2 Routers on my network. Need help setup IP and DNS.

[doliv]

Hi all,

I have a small office and im setting up my network, and i need help and advices on 3 questions related with the best way to setup the Default Gateway and DNS Servers on my office desktop computers.

So bellow i leave you with a little briefing / resume of my network and then my 3 questions.

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Briefing of my Network:

I don't have a server on my network. I only have 5 desktops + 3 laptops, all running Windows 7 configurated has a Homegroup. If from my end you need any more information from my end to give me your advices, fell free to ask.

In terms of network equipment is as follows:

First Router - Router Provided by my ISP - IP: 192.168.1.1
Its a low-cost and low quality router provided by my ISP that besides providing cheap routers don't provice a simple modem. This router is connected my LAN to the WAN port of my second router.

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Second Router - Draytek 2130n - IP: 192.168.0.1
I want to be this router to manage my network. That is the reason its setup on a different ip subnet than the ISP router.

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Desktop PC 1
Its set with the following IP and DNS settings:

IP Address: 192.168.0.2
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: 192.168.0.1 (its the LAN ip of the Second Router)
Primary DNS Server: 192.168.0.1 (its the LAN ip of the Second Router)
Secondary DNS Server: nothing

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So my 3 questions are all about the IP and DNS settings on my Desktop PC:

1- On the Default Gateway IP, its correct use my second router LAN IP? Or should i use the WAN IP on the second router? Or maybe the LAN or WAN IP of first router?

2- On the Primary DNS Server, its correct use my second router LAN IP? Or should i use the WAN IP on the second router? Or maybe the LAN or WAN IP of first router?

3- On the Secondary DNS should i leave blank or should i put something?

Thanks

 

[abailey]

Ok first it would be best to put your ISP's modem/router in bridge mode, or if it cannot do bridge mode, put your second router in the DMZ of the first.

1- On the Default Gateway IP, its correct use my second router LAN IP? Or should i use the WAN IP on the second router? Or maybe the LAN or WAN IP of first router?
The LAN IP of the 2nd router is correct

2- On the Primary DNS Server, its correct use my second router LAN IP? Or should i use the WAN IP on the second router? Or maybe the LAN or WAN IP of first router?The LAN IP of your 2nd router will work but usually consumer routers process the DNS forwarding slowly. You are usually better off passing the DNS servers handed out by your ISP to your desktop, like through DHCP

3- On the Secondary DNS should i leave blank or should i put something?
This is up to you. If your primary DNS becomes unavailable then you don't have a backup. But if you use the default gateway address of your router as the DNS then if that goes down a secondary won't help because that would mean the router is down.

 

[doliv]

Ok first it would be best to put your ISP's modem/router in bridge mode, or if it cannot do bridge mode, put your second router in the DMZ of the first.

2- On the Primary DNS Server, its correct use my second router LAN IP? Or should i use the WAN IP on the second router? Or maybe the LAN or WAN IP of first router?The LAN IP of your 2nd router will work but usually consumer routers process the DNS forwarding slowly. You are usually better off passing the DNS servers handed out by your ISP to your desktop, like through DHCP

3- On the Secondary DNS should i leave blank or should i put something?
This is up to you. If your primary DNS becomes unavailable then you don't have a backup. But if you use the default gateway address of your router as the DNS then if that goes down a secondary won't help because that would mean the router is down.

Hi abailey,

First i want to that you for your advice. About your response and advices i have 2 questions. And it would be great if you can again give me your advice / help.

1- About my ISP router it cant be set as bridge or modem. So i will connect my second router to the DMZ port of the ISP router, correct?

2- About using my second router as primary DNS on my office desktop computers, the router (Draytek 2130) its setup on the WAN settings to use as DNS my first router IP and only my ISP router has set the ISP DNS servers. So do you think a Draytek 2130 (that is a medium quality router adequate to a samll office) can handle the DNS for 7 computers and i can just leave it the way it is, or do you think its best for me to setup on all my office desktop computers manually the ISP DNS servers, instead of the router IP?

Thanks