2 ISPs, 2 Routers, 1 printer.

[dmalvarado]

I'm wondering if what I want to do is possible.

We have 2 networks in our office, each with their own ISP connection. We only have 1 printer in the office, but both networks need to use it. What I want to do is get the two routers "talking" to each other so that everyone can see and use the printer. Both have dynamic IPs.

Is there a way to do this?

 

[RustyNailz]

There would be several ways to do this. Assuming this is a small office setup...

Here is one: what if you put all the computers and routers on the same network.

Not sure how many nodes you have, but let's say you go with 192.168.1.0/24

Router#1 internal interface= 192.168.1.1
Router#2 internal interface= 192.168.1.2

You could setup Router#1 with DHCP for all the PCs you want as DHCP clients and use range 192.168.1.50 to 192.168.1.99

Then for the other Router#2 clients, manually assign static IP, subnet, gateway=192.168.1.2

Network printer gets a static IP = 192.168.1.240, 255.255.255.0

Note: this would put all clients on the same network, not sure if you separated them for security reasons

 

[dmalvarado]

Yes but would this allow Router 2's clients to continue using it's own ISP line? We separated them simply because 20-30 users was to much for one DSL line, even with bandwidth controls, and there were no other options for boosting speed or switching to cable.

 

[RustyNailz]

"would this allow Router 2's clients to continue using it's own ISP line" = yes

Example: (you can flip it around also)
-all users you want to go out on Router#1, set their workstations to DHCP (this will send them to gateway 192.168.1.1)

-users that you want to go out Router#2, manually setup their IP info like below example:
PC#1
IP= 192.168.1.100, SM= 255.255.255.0, GW= 192.168.1.2

PC#2
IP= 192.168.1.101, SM=255.255.255.0, GW= 192.168.1.2

*use IP range of 192.168.1.100 thru 192.168.1.200 for router#2 clients. If you have 30 total users, than you will only need 15 static IPs.

*put the largest group on DHCP so you have less to manaully configure

This design will put all computers and printers on the same network and if they were not seperated for security reasons, then I believe this will work for you.

 

[dmalvarado]

Cool, thanks for the replies!