Odd network behavior

[rikona]

On Tue, 01 Aug 2017 10:33:31 +0200
Xen <list at xenhideout.nl> wrote:

> rikona schreef op 01-08-2017 6:07:
> > I'm seeing some odd network behavior that I don't understand.  
> 
> You've also not said, as Colin points out, how the second router is 
> really connected.

The two are connected with a single CAT5 going between the LAN [not
WAN] sides of the two routers. There is no connection to the WAN side 
of the second router - it is basically a CAT5 switch with wifi
capability. 

> I assume it is really connected with its uplink to the main network,
> and that it is doing NAT on its own behalf?

No direct connection to the main network - only to router #1. NO NAT,
no firewall, no DHCP in #2. These are done by router #1 only.

> Typically... if you don't want the second router to do any routing...
> I mean that the wireless connection is usually bridged to the regular
> LAN ports of that router, so you don't have to use the uplink port.

If by uplink you mean a WAN connection, that is correct.

> Therefore, you could simply use it as an access point by only using
> the LAN-connected ports of said router and not the actual "routed"
> port, which is also what I am doing.

That sounds correct.

> Ie. I have some second router plugged into the main router using its 
> ordinary ports and it works just fine, it has an IP address but
> doesn't do anything with it (except allowing me to configure it).

Same here.

> So this router doesn't have any sort of WAN connection.

Correct.

> If you are going to use the same SSID then both clients have to be
> able to reach the same server doing DHCP. You say you have this. But
> they also need to have the same router, so the secondary router must
> only be pass-through (like I said).
 
Only #1 does DHCP.

> Thank me later, honey-bun. 

Hey - I'll thank you now. :-)

> No, just kidding, I don't know if that's true.
> 
> I might be wrong about this you know.

As might I, since it doesn't work right :-)).

> (I mean there was recently a guy on a Dutch computer forum that saw
> his main router start power cycling when he connected an access point
> on the attic. It seems the exact same problem but I don't know how he
> solved it. I could look it up).

If you could, I'd appreciate it - I'm open to any clues at this point.

Actually there are TWO problems - one is the router going off, the
other is the change in local master browser in the Ubuntu box. I wanted
only one box to be that, but it changed, based on how the routers were
connected. Not clear to me why that is happening.

Thanks for the help!
 
> Regards,
> 
> (and pardon me for any allusions)
> 
> Xen.
>