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[chiefnet]

Hello all.  I was wondering if anyone has come across this issue (I'm not a major tech expert, so I may have missed something).
-I have Linksys wireless router connected to the DNS-323.
-I'm able to connect (mapped drive) to the NAS from my computer no problem.
-Because of signal quality, I daisy chained another wireless router (I also have an xbox connected to the second router).
-Now, I can still click on my mapped drive and it opens up when my computer is connected to the first router, but not when I connect to the second router. 
-Xbox is working fine, and my printer is working fine when I'm connected to the second router, so the second router is working.
-I have allowed the MAC addresses of all my components in the first and second routers.
-I used the troubleshooting wizard (both XP and Win7) to see if it can see the second router from my computer, and it says it is online but not responding.  Once I switch back to the first router on my wireless network, no problem again.

Sorry if this is confusing.  Any help would be appreciated!

[jamieburchell]

Are you saying that only devices on the second router can talk to eachother? I.e. can you access your printer on the second router when your computer is connected to the first? Assuming your Internet access is through the first router, can your xbox access the Internet when connected to the second router?

Are you using two different SSIDs?

Are you using separate wireless channels to avoid interference?

Do you have a network cable connecting the two routers together?

Are the two routers on the same subnet, with different static IPs?

Is DHCP turned off on your second router?

[chiefnet]

Jamie.  Thank you for the reply.  I'm no means very good at the IT stuff, but hopefully can answer some of the questions...

-I have my cable modem connected to the first router.  Then the first router is connected to the second via a LAN/network cable.
-The second router has the xbox connected, and it can get internet (I use it for netflix and Live).
-I was mistaken on the printer, just noticed the printer is wirelessly connected to the second router.
-Each router has a different SSID (wasn't sure if I could have the same SSID for both)
-They are both on different channels
-They are on the same subnet mask, and have different IPs.  Connection type for both says DHCP.

Again, sorry for the lack of knowledge in this area.  Thank you for any help.

[chiefnet]

Oh, and also, this is the weird part as well, I can be wirelessly connected to the second router, yet am able to login via url into my DNS.  I would think since it can't open with the Drive letter (I have it mapped to drive H for both routers), it wouldn't be able to recognize the DNS at all.

[jamieburchell]

You'll want to disable DHCP on the second router otherwise things may get confusing.

So when connected to your second router you can access the NAS web interface but not the drives? Have you tried disabling any firewall you have running on your computer?

[fordem]

The problem is not related to the DHCP server being on or off - it's all about routers connecting separate networks.

What you need is a single network, with a single router connecting it to the internet - multiple daisy chained networks are usually more grief than their worth.

[jamieburchell]

Fordem are you saying that it is not possible to connect two routers together with a network cable, on the same network?

[fordem]

Oh - it is certainly possible - but - it isn't the most straightforward thing to do, and many, many people get it wrong and end up being frustrated - case in point - chiefnet has daisy chained his routers., and is not getting the desired results.

Based on his first post, the optimum configuration for his application would have been a wireless router and a wireless access point rather than two routers - and failing that a wireless router and a second wireless router configured to work as a wireless access point - so yes, there is a way to make it work.  I've done it a couple of times, as a stop gap measure to get me out of a jam, until I can do it correctly - but - these rube goldberg affairs have a way of coming back to bite you, so I don't recommend it as a long term arrangement...

Ideally - one network, one router - and save your sanity.

[dosborne]

Using more than one router is a no brainer. If it doesn't have the appropriate options directly in the fiormware, then just ensure any "additional" routers use only the LAN ports and not the WAN port unless you want to manage multiple subnets. Using multiple subnets has many advantages too such as network segmentation that can often be added protection from an outside attack as it adds another NAT layer.

[Chill]

Your setup should be like



Router1 should be set as gateway under Advanced: Routing with IP of 192.168.0.1
Router2 should be set as router under Advanced: Routing with IP of 192.168.0.2

Connect modem to R1 WAN port
Connect LAN port of R1 to LAN port of R2
Disable DHCP on R2

Plug your DNS to any ports of R1 or R2

This would let all connected clients see each other on both routers (Router2 acting as wireless access point)

To have clients roam between Access points without disruption, have identical SSID, encryption on both R1 and R2

This will allow you to map the DNS on clients connected to any of the routers

[chiefnet]

Sorry been away on business, but thank you very much to all for your replies.  I understand it adds more complexity daisy chaining two routers, but I figured it would add more security, and also give me a signal boost too since I was getting low signals from my first router.  Also figured if I can log into the webpage of the DNS, I should be able to map it as well.  

Also, I'm sorry for the confusion, they are both wireless routers (one is a Linksys 54G and the other a Verizon Westell), not just wired routers.

Chill, thanks for the breakdown, I'll try that out this weekend.

Thanks again everyone!