Connecting Two Networks

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ftresi

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Nov 17, 2016
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I have Verizon FIOS. I have Router #1 connected to the FIOS WAN with a local IP of 192.168.1.1.. I use Router #1 for some smart home devices and a solar panel inverter. Then I have Router #2, which is a cloud-based filtering router I subscribe to, to provide filtered internet access and wifi to any user device in the house other than those connected to Router #1 (which are not used by directly by people to access the Internet). The local IP of Router #2 is 192.168.2.1..

To be clear, Router #1 hands out 192.168.1.X addresses and Router #2 hands out 192.168.2.X addresses. Obviously, each router is running DHCP and the routers are connected with a patch cable from the a LAN port on Router #1 to a LAN port on Router #2.

Here's what I want to do. I want to be able to reach devices connected to the 192.168.1.X network from my 192.168.2.X network. Again, Router #2 is my "user network" which my family uses for Internet access. But I sometimes have a need to manage devices on the Router #1 network. I currently do that by connecting a laptop to the Router #1 network. Instead of doing that, how can i connect the networks so I can get to 192.168.1.X addresses from my device with a 192.168.2.X address?

If this makes a difference, I am not using the FIOS router. Router #1 is a TP-Link AC4000 and Router #2 is a TP-Link TL-WDR3600 but it has custom firmware and a custom UI to manage the cloud-based filter service.

Thanks in advance for the help.
 
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jsmithepa

jsmithepa

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You need a TRUE ROUTER in its generic sense, a box with 2 ethernet ports that will route traffic between the 2 subnets. This box can be a PC with 2 NICs, tying the 2 subnets, and Windows makes the "routing" not 100% sure here if Windows capable, your research.

The other option is, a hardware firewall box with 2+ LAN ports, I use Pfsense but there are ready-made boxes, and the firewall will do the "routing" and provide firewall/filtering function between the 2 subnets as well as from Internet.
 
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kanewolf

kanewolf

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Since router 1 and router 2 both have WIFI, just use a tablet or laptop and manually change which WIFI source you are connected to. Since you are running two DHCP servers, you would normally have to have the second router connected on the WAN port rather than a LAN port. What you have now is any wired device will get a random .1.xx or .2.xx address depending on which router responds first.
 
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ftresi

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Nov 17, 2016
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I changed the SSID of Router #1 so user devices will always connect to Router 2 and get a 192.168.1 address. I did that because I don't want them having unfiltered Internet. So I only use Router 1 wifi when I need to be on that network.

It's totally workable to connect to Router 1 when I need to. I just thought it would be relatively simple to connect the two subnets.
 
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kanewolf

kanewolf

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Not with typical home network equipment.
 
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jsmithepa

jsmithepa

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First, NO.

Second, u just said you don't want some users to have unfiltered Internet access, so you are placing a condition. Condition=some intelligent programming/boxes needs to interviene.

Is all do-able, is just a matter of $$ and know-how. Some of those know-how we can de-mystifiy for you, $$ that's on you. :)
 
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ftresi

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Nov 17, 2016
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Do I need to buy a special router or can I reconfigure any home router to do this? I have an unused router laying around that I can use for this purpose if it would work.
 
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ftresi

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Nov 17, 2016
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Sorry, I need to correct a mistake I made in my original post. The patch cable goes from a LAN port on Router 1 to the WAN port on Router 2. I originally said it goes LAN to LAN - it does not. I'm not sure if this makes any difference with any of the previous answers.
 
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kanewolf

kanewolf

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It definitely does to my first answer... This is what keeps the two DHCP servers from fighting with each other. Switching between SSIDs on a wireless laptop is definitely the simplest way to admin the 192.168.1.x devices.
 
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ftresi

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Nov 17, 2016
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OK. If there's no relatively simple way to do this, I'll just continue switching between wireless networks. Not a big deal. I like playing with networking stuff so I figured I might learn something new and connect the two subnets.

Thanks for taking the time to reply!
 
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Alabalcho

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Jan 13, 2011
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With that setup, your 192.168.1.x network appears as "Internet" for 192.168.2.x network. I see no reasons why you should not be able to access 1.x devices from 2.x network (but not the opposite way).
 
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ftresi

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No. On a computer connected to my 2.x network, my Default Gateway, DHCP and DNS servers are all set to 192.168.2.1. The only 1.x address I can get to is Router 1 - 192.168.1.1. I cannot get to any other 1.x address.
 
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Alabalcho

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Your 2.x router does NAT, so if it sees request to let say, 192.168.1.10, with its WAN address also in 1.x network, it should be able to forward that request to 1.10. If you can't do that, you've restricted your 2.x router way too much.

Again - for your 2.x network, everything behimd the WAN port is Internet.
 
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ftresi

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Can you please explain exactly what you mean by that? In other words, which router settings would I need to change so that the 2.x router is not restricted way too much?

 
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