<b>I"m not a networking expert.</b><br><br>Every now and then I get consulted about a home network and lately it seems that there are two routers involved.<br>In the latest example a person has a cable modem ( Motorola SB5100 ) / router connected to a vonage box<br>
then connected to another router. She wants to dump her router and buy one with more ports. At present<br>no WIFI is involved. I suggested a switch or even a hub rather than another router.<br>I sent them following image.<br>
<br><a href="https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1mw66Z8FzkwC8O8AGVmRmRBJ3mpUt_uqqoBhE7yyliBQ/edit">https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1mw66Z8FzkwC8O8AGVmRmRBJ3mpUt_uqqoBhE7yyliBQ/edit</a><br><br>Modem -> Vonage -> Router ( assuming connected to WAN port) -> devices....<br>
<br><br>So what is going on here, I have always thought that having two routers in series was bad!<br>The manual for the SB5100 shows a simple graphic showing the output plugged into a switch or hub with up to 32 devices so<br>
obviously it is a router ( with a single RJ45 output ). Apparently there is no web interface to this SB5100.<br><br clear="all"><br>What kind of real life issues are there when you have two NATs going on at the same time.<br>
Obviously it can't be as bad as I thought, because it has been running that way for years.<br><br><br>BTW: My system topology is modem/router -> LAN port of a WIFI router ( DHCP disabled ) -> switch ( I ran out of ports )<br>
<br>approximately like this graphic.<br><a href="https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1--ib9LAZ-yvVw8BXlv2tHhp8COXM5aE5dwC-mPoUskU/edit?authkey=CKOCot4D&hl=en_US">https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1--ib9LAZ-yvVw8BXlv2tHhp8COXM5aE5dwC-mPoUskU/edit?authkey=CKOCot4D&hl=en_US</a><br>
<br>Do manufacturers continue to make modem/routers with a single port which seems to encourage this misuse?<br>We can't expect the home user to, gasp, read the owners manual can we.<br><br><br>Any one have any real life explanations of problems caused by two NATS?<br>
<br>---- <br>I just ordered a new fancy WIFI box with a bunch of goodies ( router of course, bit torrent, uPnP, FTP, ... )<br>I guess I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and see what I can break by<br>miss configuring it. ( router -> another router -> devices )<br>
<br>If I'm all wet, let the flames arise.<br><br>-- <br>Vince Herried<br><a href="mailto:Vince@planetvince.info" target="_blank">Vince@planetvince.info</a><br><br>