bandwidth slow, suspect my 2 router setup

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Feb 26, 2005 Posts: 3

Internet just got slower since setting up Vonage.
My Configuration: CableModem => PhoneRouter=>FirewallRouter=>Switch=>4 PCs.
Just like the Vonage Website picture says to do!

I have not changed any defaults.
I want to keep my two router conifg.

Posts: 36

richferrai wrote:

Internet just got slower since setting up Vonage.
My Configuration: CableModem => PhoneRouter=>FirewallRouter=>Switch=>4 PCs.
Just like the Vonage Website picture says to do!

I have not changed any defaults.
I want to keep my two router conifg.

cable modem, connected to the WAN port on the router. Eveyrthing else connects either wireless or from the 4-port switch unless you pay for multiple IP addresses which I don't recommend. Not from a money point, but from the security point. Anything completely open on the internet is a security opening for some would-be hacker to walk right in and do as they wish.

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Feb 26, 2005 Posts: 3

Actually this is more of a question?

How can this be corrected with this configuration?
Internet just got slower since setting up Vonage.
My Configuration: CableModem => PhoneRouter=>FirewallRouter=>Switch=>4 PCs.

Posts: 35 · Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2005 11:28 pm Post subject:

I recommend your firewall come first then the Vonage router connected to your switch just like your PC's.

cbl mdm -> firewall -> switch -> PC's and Vonage adapter

In this configuration your PC's have a straight shot through the firewall.
This is probably how you were connected before.

The Vonage adapter would then connect to your switch via the outside or Internet (WAN) port. You wouldn't have to have anything plugged into the inside ports on the Vonage except the phone in the appropriate port.

Make sure your firewall is still acting as a DHCP server. The Vonage router should be configured on the WAN port for DHCP and it will obtain one from your firewall.

I run this way at home. The Vonage router sits behind my PIX and works well.

I hope this helps.

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Feb 26, 2005 Posts: 3

CCNADog, I did you suggection and its working very nicely!
I was worried that I had 2NATs and 2DHCPs going that was causing my problem since I had two routers with these feature capabilities, but setting up the way you define, fixed the internet slowness problem. Also notice no degradation of voice calls. QoS not an issue.
Again, Thanks Im running like this :CABLEModem=>FirwareWallRouter=>Switch=>PhoneRouter

Keywords: Router, BandWidth, Slowness, switch, NAT, DHCP, QoS

Thanks Dude!

Posts: 36 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Feb 24, 2005 Posts: 36

richferrai wrote:

CCNADog, I did you suggection and its working very nicely!
I was worried that I had 2NATs and 2DHCPs going that was causing my problem since I had two routers with these feature capabilities, but setting up the way you define, fixed the internet slowness problem. Also notice no degradation of voice calls. QoS not an issue.
Again, Thanks Im running like this :CABLEModem=>FirwareWallRouter=>Switch=>PhoneRouter

Keywords: Router, BandWidth, Slowness, switch, NAT, DHCP, QoS

Thanks Dude!

Generally, two routers both doing DHCP is a bad idea. But in this case, I guess the phone adapter isn't really issuing addresses to any machines, so it doesn't matter...? According to Vonage, they recommend putting their adapter right up against the cable/dsl modem, which is how I have had mine set up. I have another router and on both I disabled DHCP to eliminate problems. I tried different configurations and the ones that worked still would not allow me to get enough upstream bandwidth to get good quality phone service. I've got a case open with my ISP since I have determined it is the common denomonator after much testing.

Posts: 3198 · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2005 8:41 am Post subject:

I have dhcp on both of my routers.
rt31p2, smc2404wbr(wless), computers. works great.

Posts: 36 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Feb 24, 2005 Posts: 36

reebok wrote:

I have dhcp on both of my routers.
rt31p2, smc2404wbr(wless), computers. works great.

More details, please... how did you connect cables? any crossovers? etc...

One problem with 2 routers both assigning IP addresses is that a computer could get assigned an address that conflicts with another that was assigned by the other router.

Posts: 3198 · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2005 9:06 am Post subject:

cable modem, wan port of rt31p2, port 1 rt31p2 to wan port of wless router, port 1 of wless router to computer, and then wless whenever laptop is on.
the rt31p2 assigns the wless an ip, and then wless assigns the other computers an ip. it's worked since I took it out of the box, and never realized there might be any issue with it. the rt31p2 shouldn't assign ip's to devices that aren't connected to it.

Posts: 36 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Feb 24, 2005 Posts: 36

reebok wrote:

cable modem, wan port of rt31p2, port 1 rt31p2 to wan port of wless router, port 1 of wless router to computer, and then wless whenever laptop is on.
the rt31p2 assigns the wless an ip, and then wless assigns the other computers an ip. it's worked since I took it out of the box, and never realized there might be any issue with it. the rt31p2 shouldn't assign ip's to devices that aren't connected to it.

Okay, I think I see why this works for you (and didn't for me). Using the 2nd router's WAN port instead of its LAN port makes the difference.