2x Routers to Openreach Modem??

Hi,

From the pictures i've seen of the Openreach VSDL modem, there are 2x LAN sockets on it.

Has anyone tried connecting a 2nd router to that socket?

With my O2 Broadband connection, i'm using a Netgear router toggled into 'Modem Only' mode, connected to a Linksys WRT54GS cable router so I could keep my router and setup when I moved house from one with cable.

A while later I found that if I connected a 2nd router to one of the other lan ports on the Netgear, that router connected and got it's own external IP. Obviously both routers are sharing the same physical line so you don't get twice the speed or anything but I find this useful for having a wireless connection available with a simple WPA key for friends/family coming round, without them having access to my (completely separate) LAN with my NAS etc on and a more complicated WPA key.

Obviously this is unsupported/undocumented behaviour, but I was wondering if this would be possible on Infinity using that 2nd LAN connection on the modem.

Is anyone able to try it? - if you are using your own router, are you able to connect the BT HomeHub to the 2nd port?

Thanks,

Ian

I dont think the 2nd port on the Openreach modem is active, probably reserved for the future NGA voice service.

No can do, LAN port 2 is disabled on the Openreach FTTC modem.

On my modem, the port is covered over by a label. But that doesn't stop you putting a switch or hub between the router and modem - though other discussions reached the conclusion that this shouldn't be your LAN's switch; it needs to be a separate one.

The router I was sent by Plusnet - a netgear WNR1000 - seems to have 2 wirelass LAN configurations; one main one, and one guest one, the guest one has separate authentication, and can be denied access to your LAN. It seems the right choice of router might be enough for you...

On my modem, the port is covered over by a label.

Has anyone tried peeling away the label and connecting a router to it anyway to confirm it's actually disabled?

But that doesn't stop you putting a switch or hub between the router and modem - though other discussions reached the conclusion that this shouldn't be your LAN's switch; it needs to be a separate one.

Interesting! - i'd not thought of that.

Do you recall where these discussions were?

If you connect a switch to the modem, then 2x routers to the switch, are both routers able to make successful PPPoE connections and get their own IP address?

Is anyone actually running this setup?

Thanks,

Ian

In reply to a post by ichilton:

On my modem, the port is covered over by a label.

Has anyone tried peeling away the label and connecting a router to it anyway to confirm it's actually disabled?

But that doesn't stop you putting a switch or hub between the router and modem - though other discussions reached the conclusion that this shouldn't be your LAN's switch; it needs to be a separate one.

Interesting! - i'd not thought of that.

Do you recall where these discussions were?

If you connect a switch to the modem, then 2x routers to the switch, are both routers able to make successful PPPoE connections and get their own IP address?

Is anyone actually running this setup?

Thanks,

Ian

That wouldn't be possible unless the ISP has specifically set up the subscriber with multiple static IP addresses.

How many WAN ethernet ports are available doesn't affect the number of WAN IP addresses available on the connection I'm afraid. Also, you can't tunnel two simultaneous PPPoE connections over a single WBC ATM connection.

Edited by deleted (Mon 20-Jun-11 15:26:51)

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

No can do, LAN port 2 is disabled on the Openreach FTTC modem.

And Ports 3 and 4 have the connectors missing! - the board is designed with four ports.

In reply to a post by MHC:

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

No can do, LAN port 2 is disabled on the Openreach FTTC modem.

And Ports 3 and 4 have the connectors missing! - the board is designed with four ports.

I think what you'll find is that Huawei designed the hardware similiarly to most wired ADSL routers in that they can be configured as a transaparent bridge, PPPoE Modem, or fully functioning router.

The Openreach firmware simply locks down the "router" in PPPoE Bridge mode.

In reply to a post by izools:

Also, you can't tunnel two simultaneous PPPoE connections over a single WBC ATM connection.

ATM?

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

In reply to a post by izools:

Also, you can't tunnel two simultaneous PPPoE connections over a single WBC ATM connection.

ATM?

Asynchronous Transfer Mode?

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

In reply to a post by izools:

Also, you can't tunnel two simultaneous PPPoE connections over a single WBC ATM connection.

ATM?

Yeah, asynchronous transfer mode

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asynchronous_Transfer_Mode

In reply to a post by izools:

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

In reply to a post by izools:

Also, you can't tunnel two simultaneous PPPoE connections over a single WBC ATM connection.

ATM?

Yeah, asynchronous transfer mode

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asynchronous_Transfer_Mode

Right, but there isn't any ATM involved in the WBC GEA FTTC products - It is generic ethernet access. Hence the PPPoE, and not PPPoA nor PPPoEoA.

Here's what I've set up. Got my white modem connected to HH3 and then a cable from HH3 to a Linsys WRT 1600n that I'm using for SamKnows and there I've got my PC and Laptop hard wired and I no longer use BT wireless.

iechyd da

In reply to a post by paul1360:

Here's what I've set up. Got my white modem connected to HH3 and then a cable from HH3 to a Linsys WRT 1600n that I'm using for SamKnows and there I've got my PC and Laptop hard wired and I no longer use BT wireless.

Are you not doing NAT twice there though?

Ian

Ummm whats NAT????????

iechyd da

Network Address Translation - the way you are sharing your interent connection with a single public ip with a number of computers all with private ip's.

Put simply, you shouldn't connect a router into a router like that

My SamKnows box is setup exactly like that too, although it is a TP-Link device.

Although it is designed as a router, the SamKnows software on it turns it into something else - essentially a bridge. No longer a router...

What's a SamKnows box?

In reply to a post by ichilton:

What's a SamKnows box?

http://www.samknows.com/broadband/isp_monitoring

Ok if you say so, so what will happen as that's how I'm set up??????????

iechyd da

In reply to a post by WWWombat:

In reply to a post by izools:

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

... nested quotes trimmed ...

ATM?

Yeah, asynchronous transfer mode

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asynchronous_Transfer_Mode

Right, but there isn't any ATM involved in the WBC GEA FTTC products - It is generic ethernet access. Hence the PPPoE, and not PPPoA nor PPPoEoA.

Ok fair cop, but you still wouldn't be able to obtain more than one IP unless the ISP specifically configures the subscribers connection for multiple static IP addresses.

In reply to a post by izools:

Ok fair cop, but you still wouldn't be able to obtain more than one IP unless the ISP specifically configures the subscribers connection for multiple static IP addresses.

Unless it was a dynamic IP, like O2 and BT

In reply to a post by BatBoy:

In reply to a post by izools:

Ok fair cop, but you still wouldn't be able to obtain more than one IP unless the ISP specifically configures the subscribers connection for multiple static IP addresses.

Unless it was a dynamic IP, like O2 and BT

No ISP assigns multiple dynamic IPs to a single end user NTE.

Like I say, the only way for it to work would be if the ISP sets up the subscriber with multiple static IPs.

ISPs that give the subscriber a dynamic IP don't assign more than one IP to the residential gateway. They have 100% control over what / how many IPs the EU gets and no change of modem / router / other such configuration at the EU premises can change this.

Having had experience configuring SME routers at the ISP end and configuring IP assignments to subscribers as a profession for several years you can trust me on this

In reply to a post by izools:

you can trust me on this

Except the original post in this thread says otherwise.

Deliberate, or a mistake, we cannot tell. But it looks to have happened.

No ISP assigns multiple dynamic IPs to a single end user NTE.

It does seem to work for me.

I only found it by accident - I had a Netgear router configured in 'modem only' mode with a Linksys router for many years and then one day I connected a laptop to another port on the Netgear to get into the web interface and it pulled another external IP.

I could use both connections independently - each with their own external IP.

Obviously the available bandwidth was split between the 2 connections and you don't gain anything there so it's not like a separate connection in that way.

Post deleted by asbokid

Edited by deleted (Mon 27-Jun-11 02:12:47)

In reply to a post by WWWombat:

In reply to a post by izools:

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

... nested quotes trimmed ...

ATM?

Yeah, asynchronous transfer mode

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asynchronous_Transfer_Mode

Right, but there isn't any ATM involved in the WBC GEA FTTC products - It is generic ethernet access. Hence the PPPoE, and not PPPoA nor PPPoEoA.

Only just returned to this thread since my "ATM?" post. Thanks for explaining to them why I queried it .