How to create seperate networks for home and business use, both with wired connections. VPN HELP?

vadzich

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I am trying to set up a home network for both personal and business use and want to keep the two networks completely separate. Is it possible for each network to have wired Ethernet connections?

I am looking at getting a ASUS RT-68U or Netgear Nighthawk R7000, both of which allow for separate wireless “guest” networks, but I do not think they have separate wired "guest" networks. Is there a wireless router that allows for two separate networks, each wired Ethernet connections?

The wired Ethernet access is more important for the home network and using one of the 2 routers listed above, I could set up the home network as the “main” network (which would also be used for actual guests/visitors) and the business network as the wireless “guest” network. I could live without wired Ethernet access for the business network, but am concerned about security of the “guest” network for business use.

If the wireless “guest” network has a secure password, is it any less secure than that of the “main” network? Also, is the “guest” network secure from non-administrator users on the “main” network?
 
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I have a similar setup and I have a motorola Surfboard that has a built in router that Bright house setup when i ordered high speed. I just connected the router to a port on the Modem/router. When I upgraded to lightning internet (high speed) Bright house replaced the modem with the surfboard. So the SSID was named something like BNKBFGTRUWUI. My router i used before in upgraded was set as Buckeyenet and had buckeyenet (Guest). SO now when I'm at a pc i see 3 wireless networks BNKBFGTRUWUI, buckeyenet and the guest. I'm able to change the SSID of buckeyenet and change security by getting typing 198.162.0.1 in a browser.

Are you still planning on have 2 wired networks? the advantage is you would have a separate firewall (each router)...

vadzich

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Thank you very much for the response. I am not comfortable with loading dd-wrt or other software and then trying to manage it. I want it to be simple and trouble free.

Instead of a router that supports vlan, can I connect a vlan supported switch directly to my modem and then have a separate consumer router/WAP for each network?

If a vlan router would be better, can you please recommend a good, reliable vlan router? I assume I would then want to attach a separateWAP for each network? Can you also recommend a good, reliable WAP.

Thanks
 
I suppose you could use 2 routers. The main one as the guest and the second plugged into the lan port of the main one as the business.

Because of the NAT the business users could get to the guest network but not the other way around unless you set up port forwarding. If you need any type of port forwarding from the internet into the business network it will get tricky to secure. You could likely to a point prevent even business users from access machines on the guest network if you setup the proper firewall rules in the second router prevent access to the ip in guest network.
 

orlbuckeye

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My guess is you want them wired for better security. So I suggest you use wired for business and wireless with security for personal. One thing using a router itself is security because the router's IP address is exposed to the Internet and the router is a firewall that protects the IP addresses of the local network. The wired security would prevent a hacked from hacking your wireless security password. Whether wired of not your still susceptible to malware and spyware attacks. So keep the pc protected also.
 

choucove

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I think will bill001g is recommending will probably be the most simplistic way of setting up two separate LAN networks. Each LAN network needs a gateway. Simple home wireless routers only offer one gateway, you can't run multiple networks through multiple interfaces without special firmware support or changing to an actual business class router supporting multiple LAN zones or VLANs.

What kind of modem do you have for your internet provider? Sometimes you are given an actual gateway router device which has more than one ethernet port on it. If so, connect one of your own wireless routers off one port, set it up with a network range like 192.168.2.1 - 254, and use that for all your home devices. On a separate network port from your root router, connect another of your own wireless routers and use a network range like 192.168.3.1 - 254 and use that for your work devices.
 

vadzich

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Mar 8, 2014
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Thank you very much. My plan is to get 2 routers (with built in WAPs). The first router would be for home use and the second router (for business use) would plug into one of the ports on the back of the first router. However, I am not network savvy, so any additional information would be helpful. Can I just plug one into the other?

Note that I am currently planning to buy a Netgear Nighthawk R700 Router (my second choice is an ASUS RT-68U).

I am also planning on getting a new modem so any suggestions here would also be appreciated. I have cox cable with their faster service and I plan to buy a Motorola Surfboard SB6141. Is there a higher level router that would make two LANs easier to achieve?
 

vadzich

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After more research, I think I understand it now, but would appreciate any guidance on set-up and or hardware, as I am not sure I know wat I am talking about, but here goes:

I need to first connet my second router (Router#2) to the internet via the WAN port and a computer to assign it a static IP and tun off the DHCP. Then I disconnet Router#2.

I then connect the first roter (Router#1) to the insternet via its WAN port.

I then connect Router#1 to Router#2 via the LAN ports on the back of each machine. The WAN port on Router#2 remains empty.

Then cross my fingers and pray :)?

Assuming that works, my question is what router should I use as the business router (Router#1 or Router#2) if I want the business router to have the better security and reliability?

 

orlbuckeye

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I have a similar setup and I have a motorola Surfboard that has a built in router that Bright house setup when i ordered high speed. I just connected the router to a port on the Modem/router. When I upgraded to lightning internet (high speed) Bright house replaced the modem with the surfboard. So the SSID was named something like BNKBFGTRUWUI. My router i used before in upgraded was set as Buckeyenet and had buckeyenet (Guest). SO now when I'm at a pc i see 3 wireless networks BNKBFGTRUWUI, buckeyenet and the guest. I'm able to change the SSID of buckeyenet and change security by getting typing 198.162.0.1 in a browser.

Are you still planning on have 2 wired networks? the advantage is you would have a separate firewall (each router) for business and personal pc's.
 
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vadzich

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Mar 8, 2014
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I am afraid, I may have accidnetally indicated solved, but any additioanl help woudl be appreciated.

In any case, I am not sure what you mean by two wored networks, but I would have two seperate routers as follows:

Internet to modem via coax cable,modem to Router#1 via WAN port, Router#1 to Router #2 via LAN ports.

 

vadzich

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Mar 8, 2014
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After even more research, if I want the two networks to be seperate, I should connect the LAN port of Router#1 to the WAN port of Router#2. Does that sound right?

Also, would still appreacite any support on which whether the business router shoudl be Router#1 or Router#2?

Thanks