Simple Guide For Router To Router Cascading

When you extend your current network, you may need to add more routers to the existing network. Without knowing how to perform router cascading, you will fail to add extra router to the network successfully. In this tutorial you will learn how to connect extra routers to the current network by cascading routers without having any network issues. There are two ways to cascade a router to another router. Before configuring the second router for router cascade, make sure that it is not connected to the main router (where the broadband modem is connected).

Different Methods to Cascade Two Routers

1. LAN to LAN Router Cascade
   
   Connecting one of the Ethernet ports (LAN ports) of the second Router to one of the Ethernet ports (LAN ports) of the main router. In this method, the devices connected to the second router and the devices connected to the first router are in same network and can communicate each other directly.
   
   
2. WAN to LAN Router Cascade
   
   Connecting the Internet port (WAN port) of the second Router to one of the Ethernet ports (LAN ports) of the main router. In this method, we are creating two different networks with different network addresses.

Let us check each methods to connect two routers to extend a network. Each methods have different effect in extending a network. Before going to configure settings on second router, you must have the IP address of the first router.

LAN to LAN Router Cascading Method

This method is used when you want to use same network address on devices connected to the second router. Here the second router is acting like a switch to extend your current network.

1. Connect your computer to the LAN Port of the Router 2
   
   
2. Login to Second Router
   
   Access the router’s web-based setup page{Second Router}. To learn how to access the web based setup page of a router, visit the link below.
   How to Find Login Address Of My Router
   
   
3. Change the IP Address of Router 2
   
   When the router’s web-based setup page appears, look for Local IP Address and change it to “192.168.X.Y { Most of the times router IP address is 192.168.X.1 where X and Y starts from 0 to 255 }. We must ensure that Y is a number between 0 to 255 and is out of the DHCP range of router 1.
   
   Eg: Assign IP address 192.168.X.200 (Where X is the same value as in the router 1. Eg X value of router 1 with address 192.168.1.5 is 1) to second router where the IP address of first router(main router connected to the modem) is 192.168.X.1
   
   
4. Disable DHCP On Router 2
   
   When the web-based setup page opens, look for DHCP Server and click Disable. Do not forget to save settings. Click Advanced Routing and change Operating Mode to Router.(Depends on the router models and vendors this may change}.
   
   
5. Connect Router 2 to Router 1
   
   Connect LAN Port of Router 1 to LAN Port of Router 2 using an Ethernet cable. Connect a standard Ethernet network cable to one of the numbered Ethernet ports on the main router, where the broadband modem is connected. Then, connect the other end of the Ethernet cable to the Ethernet port of the router that you have just configured.
   
   

If main router has IP address of 192.168.0.1 with DHCP range 100, then the second router should have an IP address of 192.168.0.101. Then only this kind of router cascade works.

Many users use this method to cascade a new wireless router with existing wired router to extend the router 1 to connect other wireless devices and still have the same network addresses assigned by first router. This method is very popular when a user need to cascade a wireless router with another existing router in the network. Do not confuse this method with step to cascade two wireless routers.

WAN to LAN Router Cascade(Method 2)

Before you connect a router to another router in WAN to LAN cascade Method, make sure that both routers have different IP addresses. If both routers have the same IP address, you need to change the IP address of the second router to prevent any conflict. Steps to configure second router in WAN to LAN cascading method are:

1. Make sure Both Routers have Different Network Address
   
   If both routers have same network address (check the third octet and make sure both routers have different third octet number. Eg: 192.168.1.5 for router 1 and 192.168.2.1 for second router). If both routers have same third octet number, proceed to step 2.
   
   
2. Change Third Octet of Router 2 IP Address
   
   Access the second router’s web-based setup page and look for Local IP Address and change it to “192.168.X.1 Where X is any number between 0 to 255 except the number in first router.[ie: If the IP address of the first router is 192.168.5.1 the X of second router is any number between 0 to 255 other than 5]. Do not forget to save settings.
   
   
3. Make sure DHCP server on second router is on
   
   
4. Connect Second router to WAN port of First router
   
   Connect a standard Ethernet network cable to one of the numbered Ethernet ports on the main router, where the broadband modem is connected. Then connect the other end of the Ethernet cable to the Internet port of the router that you have just configured.
   

One of the most asked question from my readers is about possible issues with cascading routers from different vendors. There is no issues with cascading routers from different vendors. You won't face any issues with cascading a Linksys router with Belkin router or D-Link router because router cascading is vendor free.

Tutorials Related to Router Cascading

1. Cascading three routers
   
   In a bigger network, you may need to cascade more than two routers. If you want to cascade third router to the second router, follow the instructions provided in the link below.
   How to Connect Third Router to Second Router
   
   
2. Router cascading and Internet Speed
   
   Some users complains about reduced Internet speed after performing router cascade. The below link shows some instructions to troubleshoot the lose in Internet speed and some practical steps to improve the Internet speed after conducting two routers.
   How to speed up your Internet connection
   
   

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