Home Modem and Router Setup

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Und3f

90 posts

Master Geek

#185221 14-Nov-2015 15:17

Hi all, Hope some of the expert or experience network Geekzone members can help with my questions.

My home network set up currently with main VDSL2 modem router downstairs and LAN powerline up to a router upstairs. It's currently working great but recently I purchased Seagate personal cloud NAS drive.

The way it set up now the main modem and router upstairs work in different domain/subnets and therefore for the NAS only visible in the main modem domain and none of the upstairs devices can't see the NAS drive.

Could anyone advise provide a great link for me on:

How I can set up the router upstairs to be part of downstairs modem/router domain/subnet
Whether this is the best way to set it up without degrading the current network performance as currently it's working great

Thank you in advance :)

Sideface

9355 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1428026 14-Nov-2015 16:04

Why do you have two routers?

Why not have a switch (or WAP) upstairs and the modem downstairs?

Sideface

RunningMan

8955 posts

Uber Geek

#1428027 14-Nov-2015 16:08

Can you configure your upstairs router to bridge mode or similar - essentially disabling the routing functions

Und3f

90 posts

Master Geek

#1428028 14-Nov-2015 16:13

Sideface: Why do you have two routers?

Why not have a switch (or WAP) upstairs and the modem downstairs?

I only have one extra router the modem downstairs. Apology for the confusion as I mentioned above modem router = modem router combo in one.

and upstairs is wireless router which I currently use as switch/WAP unfortunately they're not in the same domain/subnet as the downstairs modem hence upstair can't see the NAS drive.

Und3f

90 posts

Master Geek

#1428029 14-Nov-2015 16:16

RunningMan: Can you configure your upstairs router to bridge mode or similar - essentially disabling the routing functions

Bridge mode not ideal due to the location and I don't think the performance would be as consistent as powerline.

RunningMan

8955 posts

Uber Geek

#1428030 14-Nov-2015 16:17

Und3f:
Sideface: Why do you have two routers?

Why not have a switch (or WAP) upstairs and the modem downstairs?

I only have one extra router the modem downstairs. Apology for the confusion as I mentioned above modem router = modem router combo in one.

and upstairs is wireless router which I currently use as switch/WAP unfortunately they're not in the same domain/subnet as the downstairs modem hence upstair can't see the NAS drive.

You (generally) only need one router for a domestic network - it routes between the local and wide (internet) networks. Adding another router in this case is basically splitting your network into two, leading to the issues you have.

You need to stop the routing between upstairs and downstairs, and bridge them instead. Some routers have this ability, some wont.

RunningMan

8955 posts

Uber Geek

#1428031 14-Nov-2015 16:20

Und3f:
RunningMan: Can you configure your upstairs router to bridge mode or similar - essentially disabling the routing functions

Bridge mode not ideal due to the location and I don't think the performance would be as consistent as powerline.

Not sure how location affects a bridge's performance....

You'll still need the powerline adaptors or a physical cable between the two.

Spyware

3761 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1428032 14-Nov-2015 16:26

Add a static route to router with NAS connected telling it how to get to devices on the other network.

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Und3f

90 posts

Master Geek

#1428034 14-Nov-2015 16:29

RunningMan:
Und3f:
RunningMan: Can you configure your upstairs router to bridge mode or similar - essentially disabling the routing functions

Bridge mode not ideal due to the location and I don't think the performance would be as consistent as powerline.

Not sure how location affects a bridge's performance....

You'll still need the powerline adaptors or a physical cable between the two.

I kinda get it now. I thought bridging only works with wireless as my router has WDS bridging mode hence I mention location.

So based on your recommendation I should LAN bridge. Cool! Can I check couple things with you

Do I leave upstairs(router) powerline end to WAN port still?
From what I understood from reading google sources, to bridge I need to below steps. Am I missing anything?

Update router IP address to the same subnet e.g. if modem 192.168.1.1 make sure router 192.168.1.X
Disable DHCP

Thank you kindly

Aredwood

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#1428035 14-Nov-2015 16:37

Yes do that. But you need to plug the network cable into a lan port on the 2nd router. Don't plug anything into the wan port.

Und3f

90 posts

Master Geek

#1428036 14-Nov-2015 16:38

Aredwood: Yes do that. But you need to plug the network cable into a lan port on the 2nd router. Don't plug anything into the wan port.

Great will try now!

RunningMan

8955 posts

Uber Geek

#1428045 14-Nov-2015 16:41

Und3f: [snip]

Do I leave upstairs(router) powerline end to WAN port still?
From what I understood from reading google sources, to bridge I need to below steps. Am I missing anything?

Update router IP address to the same subnet e.g. if modem 192.168.1.1 make sure router 192.168.1.X
Disable DHCP

Thank you kindly

Depends!

If you can disable the routing functions in the router, so it is acting as a bridge only, then leave the powerline plugged into the WAN port - this effectively makes you have one big network.

If you can't run the router as a bridge, then the workaround is to do as you've written above, and as @Aredwood says, connect the powerline to a LAN port instead - this is a bit of a hack, but will generally work OK.

Und3f

90 posts

Master Geek

#1428053 14-Nov-2015 17:02

Okay ALL - Thank you and thank you!

Work like a charm... bridging was the answer and I can see my NAS drive and it's awesome.

Have a great day!