Two router "Hell" for Homegroup

[butscut]

Hi guys...I'm new here so please be patient

Due to the growing number of network devices in my home these days, I felt that it was time to expand my network to the upper part of the house. I now have an ADSL connection to downstairs, plugged into a 4 port WiFi modem router from my ISP. This router connects a HTPC, Tivo and PS3 via ethernet. The fourth ethernet connections runs upstairs to a remote part of the house where it plugs into the "internet" port of a Cisco wrt610N wifi router. This router hosts connections to another PC and PS3. Downstairs router handles DHCP to its devices (range 10.0.0.1-10.0.0.254) and the upstairs router manages its own IP range (192.168.0.0 - 192.168.0.154 - i think??).

After much stuffing around, all devices connected to both routers now have full access to the interweb and all systems are AOK.

My only remaining issue is that the downstairs HTPC running win7 Home Premium can not see the upstairs PC also running Win7 Home Premium. Both are set to home network but neither can see the other.

If however, I run "network and sharing centre" one of the options allows me to shows devices on "all networks" and the other PC is seen there - But I see no way of connecting the two via homegroup.

Both PCs are running McAfee firewall.

ps Both PCs connected fine before I introduced the second router.

Any suggesions to help me resolve my homegroup issue ???:shock:

 

[zigzag3143]

Hi guys...I'm new here so please be patient

Due to the growing number of network devices in my home these days, I felt that it was time to expand my network to the upper part of the house. I now have an ADSL connection to downstairs, plugged into a 4 port WiFi modem router from my ISP. This router connects a HTPC, Tivo and PS3 via ethernet. The fourth ethernet connections runs upstairs to a remote part of the house where it plugs into the "internet" port of a Cisco wrt610N wifi router. This router hosts connections to another PC and PS3. Downstairs router handles DHCP to its devices (range 10.0.0.1-10.0.0.254) and the upstairs router manages its own IP range (192.168.0.0 - 192.168.0.154 - i think??).

After much stuffing around, all devices connected to both routers now have full access to the interweb and all systems are AOK.

My only remaining issue is that the downstairs HTPC running win7 Home Premium can not see the upstairs PC also running Win7 Home Premium. Both are set to home network but neither can see the other.

If however, I run "network and sharing centre" one of the options allows me to shows devices on "all networks" and the other PC is seen there - But I see no way of connecting the two via homegroup.

Both PCs are running McAfee firewall.

ps Both PCs connected fine before I introduced the second router.

Any suggesions to help me resolve my homegroup issue ???:shock:

Upstairs router sees the other as being on the internet because your Ethernet is plugged into the WLAN port on upstairs router. You can either open that IP in the router, or move it inside the NAT matrix.

Ken

 

[Kari]

Hi butscut, welcome to the Seven Forums.

The problem is you are using two different IP address blocks. For your networked computers to see each other, they have to be in the same subnet.

This tutorial tells you how to set up a two router home network: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91791-multi-router-network-configure.html

Kari

 

[butscut]

Upstairs router sees the other as being on the internet because your Ethernet is plugged into the WLAN port on upstairs router. You can either open that IP in the router, or move it inside the NAT matrix.

Ken

Whilst I consider myself to be relatively tech savvy, when it comes to networking and routers I consider myself to be as dumb as dog$h!t !!!

Qn1 - How do I open that IP in the router?
Qn2 - is this the upstairs router or downstairs?
Qn3 - What is a NAT matrix ? and how do I move an IP inside it ?

Clearly my ignorance is the biggest problem here !

 

[Zepher]

on my home network with 2 wifi routers, 1 is used as a router and hands out all IP's and the other is used as a wifi access point and a switch. this way all devices are on the same IP network and I have good wifi upstairs and downstairs.
There are also 3 other switches in the network, 2 gigabit and 1 10/100.
Our setup is 1 pc, 1 HP 4500DN Network Printer, Xbox 360, and a Wii downstairs, 4 PC's, 1 Brother MFC Wireless Multifuntion Printer, and 2 Xbox 360's upstairs.

 

[butscut]

Hi butscut, welcome to the Seven Forums.

The problem is you are using two different IP address blocks. For your networked computers to see each other, they have to be in the same subnet.

This tutorial tells you how to set up a two router home network: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91791-multi-router-network-configure.html

Kari

Kari,

Looks great....will try this tonight. Could you clarify however step 11.

11) Connect the Gateway to the Switch via Ethernet. Depending on the router's you may have to use Crossover Cable for this. In my experience though, most modern routers come with what is known as "Auto Uplink Sensing" which means it will not need Crossover Cable. Otherwise you will I'm afraid. You can test whether you need Crossover Cable in the next step.

When I connect the gateway to the switch do I plug the ethernet cable into one of the switches LAN ports or the "internet" port (Cisco wrt610n router) ?

 

[Kari]

Use the Internet port. If you have any other questions, it's better you post them to that tutorial thread. Severedsolo is the resident multi router expert and answers normally quite fast

 

[chev65]

Hi guys...I'm new here so please be patient

Due to the growing number of network devices in my home these days, I felt that it was time to expand my network to the upper part of the house. I now have an ADSL connection to downstairs, plugged into a 4 port WiFi modem router from my ISP. This router connects a HTPC, Tivo and PS3 via ethernet. The fourth ethernet connections runs upstairs to a remote part of the house where it plugs into the "internet" port of a Cisco wrt610N wifi router. This router hosts connections to another PC and PS3. Downstairs router handles DHCP to its devices (range 10.0.0.1-10.0.0.254) and the upstairs router manages its own IP range (192.168.0.0 - 192.168.0.154 - i think??).

After much stuffing around, all devices connected to both routers now have full access to the interweb and all systems are AOK.

My only remaining issue is that the downstairs HTPC running win7 Home Premium can not see the upstairs PC also running Win7 Home Premium. Both are set to home network but neither can see the other.

If however, I run "network and sharing centre" one of the options allows me to shows devices on "all networks" and the other PC is seen there - But I see no way of connecting the two via homegroup.

Both PCs are running McAfee firewall.

ps Both PCs connected fine before I introduced the second router.

Any suggesions to help me resolve my homegroup issue ???:shock:

Easy way, use a switch instead of another router. Hard way= the way you are doing it now. It's cheaper and much easier to set up that way.

I'm surprized you can get Homegroups to work though the McAfee firewall also.

 

[zzz2496]

butscut, I have even easier way for you to try...

Do not use "Internet" port on your "secondary" router (WRT610n), plug it on one of the 4 switch ports, by then your whole problem will resolve it self... In english: unplug the cable that's connected to WRT610n's internet port to one of the 4 switch ports, done...

zzz2496

Edit: I forgot to mention, disable DHCP server in WRT610n before moving the cable. And set WRT610n's LAN interface to auto obtain IP address while you're at it (or set it to some IP address outside the DHCP pool's scope).

 

[puremacgyver]

I had to do the same thing. I bought the 610 for the N connection but finding out later that some devices don't use the N, like the WII and gameboys they use G only. So I kept my old router (wtr54) and turned it to a switch. How to do this

1. Connect the second router first (in my case the WRT54) and log into it and change the IP to 192.168.1.2 (don't forget to save it)this way you can connect to it later. After this unplug this router and connect the first router you want to use.

2.After you have setup the first router (plug all the cable in), take one of the four ports in the back. plug in your cable in one and the other end plug it into one of the four ports of the second router (not the EtherNet Port). By doing this you turn the second router it to a switch. This will let you be able to plug in more PC's on the same network.

3. Now I have two routers that produce two wireless access points one N and one G. And as before you can log into each router to make necessary changes as needed. One (first if set at default) 192.168.1.1 and the other (the one you changed, second one) 192.168.1.2.

The whole point was being able to get the N for my newer laptop while still being able to use the G for the old decives.

Note: you will need to set the 610 to N only, not hard to do just login and make the changes.
Note: I also know that the 610 has two wireless points but none of my devices support the 5hz.

Don't know if this helps any but good luck

 

[butscut]

This tutorial tells you how to set up a two router home network: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91791-multi-router-network-configure.html

Kari

Kari.....you legend. The tutorial worked 1st time and I now have all devices on the one network. Many thanks....

One small problem though. The HTPC on the modem router downstairs can see the study PC (upstairs) and the study PC also appears in the homegroup. However, when I work on the study PC, it can not see the HTPC downstairs and the HTPC does not appear in the homegroup. Seems strange that the homegroup is only working one way... any suggestions ?

 

[chev65]

It's not strange at all really. These types of configurations are inherently problematic which is why I tried to get you to simply use a switch "easy way" instead of another router.

Although this problem could also be caused by your McAfee firewall "I mentioned this earlier" in which case you would need to reconfigure it to work with Homegroups.

I would try to give you advice on this but I don't use McAfee so I'm not sure how to set up that particular firewall for Homegroup access.

 

[Kari]

Severedsolo.....you legend. The tutorial worked 1st time and I now have all devices on the one network. Many thanks....

One small problem though. The HTPC on the modem router downstairs can see the study PC (upstairs) and the study PC also appears in the homegroup. However, when I work on the study PC, it can not see the HTPC downstairs and the HTPC does not appear in the homegroup. Seems strange that the homegroup is only working one way... any suggestions ?

Did you notice I changed first word in your post I quote above? Credits where they belong, Severedsolo made that tutorial and he's the one who deserves your thanks.

I agree with Chev, IMO that is most probably a firewall problem. Again as Chev said, I do not know McAfee and can not help you on that. Search the forums, we have several threads about homegroup issues.

Kari

 

[butscut]

Kari, Agree and respect to all those who pointed me in the right direction. Much appreciated. This is a great forum and you have all be very helpful.

Now to crack the McAfee Firewall......