XPost: alt.comp.os.windows-10   
   From: jbb@notatt.com   
      
   On 3/3/2023 12:27 PM, dan wrote:   
   > The current home router is currently set up as the LAN gateway on   
   > 192.168.1.1 and it's set to get the WAN Internet IP address from the modem,   
   > and it's set to hand out DHCP addresses from 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.254.   
   >   
   > I've just now configured a new replacement router the same way by   
   > connecting it to the Ethernet port of my Windows PC & duplicating   
   > the setup that was on the old router (as much as was possible).   
   >   
   > I'm going to swap them, but I might lose my Internet so I ask now.   
   >   
   > After I replace that current router with the new router, then I have an   
   > extra router which I'd like to make some kind of future use of somehow.   
   >   
   > I guess the simplest task is to re-use the spare router as a switch, right?   
   > (I don't really need the extra four LAN ports but why not add them anyway?)   
   >   
   > But how would I turn the old router from routing into a "dumb" switch?   
   >   
   > Do I change the old router IP address from 192.168.1.1 to a static IP of   
   > something unused in the range of 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.254 or do I let   
   > the replacement router (which is set up to hand out DHCP addresses in that   
   > range) do it?   
   >   
   > Does it matter what IP address I set that new "dumb" switch to?   
   >   
   > Mainly I'm asking (before I switch over) how to turn the now spare router   
   > into something useful, such as a dumb switch (to get four more ports).   
      
   I have a two Netgear routers in my home network. One of them acts as a   
   router - it talks to the cable modem, handles the wired LAN, and runs a   
   wireless network for that LAN - it is placed adjacent to the cable modem   
   and that is near a corner of the house. The other router is set, using   
   Netgear-provided software, to be an AP (access point) and is connected   
   to the other router by wire. The AP allows access by WiFi and routes the   
   traffic to the first router where IP addresses are assigned, etc. The   
   wired ports on AP make the AP look like a switch to access the LAN.   
   Note, the wireless network hosted by the AP has a different name than   
   the one hosted by the router.   
      
   In addition to AP mode, the AP router offers a bridge mode that seems to   
   be very much like AP but with a few differences - I don't think you need   
   to run wire between the router and the bridge, but am not sure. In any   
   event, I think most fairly modern routers will offer these sorts of   
   capabilities. You will need to grab the manual for your equipment and do   
   some reading. If it's clear, you do it; if not, find someone or some   
   forum to consult with specific questions. I've told you all I can   
   remember about the topic but I'm sure that some of the better informed   
   folks here might have memory jogged by this post. Good luck!   
   --   
   Jeff Barnett   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)