (Printer 1), Network Port 3 and 4 are connected to the Netgear R114 (Switch 1)

Network Port 2 (Printer 2), Network Port 5, 6 and 7 are connected to the TP-LINK TL-SF1008D (Switch 2)

 

At the moment I have to be connected to port 3 or 4 to print to Printer 1 and 5, 6 and 7 to print to Printer 2. I also cannot print wirelessly from either of the routers. This is because all the switches and routers are in 4 separate networks.

 

I would like to know how I can connect all the routers and network switches together so they are all on the same network (so I can print to printer 1 and 2 from any switch or router and also be able to connect to other computers on the network regardless of the network switch or router they are connected to. Can someone please help and also try to explain how I can do this in step by step instructions as I am quite new to this.

 

Thanks,

Richard

[bald_pig]

Sounds like the switches might have VLANS configured? You'll have to go into the switches config and correct this. Also, ensure that both routers aren't trying to perform DHCP.

[rbd12345]

Ok thanks for the reply what does VLANS mean?

[cpjitservices]

Why is router one plugged into router 2 ?

 

"We have a Netgear WGR614v9 (Router 2) connected to a Netgear WGR614v9 (Router 1)"

 

How are these configured ? If they are both plugged directly into each other depending on how they are configured your going to have problems, DHCP for instance doleing out IP's on both routers could be on 2 different ranges, thats one issue. You could plug both routers into either or both switches, what are you trying to achieve ?

 

Best option, plug all your devices into one switch, use one router doling out DHCP on one IP Range. Sounds like all you need.

 

FYI, dont worry about VLANS those switches arne't capable.

Edited August 8, 2014 by cpjitservices

[MatthewL]

Question is why are there 2 routers? Is it for 2 internet connections or have you just got 2 for the sake of it?

[rbd12345]

I have two switches because we have a lot of computers and we have two wireless routers because we have a big building and need wifi access at both ends of the building. Many companies, organisations and schools have many different switches and wireless routers not just one of each.

[jonawd]

I can see that you need multiple Access Points, but generally you wouldn't use multiple Routers (although they can be handy as WAP's come Switches if you have them lying around)

It sounds like you have both of these Routers set-up as just that, Routers, rather than WAP's.

 

How is DHCP Managed? Is that being done by one of these routers or somewhere else?

It does sound like they are either configured in conflict, or on seperate IP ranges, but its always difficult to tell without seeing the setups.

[Roberto]

What you've got here is, respectfully, a bit of a muddle.

 

From what I can tell, the Netgear R114 is also a router, even if you're not using it as such, and all the routers you have are domestic/small business routers and making these kinds of products play nicely on the same network as one-another was not a priority in the minds of their designers.

 

Ideally you'd look at replacing those home wireless routers with something a bit more 'business class' if you want a wireless network that roams between several access points without problems but at the very least you should make sure you've configured them all consistently. You need to do the following as a basic starting point:

 

* If you're using the DHCP service offered by these routers then make sure you only have oneDHCP server on the network, assuming you're using DHCP at all, of course.

* Make sure you're not connecting all these home router "switches" to one another via their "internet/uplink" ports, e.g. you should only use the shared/LAN ports to connect devices if you want one network, this includes connections between the "switches" themselves.

* Check that none of the routers have firewalls/filters turned on that block LAN clients from talking to one another (unlikely but you never know).

 

Many companies, organisations and schools have many different switches and wireless routers not just one of each.

 

That seems a bit patronising and uncalled for, especially as your original post is somewhat confusing and people are just trying to clarify what is going on. You're not going to get people wanting to help you if you get your nose out of joint at someone trying to make sense of what you're trying to do.

[rbd12345]

I didn't mean to say that the way I typed I was basically saying they do it so is there anyway I can. Sorry.

[cpjitservices]

Use one of the routers as an access point not a router, use 1 router on one ip range, use both switches if you need to.

 

Yes, many companies etc do use more than one router, BUT they are business / enterprise grade & do different things. YOu need to eliminate one of your routers and use it just as a bare acess point bridged with the current wifi network.

[kevin_lane]

Humm very confusing setup how many networks do you have