Hence my old work around of unplugging the ADSL line from the bridge device

I was giving you an example based on the other BT hub which I had previous had set in bridge mode. For teh 2700 the IP address is fixed, but for your one it is likely to be fixed but a different address.

I no longer have access to any set up in that way as they are all replaced with Infinity connections so I cannot check up.

Getting more detailed than this starts to get outside my detailed experience and as MrS is replying to you, you may be wise sticking with his comments or those of the others replying.

Another way I have seen this done - is to put a small unmanaged switch on the WAN side, connecting the router WAN and the bridge device.

Then a laptop or similar with manual IP in the desired subnet on its wired interface into this switch may be able to talk to the bridge device while your "proper" LAN network and internet remains operational via the router.

Don't specify a gateway on the laptop wired interface in this case.

Reason being if you can also join the wireless network (of your ASUS router) the laptop will have two networks.

(1 = wired - local only to bridge device, 2 = wireless using DHCP). As the laptop would see only the wi-fi network has a gateway, the routing table will use (2) for internet access (anything that doesn't match the two local subnets).

Edited by prlzx (Mon 03-Dec-12 21:15:14)

Yes I've seen this work with an industrial 3G modem. If there was no 3G connection (on bootup) it would enable a local DHCP server and offer an IP to the WAN of a separate router.

What I don't recall is if the router also had to be in a mode that saw the primary connection of PPP timeout and fallback to secondary of DHCP client on WAN to pick this up.

But yes in this instance stuff on the LAN side of the router could see through to the modem interface at least when the internet was offline.

Edited by prlzx (Mon 03-Dec-12 21:36:15)

Good idea prizx,
tracert does indeed show it going out via the Routers LAN IP straight to a remote IP address in the isp network. So it isn't seeing it on my modem.
The router is using PPoE as you describe in your other edited post.
Not sure how to investigate the eth(0) etc. so will have to research that.
Thanks a million to all who are having an input on this. I'm learning loads even if I'm not getting anywhere, yet.

Thanks MHC. All input is greatly appreciated.

In reply to a post by prlzx:

Another way I have seen this done - is to put a small unmanaged switch on the WAN side, connecting the router WAN and the bridge device.

Then a laptop or similar with manual IP in the desired subnet on its wired interface into this switch may be able to talk to the bridge device while your "proper" LAN network and internet remains operational via the router.

Don't specify a gateway on the laptop wired interface in this case.

Reason being if you can also join the wireless network (of your ASUS router) the laptop will have two networks.

(1 = wired - local only to bridge device, 2 = wireless using DHCP). As the laptop would see only the wi-fi network has a gateway, the routing table will use (2) for internet access (anything that doesn't match the two local subnets).

Now that sound like a good backup plan if I can't get it to work any other way. Many thanks.

I have got something similar (but a little more complex) working OK.
All IP addresses start 192.168.1.

I have 2 * O2 lines, both with WAG320Ns (Bridge mode. IP 192.168.1.4 and 192.168.1.5)
These both attach to WAN ports on a cheap load balancing router (TL-R470T+) 192.168.1.3. This is the DHCP server.
This has 3 LAN ports - going to Wired ethernet, Powerline and a TD-W8960N (192.168.1.2) working as a wireless access point.

The next bit should be relevant to you.
I have a 2nd ethernet cable from both of the WAG320Ns connecting to LAN ports on the wireless AP.
The DHCP has fixed addresses for everything, with other network devices starting at 192.168.1.80.
With this setup, I get full network access to the 2 Bridge mode devices.

So, for you, I'd say you could connect a 2nd ethernet cable from your bridge modem to a LAN port of the router, and assign a fixed IP address to the modem in your DHCP.

As for me, I'm hoping to get FTTC in a month or so, and go back to just 1 wireless router, (probably with a wireless repeater).

Edited by deleted (Tue 04-Dec-12 01:21:08)

Thanks Sandacol,
Sounds like a workable solution. My only question is where does your firewall sit?
In my situation, with the firewall in the router. If I connect my modem directly to the LAN wouls I not be introducing a path past my firewall?
This sounds similar to a previous sugestion to put an unmanaged switch between the Router and modem and patch a laptop into there for admin of the modem. Which, by it's temp nature would be more secure.

Ditto for the FTTC hopes. But I think I'll be waiting a while longer than you

Edited by deleted (Tue 04-Dec-12 09:33:24)

This is obviously a path around the firewall, I think you need a more sophisticated network structure. Alternatively, have you considered a combined modem/router?