How to setup 2 Wi-Fi networks with LAN-to-LAN connected routers?

[gfcaetano]

Hi!
I'm trying to setup a secondary router in the same subnet as the primary router. So, after reading some information about this I've found out that I need to connect them using a LAN-to-LAN connection (as seen on wikihow - Connect-Two-Routers).

Here's how I set it up:
Router 1 WAN: PPPoE
Router 1 LAN IP: 192.168.1.1
Router 1 Wireless operation mode: AP

Router 2 WAN: Static IP (Wired) 192.168.1.2 (192.168.1.1 as gateway)
Router 2 LAN IP: 192.168.2.1
Router 2 DNS Server: 192.168.1.1
Router 2 Wireless operation mode: AP
Router 2 DHCP Server: OFF

The results:
- Every device that is connected (wired or wireless) to Router 1 works fine.

- Only the wired devices connected to Router 2 work fine (they receive IP from Router 1), but the wireless devices don't get an IP address. Should I enable the DHCP server at Router 2?

Do you have any suggestion?

[Lantis]

The second router should be set to Connect Via: Disabled, and a LAN cable run from a LAN port of Router 1 to a LAN port of Router 2.
DHCP disabled on Router 2. Setup wifi as desired.

You had the right idea of getting everyone on the same subnet, but then you setup 2 subnets anyway. Correct that and everything should start working.

[gfcaetano]

Thank you for replying, Lantis.
But it still doesn't work.

Now, at Router 2, I've disabled "Connect Via" and set the LAN IP address to 192.168.1.2 (same subnet as Router 1).
The cable is already connected at a LAN port on Router 1 and a LAN port on Router 2.
DHCP disabled on Router 2.

Wi-Fi clients still don't get IP.

Router 1 is a TP-LINK Archer C7 v5 (Gargoyle 1.11.0)
Router 2 is a TP-Link TL-WR941N/ND v2 (Gargoyle 1.10.0)

Any other clue?

[RomanHK]

Rightly, it should be:

Router 1 WAN: PPPoE
Router 1 LAN IP: 192.168.1.1
Router 1 LAN Mask: 255.255.255.0
Router 1 Wireless operation mode: AP
Router 1 DHCP Server: ON


Router 2 WAN: Disabled (Bridge to LAN)
Router 2 LAN IP: 192.168.1.254
Router 2 LAN Mask: 255.255.255.0
Router 2 LAN Gateway: 192.168.1.1
Router 2 DNS Server: 192.168.1.1
Router 2 Wireless operation mode: AP
Router 2 DHCP Server: OFF


P.S. To be sure, connect both routers with a LAN to LAN cable, both routers must be set as a "gateway".

EDIT: After setting it is recommended to restart both routers for the changes to take effect.

[gfcaetano]

Thanks, RomanHK.
I guess the only thing I didn't do before your message was setting "Wan Ethernet Port" to "Bridge to LAN". But this option is useful when using the WAN port at Router 2, right? I'm connecting a LAN port on Router 1 to a LAN port on Router 2.

Wireless clients still waiting for an IP...

I'll configure everything again to make sure I'm not skipping anything.

[Lantis]

There isn't any tricks with this one, it should really be straight forward.
If it still doesn't work, you'll have to send me your network and wireless config from router 2 and ill look at them.

[gfcaetano]

Thanks again!
I guess it's working fine now. I rebooted Router 2 and now I'm.connected to it though Wi-Fi while typing this message.

Thank you guys!

[gfcaetano]

I've celebrated too soon. It's not working again. At Router 2, only wired clients get IP, wireless clients waits forever for an IP.

I'll double check the setup.

[gfcaetano]

There isn't any tricks with this one, it should really be straight forward.
If it still doesn't work, you'll have to send me your network and wireless config from router 2 and ill look at them.

Here's Router 2 Basic page:

https://imgur.com/6kIUN0H

I've noticed that when I enable Router 2 wireless its LAN DHCP server turns on automatically, so I turned it off again.

Still without luck.

[RomanHK]

Try connecting the PC cable to router "2" and ping from router "2" via ssh:

Code: Select all

ping 192.168.1.1 -c5

Insert the output here.