Help needed with wireless router + separate modem

[baldric]

Hi everyone

Not sure if this is the right place to ask this, but here goes.
I'm struggling to setup my home network (as usual). I have a new wireless router (TRENDnet TEW-652BRP), and I have an existing D-Link ADSL Modem (not wireless, but I forget the model...)
Basically, I would like the following setup as first prize:
Internet connection handled exclusively by modem, and all lan and wlan stuff at home handled exclusively by wireless router (e.g. filtering and dhcp). I'm pretty sure this should be simple, but I'm a noob... Up till recently I had a DLink wireless router, and I could only ever get my setup working by having the modem do everything, and the wireless router was just acting as a dumb access point.
Can anyone give me the basics on how to achieve this, or a link to a good article on it? I've tried one or two articles so far with little success, but the problem is I don't know exactly the right questions to ask.
(Oh, by the way, I can fairly easily get the internet part working just through the modem, and just get dhcp etc working on either... its the "perfect" combination of all of it together that I can't get )

 

[RoganDawes]

In general, it is simplest to configure the ADSL modem in bridging mode, and let the wireless router handle everything else, including the PPPoE connection to the Internet via the ADSL modem, as well as DHCP, etc.

One reason for this is that the wireless router can then use its own address as the gateway, when handing out DHCP leases. Not many wireless routers have the ability to specify a different gateway address.

So, the ADSL modem would be on a "private" network connected to the wireless router's WAN port (just a crossover cable, really), and none of your PC's, etc, would even know it exists. All they would see is the wireless router, which would hand out DHCP leases.

The ADSL modem would be configured in one network (e.g. give it a fixed IP address of 192.168.2.2), your wireless router would be configured in a different network (e.g. give it a fixed IP address of 192.168.1.1), and your PC's and other devices would be given addresses in the 192.168.1.0/24 network.

The only problem is that it can become tricky to get access to the ADSL modem's status pages, to track whether it is sync'ing or not, and at what rate. You may be able to set up port forwarding rules on the wireless router to pass traffic through to the ADSL modem, rather than routing it via the PPPoE connection to the Internet.

 

[Sinbad]

I have a similar setup. However, I allow the ADSL modem to handle all the DHCP etc stuff. Much easier from a DNS server point of view when switching ISPs etc. Also, then the ADSL modem handles the routing/firewalling/NAT, which it is designed to do. The wireless AP just relays the DHCP requests to the adsl modem.

If your wireless router is an adsl router, why not eliminate the modem altogether? Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication etc etc

 

[TJ99]

I agree with post #2. I don't know the specifics of your router and modem, but if it's a proper wireless router (i.e not one with built-in modem), it has a port specifically for connecting a modem, which it then configures automatically. You'll then just be able to access the router's configuration and set up your PPPoE connection and all. If not you might need to set up bridge mode manually..

A quick Google reveals that that is indeed a standalone router. It has the WAN port. Connect the modem to that port and set up your connection in the router. Everything else should be automatic.

 

[iDOL]

I have the exact same setup.

I've got a Billion BiPAC 5210S RC - ADSL2+ Modem with a single Lan port - configured in bridge mode and a different/seperate lan IP range.

The router and modem , both came with the same default IP address and range, so I changed my router to my preferred range that I use internally.

The Billion is connected to my Asus RT-N66U via the WAN port. the N66U handles all of my DHCP allocations for the rest of my internal LAN. the Router initiates the PPOE connection via the Modem in my instance. I've got a 24 port unmanaged switch connected to the N66U - to provide extra network access - as the 4 on the N66U is not enough.

 

[Sinbad]

If it's in bridge mode, it doesn't need IP addresses on those ports does it? Bridging and PPOE happens at a layer below IP?

 

[baldric]

thanks everyone, so far. I'll try it all out again at home tonight, and let you know how far I get....