Network configuration advice

So I moved into my new off campus home where I'll live for the next year, possibly more. My roommates all lived here for a year already, the current network exists as follows:



The 8 WiFi clients include my desktop, located 2 stories above the router. Lets just say speed and reliability up here aren't ideal. So I'm looking to overhaul their network. The owner of the router's leaving next month anyway. I plan to run a 100ft Cat5e cable from the 1st floor to my room so I can get off WiFi. I also plan on replacing the wireless system.

I ordered a Linksys WRT320N which I plan to immediately install the DD-WRT firmware on. This router boasts gigabit ethernet which would be very nice for this house since we do a lot of sharing and stream media to a PC connected to the TV (which will probably be replaced with a Boxee Box). The downside to this model router is that it's dual-band, but not dual-radio. I want to run it in the 40MHz channel of the 5GHz range with 802.11n as that yields the highest transmission rate (one of the best of the linksys routers). Problem is I'm sure some of these guy's older computers don't support n. So I was thinking of also running my older Linksys WRT54GS router purely to serve up 802.11G signal for those who need it. That way I'd have a gigabit LAN, 802.11G and 802.11N covering the house. (both would be secured with WPA2 of course).

So here's what I'm picturing the new setup to look like.



So my question I guess lays in if you think this makes any sense, and then also, I guess will it all work together. I think I know how to setup the 54GS to act as a switch, not a router, and giving it a different internal IP range (192.168.2.1 or something) so that it doesn't conflict with the other router, right? I wish I could install DD-WRT on the 54GS but it's one of the gimped models that barely supports the micro build so it's not worth trying.

First off, can you return the Linksys WRT320N? I say that b/c Linksys has turned to crap in my opinion.

Your setup seems fine to me. The only things you need to do on the 54GS to turn it into a switch is to disable DHCP on it, and assign it a static IP on the same IP range as your new router. For example, if the router's IP is 192.168.1.1, then assign the 54GS and IP of 192.168.1.2 (or .3, .4, .5, etc.).

Ah ok, that makes more sense (the setting it to the same IP range).

As for Linksys, I've been a loyal Linksys user for all my networking hardware since I first started setting up networks. I did some research and most of people's complaints about Linksys products lately revolve around the dumbed down interface and shotty firmware. That's why I'm wasting no time with it and going with the DD-WRT firmware. I considered getting a netgear, or maybe a D-Link, but in the end I'd rather stay with what I know.

I like DDWRT and all, but I feel like at some point it will screw up the router and I'll brick it.

Not really. Yes, there are risks involved but it's not the end of the world. I'd say Linksys is fine. After all, we must accept the fact that Linksys is a Cisco product. And when it comes to networking, no one's better than them. This in an ideal world such as ours that we live in...

Follow Sand Man's advice and see how far you can get. It should work. We'll get your network up and running ASAP.

Linksys/Cisco remind of Norton/Symantec. Both companies make crap consumer products but wonderful corporate products.

Woot, got it working. Only I have to run N in 2.4GHz because none of my computers support 5GHz. Probably should have researched that before I did anything. Oops.

Anyways both routers are happily chugging along. Oddly, the G got a slightly better speedtest to an outside network then the N (and both faired better then ethernet). But with a 7mbps line none of it really matters externally, it's the internet network that got the overhaul.

BTW, I found the best guide ever for doing this in the future:
http://linksys.custhelp.com/cgi-bin...hp?p_faqid=3733

Apparently the official term is cascading routers. Another key note I was missing for a while, connect the routers via their LAN ports NOT the WAN port on the 2nd router.