Need help with multiple linksys routers

[Jaiye]

ok, so my network has 3 routers (all linksys), but I want to find a way to get all the computers happy with each other. Here's how it looks right now

R1 = RT41P2
R2 = WRT54G
R3 = BEFSX41

Cable -> R1 

R1 -> R2 (192.168.15.100)
        R2 -> C1 (192.168.1.100)
        R2->  C2 (192.168.1.101)
R1 -> R3 (192.168.15.101)
        R3 -> C3 (192.168.1.100)
        R3 -> C4 (192.168.1.101)

But I want it too look like

Cable -> R1 

R1 -> R2 (192.168.15.100)
        R2 -> C1 (192.168.15.102)
        R2->  C2 (192.168.15.103)
R1 -> R3 (192.168.15.101)
        R3 -> C3 (192.168.1.104)
        R3 -> C4 (192.168.1.105)

I want R1 to do all of my DHCP and my other two routers to work as switches (am I right on that?). R1 also needs to be on top because of the way the VoIP works.

Anybody know what setting I would need to change to get this working properly. I've been working for about 2 hours and looking online but can't figure it out.

 

[Jaiye]

of all places, I got an answer on myspace forums. works great and quite fast though. if any other noobies like me are wondering how:

1) All of your computers need to be on the same subnet (i.e. 192.168.1.x)

2) Setup router 1 on the cable modem like normal.

3) Disable the DHCP servers on router 2 and 3

4) Set the router LAN ip addresses as follows

R1: 192.168.1.1
R2: 192.168.1.2
R3: 192.168.1.3

5) When cabling everything up ignore the WAN ports on R2 and R3

6) Take a cat 5 cable from the last port on R1 to the 1st Port on R2

7) Take a cat 5 cable from the last port on R2 OR the 2nd to last port on R1 and connect it to the first port on R3



This is a very inefficient use of routers since you have essentially lost 4 ports just in connecting them. But this is the only way to do it and have all your computer be on the same

 

[ktwebb]

IP's on the other devices isn't necessary. Well, if they were wireless and you wanted to manage the AP but with no wireless they are unmanaged switches if not using the DHCP or routing functionality.

And for the record, this is not the only way to do it. Many budget routers support RIP and RIP2. You could set these up as routers if you wanted to. If the routers you have support a routing protocol and not just NAT. However name resolution would be for shit most likely. At least if your clients are windows and you don't have DNS setup locally. Routing with sub 100 routers wouldn't be my choice but it is possible, if not somewhat impractical.

Also with many SOHO routers/switches being auto sensing MDI/MDX in many setups it wouldn't be relevant which port you plugged into on the LAN side. It's not a bad rule of thumb. Just not a mandatory thing on many switches.

 

[Jaiye]

well, I know my routers support RIP/RIP2, so how would I go about setting it up a more proper way?

 

[ktwebb]

IMO your setting it up the proper way. No need to segment a LAN as small as yours. If you wanted to isolate wireless traffic to a specific subnet or something like that then I could see it. For 99.5% of the people who buy these budget devices actually setting up routing is not only overkill but can be too complex (if it even works with the devices as cheap as they are) to setup and/or maintain.

Having said that you just enable RIP on the routers, and setup your IP scheme to a different subnet on each segment. Your manual would be a good place to start for mfg specific information about configuration.