Network Duffer Seeks to use BEFSR41 & WRT54G in same network.

[Sumleilmus]

My goal is to use the Linksys BEFSR41 (firmware 1.46.00) as the gateway to the WAN/Internet, and the Linksys WRT54G (firmware v2.02.7, Feb. 27, 2004) as a WiFi access point and switch or hub (although Linksys seems to want me to call it a router when used in this manner).

My former setup used (in the place where I want the WRT54G to be) a Linksys BEFW11S4 (w/ Feb. 2003 firmware, can't recall the release). By connecting a straight Cat. 5 cable from a numbered port on the BEFSR41 to the Uplink port on the BEFW11S4, I was able to do this. I gave the BEFW11S4 an IP address of ABC.DEF.2.1 (where ABC.DEF.1.1 is the IP address of the BEFSR42, which connects to the internet via cable modem.

Here are some of my problems:

In configuring the WRT54G, it seems I have to power cycle the whole network - not just the WRT54G - relatively often (after each change, for example) for changes in the WRT54G's settings to be acknowledged. Is this right, or am I lacking in some obvious understanding? I've had to reset the WRT54G to factory defaults fairly often, especially if I try to change multiple settings, and I lack a feeling of progress.

Also, the cabling is a puzzle. Despite having found the setting in the WRT54G to change it from "gateway" to "router," I'm not sure how to connect it to the BEFSR41. I read somewhere "out there" to assign an IP to the WRT54G as above, to connect by Cat. 5 straight from port 1 of BEFSR41 to port 1 of WRT54G, and to disable DHCP. Alas, there are multiple tabs for disabling DHCP in the WRT54G. Of course, there is no "uplink" port on the WRT54G.

These are common, cheap network components. Has anybody out there done what I'm trying to do with these units?

In case you wonder why I'm doing it this way, I want the WRT54G to be more or less in the geometric center of the network, for maximum WiFi connectivity.

The core of the problem is getting anything connected to the WRT54G to connect to the internet. I have figured out most of the Apple/Linksys workarounds, from using the BEFW11S4. I don't intend to try to set up anything more secure than WEP 128 bit for now, because I was able to make that work before.

If my questions indicate such a fundamental lack of understanding that you think I need to go read a network primer, tell me so, and suggest one. Reading a book might be more useful than beating my head against this network for another dozen hours.

Network description:
Comcast broadband internet
Vonage wireless telephony adapter
Toshiba cable modem
Linksys BEFSR41 gateway router
one Windows 2000 Pro PC with networked HP Printer
Buffalo USB print server with Epson printer
iMac running 10.3.4
PowerBook 10.3.4 (via WiFi or via Ethernet)
Palm Tungsten C running Palm OS 5.2.1 April 2004 version (via WiFI)

Except for the Palm, each machine in the current setup (using the BEFW11S4) can see each other machine, and can see both printers.

Thanks in advance.

[Sumleilmus]

Very polite not to tell me to go read the book, or perhaps get more sleep before attempting to configure a router.

I post this here in case anyone else needs to see it.

The WRT54G works fine downstream. I don't know what I was doing wrong.

I'm not sure if it is required to cable port 1 on the BEFSR1 (serving as the gateway), but it is certainly effective.

On the Basic Setup tab, it is the Internet Connection Type one sets to "Automatic Configuration - DHCP" and the Network Address Server Settings (DHCP) that one sets to "Disable"

One sets Router IP Local IP Address to one higher than the IP of the gateway router. If, for example, the gateway router has an LAN IP of (not default) 177.121.5.5, then one sets the WRT54G to an IP of 177.121.5.6.
If using the default IP for the gateway router's LAN IP address of 192.168.1.1 (the Linksys default), then use 192.168.1.2 for the WRT54G.

One places no cable into the WAN port of the WRT54G, and it then seems not to care if it has been called a gateway or a router under the Setup - Advanced Routing tab.

It's interesting to me the effect receiving no replies to a post has of throwing oneself back upon one's own resources, in this case with good effect.

[Sumleilmus]

A few more details, in case this helps anyone else configuer a WRT54G:

Linksys says they don't support Mac OS X, but their products work well for me once I figure them out.

One needs, I think, a Windows machine to upgrade firmware on Linksys routers, but apparently only for that.

When configuring the WiFi settings on the WRT54G, be sure to TURN OFF AIRPORT on in-range Macs, or you'll have to reset the router to factory settings many times on your way to figuring out the need to do this.

WRT54G can be configured very nicely from Safari if you connect to it by straight through Ethernet cable, direct from the Mac to the WRT54P

[g3ski]

thanks for talking to yourself online and giving others the knowledge of your insight