Expanding Network 2 Wireless Routers and 2 Switches

[wbking12]

I have a restaurant in an old building and am needing some network help. I have a dining room with a new apple airport extreme wireless router. Plugged into that router I have my POS file server and a unmanaged switch with 4 receipt printers plugged into it. I am adding a dining area in another area of the old building where my wireless router does not reach. I want to add another airport extreme and unmanaged switch for about the same setup. But do I run one network cable from my main airport to the extended one and then connect the other unmanaged switch to that router? Or do I run two network cables one to connect the two routers and the other to connect the switch to the existing switch? Which is more efficient as I may be playing some media from the internet from a roku device to a tv in the new room?

 

[wbking12]

I am simply extending the network as I use a iPads POS system that is mobile with the servers and will need to work seamlessly in either room.

 

[bicycle_repair_man]

You should connect the extended dining area to the router. In essence, you're replicating what you already have.

Router > switch > Airport Extreme (and printers).

I assume you want the extended dining area to have the same accessibility as the original dining area? If so, all you need to do is replicate the WiFi settings. You should also manually allocate a different wireless channel to each of the Airport Extremes to avoid interference.

 

[wbking12]

Im not sure I asked my question correctly. How do I connect the other/new switch? Do I connect it to the new(extended router) or to the existing switch for best network performance?

 

[nigelivey]

Im not sure I asked my question correctly. How do I connect the other/new switch? Do I connect it to the new(extended router) or to the existing switch for best network performance?

Not going to make much difference, just run one cable. Make sure you the second APE detects the network and "Extend your wifi coverage" This takes out the routing on the new APE and it just becomes an access point.

 

[bicycle_repair_man]

You don't need a second router, unless you have two ISPs and want to isolate one section of the restaurant from the other.

The best practice is:

Router > switches > Airport Extremes & printers