Two Routers w/ One Cable-Modem But In Parallel

[sub3marathonman]

I've spent a fair bit of time searching and maybe it isn't even possible to do what I'm hoping to do?

I've seen the usual, Cable-Modem to Router 1 then Router 1 to Router 2. I would call this setup "In Series" somewhat as batteries are set up.

But what I'm wanting to do is plug the cable from Router 2, not into Router 1, but into the Cable-Modem. The Cable-Modem would then have two routers plugged into it. It actually has four ports, so I think it must be possible. I would call this "Parallel."

I do understand that anything on Router 1 won't see anything on Router 2, but that's OK.

I also really don't want to disturb the current setup, as it has been working for a long time. I don't want to add on "down-router" from the current router, as at some point I think I might remove it.

If it is helpful information, I think the Cable-Modem is set up in Bridge Mode. But it has been set up a long time ago so I can't be certain.

I hope this is explained with at least some clarity, as I'm definitely not an expert with this.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Guest]

Didn't explain much. You can install both routers in parallel, and Router 1 will see everything on Router 2, if you let it. The internal network will map itself automatically. Are you using DHCP?

If so, everything will work automatically. If you are port-forwarding services to the internet, like Apache or SSH, you might need to change some config files, but if not, everything will just work and work well.

 

[sub3marathonman]

Didn't explain much. You can install both routers in parallel, and Router 1 will see everything on Router 2, if you let it. The internal network will map itself automatically. Are you using DHCP?

Thank you, as I said, I'm not knowledgeable at all about this.

I'm fairly sure it uses the DHCP, but I've also put three or four static IP addresses in it too for specific computers.

It may be a bit OT, but I don't see why it can't have a list of IP addresses, and people could just specify which computer on which static IP address.

But basically just plug the other router in and work on setting it up is my understanding, which I had thought of doing but was a bit too worried about unknown disastrous repercussions.

 

[Guest]

It will work, but since you have some static IPs, you might have to re-configure these. Of course you can specify which computer uses which IP address.

Sometimes it doesn't work right away. But two routers directly to the modem will be simpler that daisy chaining them.

 

[sub3marathonman]

Thanks for the help, Andy, it is appreciated.

I'll try to update things when I get the second one set up.

 

[TJ Hooker]

Why do you need 2 routers? In fact, given that your modem is a modem-router (due to the fact it has multiple LAN ports it must be), why do you need 3 routers? Although, if your modem is in bridge mode, I'm not sure if it would work to connect two routers to it, as I believe bridge mode disables any routing capabilities.

Does your modem connect to the WAN port or a LAN port on your current router?

 

[sub3marathonman]

In fact, given that your modem is a modem-router (due to the fact it has multiple LAN ports it must be), why do you need 3 routers?

Does your modem connect to the WAN port or a LAN port on your current router?

Yes, and that is interesting because Brighthouse (now Spectrum) wants $5/month to allow it to be able to use the wireless portion of it. And yes, it is my modem but I still can't.

The current setup is it has four LAN ports (Blue ETH1 - ETH4), and the Router 1 is plugged into one of them.

I am ultimately hoping to remove Router 1 once I have Router 2 set up, but I haven't set up a router in a decade (it seems). So I don't want to disturb the current setup I have going until I know I have the new Router 2 working.

And I definitely could be making a mountain out of a molehill, as several people have said the setup process has advanced greatly in the past ten years.