<Please Help> Setting up NAS over two routers

WolfeG

Honorable
Apr 28, 2013
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10,510
Hello :)

This is my first post here and I am a novice at these things, so please pardon if I start sounding like I'm confused.

To put it simply, I have two routers, 1) and 2), and a NAS. Router 2) is connected to Router 1), NAS is connected to Router 1). My problem is that Router 1) can see and recognize the NAS, but Router 2) cannot.

Could someone with a big heart help me, or offer me a kind advice with this problem?

Following are the specifics:

Router 1) ASUS RT-AC68U
Router 2) ASUS RT-N66U
NAS: WD Mybook Live

Few things:
- Router 2) has a tomato firmware and is used to access a paticular VPN on permanent basis.
- Router 2) is set to static IP.
- The WAN port of Router 2) is connected to Router 1).

- Router 1) connects to the modem, my modem connects to internet via PPPoE
- Router 1) is set as DHCP
- I have enabled DMZ on Router 1) and set the IP as WAN IP of Router 2)
- NAS is connected to Router 1)
- Router 1) can see and recognize NAS
- Router 2) cannot see, or recognize NAS

I have a computer, "Comptuer A", that is connected to Router 1), and another, "Computer B", that is connected to Router 2). I have tried to send pings both to and from computer A to B, and they are able to ping each other just fine.

My big irk here is that before, when I did the step outlined in bold underline, the NAS popped up on My Computer screen under the network section, and was able to get computer B, which is connected to router 2), to see and access the NAS.

But I had the router 2) set as DHCP back then, and when I disconnected the routers to rearrange them, I think the IP changed and computer B/Router 2) is now no longer able to see nor recognize the NAS. I have tried to do the bold underline step once again but it doesn't seem to be doing anything.

I am doing all this with very low level understanding and I am concerned that I am getting stuck deeper.

Any help and/or advice that you could kindly toss my way would be a big help and it would really make my day if I can get the NAS to show up again on computer b/router 2).

Thank you in advance. :)

 
Solution
Is router #2 setup as a access point (instead of a router), giving all DHCP functionality to router #1? I utilize an ASUS RT-N66U as an access point in my network (it is running the ASUS software), and all computers see each other across the network (ASUS software changes the WAN port to a standard port when in the access point mode).

If router #2 is setup as a router, you will have problems with the communication between computers on the different routers unless you setup port forwarding to establish communications between the networks.
Is router #2 setup as a access point (instead of a router), giving all DHCP functionality to router #1? I utilize an ASUS RT-N66U as an access point in my network (it is running the ASUS software), and all computers see each other across the network (ASUS software changes the WAN port to a standard port when in the access point mode).

If router #2 is setup as a router, you will have problems with the communication between computers on the different routers unless you setup port forwarding to establish communications between the networks.
 
Solution


Nailed it on the head.
Would also recommend disabling DMZ.
 

WolfeG

Honorable
Apr 28, 2013
3
0
10,510
hello, thank you so much for the response.

It's a difficult situation for me to explain, one that is complicated by the fact that modifications made to the router #2/ASUS RT-N66U via tomato firmware is far more in depth and complex. I'm just a simpleton that's using it to connect to a specialized VPN.

Can you tell me a bit about setting up port forwarding to establish communications between the networks?
And also, can you tell me why it's good idea to disable DMZ? does it compromise security?

Thank you two once again for the response.


 

WolfeG

Honorable
Apr 28, 2013
3
0
10,510
Thanks for the help guys, I just figured out the problem!
I had to map the network drives, and once I did that I was able to access the contents on the NAS from router 2)! I also now know why DMZ is not good, thank you for that information :)