Connecting 2 routers

[kgreen8470]

I have a Linksys Wired Router and have 2 XP pcs connected to it - I am getting a SMC Barricade Wireless router so I can connect a laptop - I was wondering if there is a way to connect the two routers together or will I just have to eliminate the wired router? I just want to know if connecting 2 routers together is possible and what the pros or cons would be of doing it. Thanks.

[Omardeth]

thinjk this is in the wrong area .

[Zitch]

This should be placed in General Tech or Networking, but...


Connecting the Wireless router to the wired router should not cause a problem. The only issues to take care of is making sure that the wireless router is using a different internal subnet from the wired router (I.E. if the wired router is "serving" addresses from 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.1.255 (or IP: 192.168.1.1 Subnet: 255.255.255.0), the wireless router should use a different range of addresses, such as 192.168.2.1 to 192.168.2.255 (IP: 192.168.1.1 Subnet: 255.255.255.0).

In other words, it is very possible. There are several Pros to doing this:

Pros for connecting wireless router to wired router:

- Can have a quick way of disconnecting the wireless without disrupting the wired network. Note that you wouldn't even need a wireless router to be able to do this, and a wireless access point would do just as well.

- If you're using a 3rd party software firewall on the wired XP machines, it will be very easy to block access to them coming from the wireless router.

- More blinking lights from both routers (oohhh! Aaahhh!)

- Very marginally increased security on the wired systems if someone connects to your wireless network without "authorization"... I.E. cracks whatever wireless security you have setup.


Pros for ditching the wired router and connect everything to the wireless router (assuming it has ethernet ports to connect on the LAN side):

- Less complexity and wiring.

- Don't have to worry about conflicting subnets.

- Easier to administer the wireless router (don't have to connect a computer from the wired to the wireless router. You should never administer a wireless router from the wireless zone)

- Less problems with setting up print and file sharing.


A third option would be to connect the WAN on the wired router to a LAN port on the wireless router. To me, this would be the best setup security wise. Sure, if someone cracks your security on the wireless network, they will have full internet access (in your name), but you would have that problem in any of the other cases. The real advantage becomes that they still have to go through your wired router to get your wired network.

Oops.. this was cross-posted here: Connecting Two Routers