Question by ren2bla: i am setting up a home network connected to cable modem?
i have two D-Link 4 port routers and want to know if there is a way to “piggy-back” them so as to use one as a switch or hub and end up with eight lan ports
Best answer:
Answer by tlawork
it would be a WHOLE lot easier to buy an inexpensive switch at tigerdirect or buy.com and not try to mess with two routers. There are ways to do it with DMZ computers but you will save yourself a lot of grief to just get a hub or a switch.
What do you think? Answer below!
You can connect the cable modem to a switch and then connect both routers to the switch. You have to create 2 networks. For example, one router IP address will be 192.168.1.1 and the other 192.168.2.1. They both can have the same subnet mask, 255.255.255.0. You will have to set up each router to “know” about each network. If you still have your documentation, it may have a diagram of how to do this. You may even be able to call D-links tech support.
If you need to purchase a switch, I would check out the 2 links below. They alwasy have very cheap shipping or even free shipping.
most cable companies will charge for addl. IP addresses. so you would have to have one router direct to the modem. you could use the other router as a switch if you just ignore the internet or WAN port and only use the 4 ports but then you would need a crossover cable to connect the 2 together. the other option is to connect the first router to the internet (WAN)port of the second and disable all forwarding and protection on the second router other wise it will cause double firewalling and really restrict and slow downt your connection.