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Friday, May 23, 2014

A Tale of 2 Routers!

I just updated my home network and i figured i'd post the results.

Equipment:
Cisco/Linksys E1200 v1 Router - Setup as an AP
Cisco/Linksys SE2500 (5) Port Gigabit Switch
Cisco / Linksys WRT610N v2 Router - Running as a Router
Motorola SBG6580 Docsis 3.0 Cable Modem - TWC Approved - Setup in Bridge Mode w/o WiFi

Firmware:
DD-WRT on the (2) routers and whatever the latest from TWC on the Motorola

Topology:
Cable Connection --> SBG6580 --> WRT610N --> NETTALK, PLAYON Server, & SE2500 --> E1200, PCs, Wireless Devices

Method:
Follow one of the many FAQs available on setting up your SBG6580 for bridge mode and disable the WiFi.
Change out the stock firmware to DD-WRT for the Cisco/Linksys routers.
Verify you have 2 clear wireless channels.
Setup the WRT610N to DHCP Static Assign an IP to the NETTALK and PLAYON Server.
Setup the Wireless Stuff for the WRT610N (SSID, Encryption, Channel, etc.)
Put the NETTALK IP into the DMZ on the WRT610N.
Static assign the IP for the E1200 with a laptop b4 you connect it to the rest of the network.
Disable the WAN & WAN port and DHCP Server on the E1200.  It's now a AP & 5 port switch!
Setup the Wireless Stuff in the E1200 (SSID - blah blah blah)
Make sure your wireless AP and Router have their WiFi on different channels.

Connect it all together as follows:
Cable --> SBG6580
SBG6580 --> WRT610N WAN Port
WRT610N Port 1 --> NETTALK
WRT610N Port 2 --> PLAYON Server
WRT610N Port 3 --> SE2500 Switch
WRT610N WiFi --> Roku
WRT610N WiFi --> PS3
WRT610N WiFi --> Wii
SE2500 --> PCs, NAS, & Printers
SE2500 --> E1200 old WAN port for Up-Link
E1200 Port(s) 1,2,3 --> 10/100 Ethernet Segment (not hooked up to anything but, I wanted to make sure the wires were hot at this point... just in case... I have a lot of hard wires downstairs in my house for devices)
E1200 WiFi --> Phones, Tablets, & Everything Else!

Done! - You now have a complete and rock solid "Cisco" network @ home!  This setup has been holding up perfectly for me with a ton of VOIP and Streaming traffic.  Most people won't need the SE2500.  I needed it due the shear number of devices that I have connected to my LAN.

Total investment: Less than $70 for the hardware and cables!  eBay is your best friend.

Note: I still have to have Joe come over and optimize my Router & AP for streaming and VIOP.  It works perfectly but, I love me some overkill!  I get around 70 MBPS actual read/write speed from my PC to my NAS on the Gigabit Segment.  The internet speed on my 15 MBPS cable connection clocks out at 14.6 MBPS outside one my deck from my laptop with 0% loss.

Important: Follow the DD-WRT instructions exactly or you will brick your devices!!!  I can't stress this enough.  When they tell you to wait etc. - do it!

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