Extending/expanding network with multiple routers...

DJ... said:
And then they should both serve the internet and content from the media box connected to router one?
Click to expand...
Pretty much got it.

One mod I'd do for seamless mgmt is to put both router (LAN) IPs on the same net. So if the Internet router is 192.168.0.1, make the other 192.168.0.2 both with a mask of 255.255.255.0. This also assumes your DHCP range starts higher e.g. 192.168.0.100 ->
 
Roman4604 said:
Pretty much got it.

One mod I'd do for seamless mgmt is to put both router (LAN) IPs on the same net. So if the Internet router is 192.168.0.1, make the other 192.168.0.2 both with a mask of 255.255.255.0. This also assumes your DHCP range starts higher e.g. 192.168.0.100 ->
Click to expand...

DHCP starts in the hundreds so I should be able to do that. I logged in to my router quickly and it looks quite simple to setup that way.

I'll be testing this over the weekend so I will revert back then.

Just so I understand this correctly:

The DHCP server dishes out IP addresses, hence why router two's DHCP server is switched off, so that IP addresses are handed out by router one. Therefore there will be no IP conflicts.
Router two then has nothing in the WAN setup and therefore simply acts as a wired repeater for anything going on in router one.
The SSIDs remain the same on both networks with the same security settings to ensure seamless changing over.
Anyone connected to router two won't hog the wireless bandwidth of router one, and they can therefore both stream content wirelessly independent of each other.
All of this equals no more buffering due to numerous clients being served by a single router. Each media centre can be served by its own router.
I can add a third router if I wanted, and all I need to do is change the IP address of that router to 192.168.1.3 and follow the previous setup procedures.

I feel like such a geek now...
 
DJ... said:
The two routers I'm thinking of have different IP ranges completely (10.0.0.1-100 & 192.168.0.1-100), so here is my layman's understanding:

Enable the dhcp server on the main router connected to the internet.
Connect router two via ethernet and switch off the dhcp server.
Use the same SSID for both routers but on different channels to ensure no interference.
Ensure both routers are broadcasting their SSIDs.

And then they should both serve the internet and content from the media box connected to router one?
Click to expand...

That is the key - all my hair pulling was with trying to get them to repeat wirelessly

Good luck
 
AfricanTech said:
That is the key - all my hair pulling was with trying to get them to repeat wirelessly

Good luck
Click to expand...

Hopefully your struggles will help me avoid them. So it wasn't all in vain...:D

Thanks for your input though. Lots of grass for you...
 
DJ... said:
The DHCP server dishes out IP addresses, hence why router two's DHCP server is switched off, so that IP addresses are handed out by router one.
Click to expand...
Yep, also important is that one DHCP server (on Internet router) will inject its own LAN IP as the default route for all DHCP clients, so they all know how to get to the Internet.

DJ... said:
Therefore there will be no IP conflicts.
Click to expand...
Yes on a DHCP level. You must still ensure no statically configured devices/PC clash with the DHCP range e.g. use low digits .1 .2 .3 for network devices, .50 .51 .52 for static server PCs, with DHCP dishing out .100 .101 .102 etc to dynamic devices/PCs (wired or wireless).

DJ... said:
Router two then has nothing in the WAN setup and therefore simply acts as a wired repeater for anything going on in router one.
Click to expand...
Yep, router2 plays no part in any IP (Internet) routing since its not the default route. Its LAN IP is purely there to access its web mgmt interface. Its only purpose is to switch/bridge between its WiFi clients and wired LAN ports (one which happens to be interconnected to router1).

DJ... said:
Anyone connected to router two won't hog the wireless bandwidth of router one, and they can therefore both stream content wirelessly independent of each other.
Click to expand...
Yes assuming each WiFi client is associated to a different router (AP).

DJ... said:
All of this equals no more buffering due to numerous clients being served by a single router.
Click to expand...
Well that all depends on the quality of each wireless connection, but its logical to expect things will work better with shorter distances & reduced obstruction between clients & APs.

DJ... said:
Each media centre can be served by its own router.
Click to expand...
Shouldn't matter if the media centres/servers are both on one or seperate routers. Your multiple streams should not overrun a 100Mbps full duplex Ethernet link (the one between the routers).

DJ... said:
I can add a third router if I wanted, and all I need to do is change the IP address of that router to 192.168.1.3
Click to expand...
Would need to be 192.168.0.3 to follow on the previous scheme. Since you are interconnecting switch ports & bridged WiFi interfaces, they all reside on the same Ethernet switching domain, thus must all be on the same IP net i.e. first 3 octets remain the same e.g. 192.168.0.x
 
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Thanks Roman. I actually understood about 90% of that, and I guess the other 10% I'll be teaching myself this weekend.

I really appreciate you taking the time to help in such detail...
 
Roman4604 said:
No prob, good luck.

I will just add you're dealing with consumer grade networking hw/sw, which does not always gel (flaky sw, diff chipsets) so a bit of trial & error may be necessary. To assist with your wireless diagnosis, see my post here ...

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthr...eless-AP-s?p=10214616&viewfull=1#post10214616
Click to expand...

Ha, I already have inSSider installed. Got it the other day as I came to realise how important the channel issue is...

EDIT: and Wifi Analyzer and Wifi Manager on the Android devices...:D
 
SauRoNZA said:
The closest machines can connect to the Router's Wireless and the rest can use the Ubiquiti.

http://www.scoopdistribution.co.za/product_info.php?cPath=101_75&products_id=1326

You cannot go wrong with those products. Throw the other three routers out and it will be the best decision you ever made.
Click to expand...

Sauron, thank you for this - bit the bullet and bought one today.

They are scarce as hen's teeth - (supplier says they fly out as soon as they land) - I'm not registered as a dealer, so I paid a bit of a premium (it's worth registering with them then you get dealer pricing - it's even better if you are prepared to wait for Uniterm to get stock - they are much cheaper).

Downloaded the latest controller software, plugged in the leads, 2 minutes of config and wahey, up and running -no fuss, no bother.

So far it's looking good - really good - I've disabled the WiFi on the primary router 'cos I don't need it with this device.

I really, really like the management features - you can limit individual users, see exactly how much they traffic is coming and going per user - absolutely brilliant.

Signal appears to be rock-solid (even in the room that traditionally I have struggled with.

Will see how it goes over the next few days and report back.

So far :D - the real test is feedback from SO who has been moaning about the previous setup for months now.
 
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Lekker, which one did you get?

About the only moan I have with them is that you can't just "resume" a configuration on the re installation or new installation of the software. Well maybe you can, but I certainly haven't figured it out yet.

Not a big drama but would have been nice to just start the software and pop my username and password in and off we go.
 
SauRoNZA said:
Lekker, which one did you get?

About the only moan I have with them is that you can't just "resume" a configuration on the re installation or new installation of the software. Well maybe you can, but I certainly haven't figured it out yet.

Not a big drama but would have been nice to just start the software and pop my username and password in and off we go.
Click to expand...

The one in your first link (uap-lr)

Yeah, you have to 'take it over'
 
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