Maximize use of two cable modem/ISP

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swzeng

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Nov 25, 2012
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Hi guys,

So my new employer is giving a business class comcast connection at home to work from home. Also currently I have personal comcast account for my family. So in this case, I want to if the following can be accomplish. For the sake of it, please stick with this setup (I have to) with the two comcast cable modem.

1. Can I merge two networks into one network by using multiple routers? So the biggest thing I am looking for sharing printers and network files sharing.

2. Can one computer connect to both network with having two network cards? Again, can that computer access both networks and internet?

Thanks!
 
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bill001g

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Aug 9, 2012
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It is simpler than the above post imply.

So lets assume your current home comcast router is using network 192.168.0.1 for its gateway and it is giving out IP to all your PC via DHCP. What you do it set your second router to some address outside the DHCP scope of the first one let just say 192.168.0.254. You want to disable the DHCP on this second router and plug the LAN ports together.

So far nothing will change all your traffic will go out your home router and the new business one will not be used.

Now to use the second connection you must tell your PC to use it with the ROUTE command. I am going to assume they want you to use a VPN connection to get to their network. Lets assume their site translates to ip 1.2.3.4
You would put in ROUTE ADD 1.2.3.4 mask 255.255.255.255 192.168.0.254

It tends to be kinda tedious to add these but if there is not a lot it is doable.

A problem you may find if they set their VPN up in the recommended way is you still will not be allowed to access your local printers. This is called split tunnel. Many VPN are restricted so when you are on the company network you have no access to any other network. There is little you can do if they have set it up this way. You would have to save a file to your PC disconnect the VPN to print and then reconnect....quite a pain that I have to listen to complaints almost every day but it is still good security policy.
 
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swzeng

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Nov 25, 2012
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Ok, thanks for the above suggestion. So a quick thought, let me know if this will work.

Assuming I am going to get two network cards for my pc. Lets say that Network card A and B. So A will connect to the Business router/modem for work and internet. B will connect to existing home Comcast router. Now I will assign static ip on network B with no dns data. Basically I just want to connect to my home network for files sharing and printers. All my internet will come from A.
 
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bill001g

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The key is not the DNS it is to make sure you do not put a default gateway on the nic that goes to your home network. You can only have a single default route and the machine does not always select the nic you want without help.

You may still have the split tunnel issue if you are using VPN.
 
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swzeng

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Nov 25, 2012
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ok, great thanks! So I am ok when VPN is in used that split tunnel issue and to disconnect then print and access home network. So to recap....

Network A --> connect to Comcast Business Router/Modem with default connection (DHCP)
Network B --> connect to Comcast Home Router/Modem with only assigned IP address and Subnet mask (ex 10.10.10.10 & 255.255.2555.0) and leave the rest blank on TCP/IPv4


Thanks!

 
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