Using Linksys WRT350N only as switch and wifi with external router

[ElenaXX]

Hi all,
please be patient with me, I'm not a network expert but a beginner, also forgive my English I'm Italian speaking.

Note that this is just a temporary configuration though...
I have a modem/router handling my DSL connection already. I added a Linksys WRT350N (I had it for free) which I want to use as wifi access point and ethernet switch only (but I plan to buy a separate switch soon). Therefore, I have connected both devices in a same network, i.e the router has static IP 192.168.1.254 and the Linksys 192.168.1.253 and the router is connected to one Linksys LAN port, NOT to the WAN port of course. I prefer this setup ways more than useing a bridged connection. This way my modem/router handles the Internet connection and routing, also I can access BOTH devices configuration pages from my network without need to drive a cable to the modem/router directly everytime !
BUT I'm not sure my setup is optimal, even if everything apparently works. For example, can I be sure that this way I am not experiencing double NAT, or other conflicits ? And that the Linksys
connected this way actually STOPS operating as a router, as I require ?
If I try to disable the NAT in the Linksys, I am forced to insert at least one static route and I
honestly must stop there cos I'm not an expert, as I said already.
What shall I do ? Can I let my setup this way or I must try to disable the NAT and specify a static route in the Linksys ??

Thanks u very much for ur support

 

[jsmithepa]

am not experiencing double NAT, or other conflicits ? And that the Linksys
connected this way actually STOPS operating as a router, as I require ?

Correct.

You have done this exactly the right way, which I pontificate everyday. No WAN, no (double) NAT.

If I try to disable the NAT in the Linksys, I am forced to insert at least one static route and I
honestly must stop there cos I'm not an expert, as I said already.
What shall I do ? Can I let my setup this way or I must try to disable the NAT and specify a static route in the Linksys ??

STOP!

Don't know where you learned how to do this, but spot on, full stop, DONE.

NAT on Linksys operates on the WAN port. If WAN port physically disconnected, no NAT can happen in this box.

Don't think about it further, just enjoy it.

Only thing is, you should have ONE AND ONLY ONE DHCP server running, and am going to guess this is what you have because otherwise you would had some weird problems by now.

 

[ElenaXX]

@Jsmith
Wow thank u for ur reply
Yes of course I let DHCP enabled in my router only.
Well actually nobody taught me, I followed my intuition only and I was lucky cos, depite my knowledge of networks is only
very superficial, that seemed logic enough to me
Thank u again !