How do other pc's see devices on my RO318?

[PetrellaMD]

Hello! 🙂

I have connected my RO318 to an Ethernet Port on a TP-Link Archer C9 Router (which is connected to a C7000v2). 

I'm wondering why devices that are connected wirelessly to the C9 can't see the devices physically connected to the RO318? (I'd like to connect our printers to the RO318; but wireless devices can't seem to find those printers?) 

I'm obviously not understanding, or my expectations are naive; so any info that can lead me to the things that I should be doing to accomplish what I'm hoping to do, would be much appreciated. 

Thanks in advance!! 😄 Mario 

p.s. Why, if I connect wirelessly to the C7000v2, can I not see anything connected "downstream", i.e., anything connected to the Archer C9 ..? TIA

[FURRYe38 · Accepted solution]

You can always add a ethernet Gb switch to the back of your C series modem for additional ports. They make 5, 8, 16, 24 and 48 port model switchs. I have a 24 port behind my router. 

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@PetrellaMD wrote:

Hi again, and thanks again ... 😄 

I've replaced the RO318 with a GigaBit Switch and am able to see all devices that are connected to the intermediate Router (the Archer). Thanks! 

I will be making the C7000v2 the primary Router for our location, just as soon as my wife completes the Webinars that she's presenting over the next few weeks (she doesn't want any "hiccups" from modifications to our set-up). 

I didn't mention that our (adult) sons use their own printer (HP 7510) that is connected via an old Hawking Print Server that appears to require that the Gateway explicitly be 192.168.1.* ... but ... our C7000 already has all 4 ethernet Ports in use (3 pc's plus the Archer); that's why I feel limited to continuing to use the Archer ... 😉 

I'll report back in a few weeks to let you all know how this turned out. 😉 

Thanks again!!! Mario

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[FURRYe38]

You have two routers on the same line, actually 3 if you have the C series modem online as a gateway router. 

I would remove the RO as it's older and not really needed. Just use connect all your devices to the C series modem router. 

Or configure the C series for modem only mode and use your TP-Link router as your main wifi router. 

Good Luck. 

[antinode]

> I have connected my RO318 to an Ethernet Port on a TP-Link Archer C9
> Router (which is connected to a C7000v2).

   Why?

   You seem to have cascaded three routers.  Cascading multiple routers
can cause multiple problems.

> I'm obviously not understanding, or my expectations are naive; [...]

   Yup.  These gizmos are more complicated than extension cords; you
can't just string them together and have everyone communicate with
everyone else.

> p.s. Why, if I connect wirelessly to the C7000v2, can I not see
> anything connected "downstream", i.e., anything connected to the Archer
> C9 ..?

   Same basic problem.  By default, each of these routers will create
its own little LAN, with its own IP address range, and devices which are
connected to one of them will not be able to communicate transparently
with devices which are connected to another of them.  Have you looked at
the IP addresses of devices which are connected to each of these
routers?  How similar are they?

   The usual way to arrange a moderately complex network is to have one
router, and then one or more stupider devices, like network switches
(for more Ethernet ports) or wireless access points (for more, or more
distant) wireless devices.

   If you want to connect client devices (wired or wireless) to the
C7000v2, then that should probably be your router.  If your Archer C9

was intended to extend your wireless-betwork coverage, then it should
probably be configured as a wireless access point, rather than as a
full-function router.

   I don't know what the (antique) R0318 was supposed to be doing for
you, but it's too old to be good for much of anything.  If you were
trying to add more Ethernet connections to the Archer C9, then you
should invest ($20?) in a cheap gigabit/s-capable network switch, and
use that, instead.

   If you can explain the actual problem(s) which you are trying to
solve with this gizmo collection, then you might be able to get more
customized (accurate, precise) advice.

[PetrellaMD]

Thanks, all, for your Replies ... They're all extremely helpful! 😄 

I should explain what I've done (how I have things connected, etc.), and I should explain what I'm hoping for: 

The Cable line-in is connected to C7000 (192.168.0.1), and all 4 wi-fi broadcast signals are  turned off. This device is physically located in a room used by our adult sons, at the far end of the house. They have 3 pc's connected to it via Ethernet.

The TP-Link Archer (192.168.1.1) is connected to the 4th Ethernet port on the C7000; and we've disabled 3 of the 4 available wi-fi signals. 2 pc's, 2 tablets, 2 cell phones, 2 printers, and a TV and an Echo use that wi-fi signal. I also have a USB hard drive connected to one of the USB ports on the Archer.

My oldest son has asked if we can eliminate wi-fi signals (he's concerned about the "rays"), and I'm interested because I presently spend time maintaining a MAC filter list to minimize the likelihood of "drive-by's". 

I would like to find something like an "extension" to physically connect all devices (the cell phones can use cell data instead of wi-fi). I'd like to be able for each device to connect via Ethernet, and to still see each other, and the printers, and the network hard-drive. 

So that's why I dug out this old Router. I ran a 25' ethernet cable from the TP-Link to our bedroom, which is our home office, and have connected 2 pc's, 2 printers, and a blu-ray player. From my limited understanding, the RO318, and all it's connected devices, are just another device(s) that is/are visible to everything else that is connected to the Archer. E.g., I'd like to be able to see the network drive that is connected to the Archer, from a pc that is wired into the RO318. But, pc's on the RO318 (192.168.1.164) can't see the network drive; and pc's in other parts of the house (e.g., when we walk downstairs with a laptop and connect to the TP-Link via wi-fi) can't see the printers. 

I think it's obvious that I don't know what I'm talking about, so I've been trying to find any info available to help me come up to speed on what's going on. I'll continue to re-read your Replies, while I go through the downloaded manual. 

In the meantime, if something I've just said is obvious to you, feel free to correct my misconceptions ... at will.  😄 

Thanks again!! Mario

[FURRYe38]

I would recommend taking the old RO router out of the mix and install a 1GB non managed ethernet switch that you can just connect the one feed wire from the TP Link router and connect it to the switch, then connect up all your other wired devices to this swtich. Plug in play here and no configurations needed. All of your devices will be on the same network as the TPLink and have internet services. 

https://www.netgear.com/support/product/GS108.aspx

There inexpensive to buy.

Wifi signals are not harmful unless you stand next to a wifi source for a long period of time. You can also turn down power output of wifi routers as well to lession the coverage and still have wifi signals if needed. 

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@PetrellaMD wrote:

[antinode]

> The Cable line-in is connected to C7000 (192.168.0.1), and all 4 wi-fi
> broadcast signals are turned off. [...]

   Ok, but it's still a router.  With a "192.168.0.*" LAN subnet.

> The TP-Link Archer (192.168.1.1) [...]

   Also a router.  With a "192.168.1.*" LAN subnet.  Probably should be
configured as a WAP (which would then be on the "192.168.0.*" subnet).
I haven't looked at the Archer C9 documentation, so I know nothing, but
I'm confident that it (like practically any other, similar router) can
be configured as a WAP.

> I would like to find something like an "extension" to physically
> connect all devices (the cell phones can use cell data instead of
> wi-fi). [...]

   Ok with me, but "use cell data" means "not part of my LAN".

> [...] I'd like to be able for each device to connect via Ethernet, and
> to still see each other, and the printers, and the network hard-drive.

   Using only one router (as a router) should help.  (For each device on
your LAN, not for a "use cell data" phone.)

> So that's why I dug out this old Router. [...]

   But it's a router, and what you want is a (stupider) network switch.

> [...] From my limited understanding, the RO318, and all it's connected
> devices, are just another device(s) that is/are visible to everything
> else that is connected to the Archer. [...]

   But if it's a router, I'd expect it to cause trouble for its
connected devices.

> [...] pc's on the RO318 (192.168.1.164) [...]

   That looks good, but if it's not working, then there may be some
router-like complications.  I don't have time right now to study up on
your antique, but I'd expect that replacing it with a (simple) network
switch would help.

> My oldest son has asked if we can eliminate wi-fi signals (he's
> concerned about the "rays"), [...]

   Swell.  Does he realize that (harmless) "5G" cellular telephone
signals and (harmless) "5GHz" Wi-Fi signals are entirely different
things (despite the fact that there's a "5" and a "G" in both)?

[PetrellaMD]

Many (more) thanks! I realize that I've got excessive "cross" configuration, so I'm slowly working my way down to the simplest solution ... 😉 

If I were to, instead of making the Archer 192.168.0.<something-else>; I'm thinking that making the Archer 192.168.1.2, and changing the C7000 to 192.168.1.1 (some of the devices on the Archer have static ip-adr's; so I'm being lazy here, I know). I would then turn off DHCP on the Archer? At least this way, the Archer, and all it's devices are part of 1 LAN (instead of having 2 separate LAN's); would that be a good intermediate step for me to start with? 

I'll also look into a switch'er, instead of the RO318. 😉 

TIA Mario

[antinode]

> [...] instead of making the Archer 192.168.0.<something-else>; [...]

   Your (one, only) router (soon to be the C7000) is where all the
address reservations must be made, so you'll need to do all the data
entry on the C7000, no matter what.

   If you want, you could tell the C7000 to use "192.168.1.*", instead
of its usual default subnet of "192.168.0.*":  ADVANCED > Setup > LAN
Setup.  I'm not sure what the benefit might be.  If you have a
computer/device which is expecting to find a printer at some particular
"192.168.1.x" address, or if you can think of some other good reason,
then it's ok with me.

> [...] I would then turn off DHCP on the Archer? [...]

   That's part of configuring it as a WAP.  I haven't read up on the
Archer C9, so I don't know if it has some one-step WAP-mode option, or
if you would need to do things like disabling its DHCP server
manually/explicitly.  Either way, it'll need to happen.

> [...] and all it's devices are part of 1 LAN (instead of having 2
> separate LAN's);

   When you get down to one router, then all your devices should use the
same IP address subnet, and each should be able to communicate with any.

   And yes, the C9-as-WAP will get a new LAN IP address.  Again, I
haven't studied the C9, so I know nothing, but if it can use DHCP to get
its new LAN IP address from the (DHCP server in the) C7000, then you can
use Address Reservation on the C7000 to ensure that the C9-as-WAP will
always get the same address.  If it can't use DHCP for that, then you'd
need to assign a static address on the C9-as-WAP.  If you do that, then
that address should _not_ be in the DHCP address pool on the C7000, so
you might need to shrink the pool on the C7000 to make some non-pool
addresses available.  (Also at ADVANCED > Setup > LAN Setup.)

> [...] would that be a good intermediate step for me to start with?

   Trying to do half the work may just cause twice the trouble.  The
first thing to do is figure out how to configure the C9 as a WAP.  One
of us will probably need to find and read a C9 user guide.  (I vote for
you.)  When that's known, any remaining mysteries should be easy.

> I'll also look into a switch'er, instead of the RO318. 😉

   Good idea.  Didn't the docs on that fossil say something about a
10Mb/s WAN port?  1000Mb/s is faster than 10Mb/s.  Even a moderately old
printer might be limited by a 10Mb/s connection.

[PetrellaMD]

Hi again, and thanks again ... 😄 

I've replaced the RO318 with a GigaBit Switch and am able to see all devices that are connected to the intermediate Router (the Archer). Thanks! 

I will be making the C7000v2 the primary Router for our location, just as soon as my wife completes the Webinars that she's presenting over the next few weeks (she doesn't want any "hiccups" from modifications to our set-up). 

I didn't mention that our (adult) sons use their own printer (HP 7510) that is connected via an old Hawking Print Server that appears to require that the Gateway explicitly be 192.168.1.* ... but ... our C7000 already has all 4 ethernet Ports in use (3 pc's plus the Archer); that's why I feel limited to continuing to use the Archer ... 😉 

I'll report back in a few weeks to let you all know how this turned out. 😉 

Thanks again!!! Mario

[FURRYe38 · Accepted solution]

You can always add a ethernet Gb switch to the back of your C series modem for additional ports. They make 5, 8, 16, 24 and 48 port model switchs. I have a 24 port behind my router. 

---

@PetrellaMD wrote:

Hi again, and thanks again ... 😄 

I've replaced the RO318 with a GigaBit Switch and am able to see all devices that are connected to the intermediate Router (the Archer). Thanks! 

I will be making the C7000v2 the primary Router for our location, just as soon as my wife completes the Webinars that she's presenting over the next few weeks (she doesn't want any "hiccups" from modifications to our set-up). 

I didn't mention that our (adult) sons use their own printer (HP 7510) that is connected via an old Hawking Print Server that appears to require that the Gateway explicitly be 192.168.1.* ... but ... our C7000 already has all 4 ethernet Ports in use (3 pc's plus the Archer); that's why I feel limited to continuing to use the Archer ... 😉 

I'll report back in a few weeks to let you all know how this turned out. 😉 

Thanks again!!! Mario

---

[antinode]

> [...] printer (HP 7510) that is connected via an old Hawking Print
> Server that appears to require that the Gateway explicitly be
> 192.168.1.* [..].

   "an old Hawking Print Server" is not enough of a description to
induce me to try to puzzle out how to configure it for any particular
LAN environment.  But I'd be more than a little amazed if it had any IP
address info embedded in it.  More likely, it would get its IP
parameters using DHCP from your (one/only) router.

> [...] our C7000 already has all 4 ethernet Ports in use (3 pc's plus
> the Archer); that's why I feel limited to continuing to use the Archer
> ... 😉

   If the problem is a shortage of LAN Ethernet ports, then a network
switch is a simple solution.  If you can configure the C9 as a WAP, then
you should be able to use it as a network switch (with wireless
capability, too).