Network noob ? Changing 192.168.1.1 is it as simple...

[jnewegger23]

Hello Anandtech community!

I am somewhat of a network noob. I've successfully added a network bridge albeit with some serious headache. I work full time with kids and have a degree in Neuroscience from UCLA. So I'm a power user compared to the average joe but compared to some of you on here I have no clue what I'm doing.
I humbly ask for your help. I am considering buying a second RT-AC66U. I currently have one and an RT-52U as the bridge. I'm planning on moving to a large house soon and that's where this game plan comes in. Before then I was thinking the following:
Change the current RT-AC66U IP from 192.168.1.1 to something else like 192.168.1.x (x= whatever I want besides 1 and whatever else dhcp has already assigned). Currently the RT-52U can be accessed via 192.168.1.216.

Here's my question. I initially tried to assign the RT-52U an IP of 192.168.1.220. Somehow it was instead assigned 216 instead. I installed the ASUS utility to search and it I guess was assigned 216 even though I did this:

So here's my real question, if I were to go into the admin page and change the IP of my RT-AC66U to something like 192.168.1.223 or whatever (I've checked that this hasn't been assigned yet) what problems might I run into if any? How should I approach this differently if at all? I need to get the concepts right to understand any of the details. There are simply too many options and the terminology is so vast I'd have to study this like I did in college just to get it all right without your help. I hope someone can make this all a lot simpler but perhaps I'll have to just suffer through it. I'm simply afraid that I won't be able to access my router at all if I don't do this correctly. That's exactly what happened with the RT-AC52U and I had to do a complete recovery mode firmware update and all just to try again and I don't even remember all the steps I had to do. I've bookmarked everything related to that but I still am not 100% confident I remember the exact order and details that went into "repairing" that situation but in the end I got it all working. I'd like to avoid repeating that level of blundering if possible. In advance I thank you for your time and effort!

Sincerely,

Justin S.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Ok, so what's your "end game". What is the intention with the second router?

You can change the IP of hte main router, but it's best just to leave it alone. If you do change it, then anything pointed at it will either need to be rebooted to get a fresh DHCP lease, or if you have something manually set that you'll have to reconfigure it

For instance, changing the IP of hte 66U will change what Default Gateway the clients need to point to.

 

[Railgun]

I ...have a degree in Neuroscience from UCLA. So I'm a power user

I must be missing that logic there...

First off, unless you have another network somewhere, there's no need for a static route. Assuming everything is within the same network, you'll be able to reach everything from anywhere.

Second, unless there's a very specific reason to change the IP of the main router, don't.

Third, where you change the IP is under the LAN IP tab, not the route tab.

Fourth, if you're going to assign a static anything, you need to ensure your DHCP scope is modified to exclude any IPs you will assign, else you should create reservations within the pool, under the DHCP Server tab.

As for setting up a bridge, I've done it with another AC66U, so I can't exactly comment on the settings for the 52U (is it an AC or N?) I'm assuming they're pretty much the same. It's as simple as telling it it's a bridge and configuring the wireless accordingly.

I also have a 3rd as a repeater and all works pretty well.

 

[smitbret]

Hello Anandtech community!

I am somewhat of a network noob. I've successfully added a network bridge albeit with some serious headache. I work full time with kids and have a degree in Neuroscience from UCLA. So I'm a power user compared to the average joe but compared to some of you on here I have no clue what I'm doing.
I humbly ask for your help. I am considering buying a second RT-AC66U. I currently have one and an RT-52U as the bridge. I'm planning on moving to a large house soon and that's where this game plan comes in. Before then I was thinking the following:
Change the current RT-AC66U IP from 192.168.1.1 to something else like 192.168.1.x (x= whatever I want besides 1 and whatever else dhcp has already assigned). Currently the RT-52U can be accessed via 192.168.1.216.

Here's my question. I initially tried to assign the RT-52U an IP of 192.168.1.220. Somehow it was instead assigned 216 instead. I installed the ASUS utility to search and it I guess was assigned 216 even though I did this:

So here's my real question, if I were to go into the admin page and change the IP of my RT-AC66U to something like 192.168.1.223 or whatever (I've checked that this hasn't been assigned yet) what problems might I run into if any? How should I approach this differently if at all? I need to get the concepts right to understand any of the details. There are simply too many options and the terminology is so vast I'd have to study this like I did in college just to get it all right without your help. I hope someone can make this all a lot simpler but perhaps I'll have to just suffer through it. I'm simply afraid that I won't be able to access my router at all if I don't do this correctly. That's exactly what happened with the RT-AC52U and I had to do a complete recovery mode firmware update and all just to try again and I don't even remember all the steps I had to do. I've bookmarked everything related to that but I still am not 100% confident I remember the exact order and details that went into "repairing" that situation but in the end I got it all working. I'd like to avoid repeating that level of blundering if possible. In advance I thank you for your time and effort!

Sincerely,

Justin S.

If you are just setting up the 2nd device as a bridge then you won't change the IP of the original router. The only thing you'll modify is the DHCP range to exclude the IP address of the 2nd router that will be used as a bridge.

If you go into the DHCP settings on the main router, you'll see a range. It will probably be something like 192.168.1.1-192.168.1.100.

Change it to 192.168.1.2-192.168.1.100. The choice is really arbitrary. Then you would assign the 192.168.1.1 to the 2nd router/bridge or whatever number you choose outside of the new DHCP range that you set. Make sure you turn off the DHCP and NAT services on the 2nd router, too and that's it.

 

[jnewegger23]

Ok, so what's your "end game". What is the intention with the second router?

You can change the IP of hte main router, but it's best just to leave it alone. If you do change it, then anything pointed at it will either need to be rebooted to get a fresh DHCP lease, or if you have something manually set that you'll have to reconfigure it

For instance, changing the IP of hte 66U will change what Default Gateway the clients need to point to.

Well, since I'm now considering buying the same exact router I anticipate the problem of not being able to access one or the other if I don't change the IP address with both ending up 192.168.1.1. Currently let's call RT-AC66U Old 192.168.1.1. If I buy RT-AC66U New and don't assign a new ip it's default ip is the exact same. In anticipation of this potential issue I wanted to know if it would be wise to change my ip address setup now in advance so incorporation of 66new will be less difficult since with this strategy the default ip will be non-redundant/available. Otherwise I fear not being able to access one or the other. In theory it's all pretty easy but in practice when I try to apply some pretty simple logic little deviations I couldn't anticipate occur. This is why I referred to my current setup where when I tried assigning an ip to rt-ac52u (current bridge) with 192.168.1.220 and somehow I ended up with 216. I will accept that it is likely user error due to my lack of knowledge in this arena but I am very coachable so if you can put the effort in to help me I would very much appreciate what I'm missing conceptually or was most likely why this occurred. I'm more afraid to change the default ip of the main router due to lack of access but I guess worst case I can rescue/recover or whatever it's called and put it all back to default and start the whole process again.

In my mind it should be as simple as plug and play or if you have to change anything you should be able to assign whatever number is needed and have admin page access right thereafter but this has not been the case. I've needed to use the asus device discovery software and when implementing this after assigning an ip of .220 to my current bridge and specifying the router to follow this, somehow it chose to display .216 and I've gone with that since with much success but I just don't understand what I missed. This is all greek to me at this point. I just don't get it.

Thanks,

Justin S.

 

[TheInternet1980]

Buy two of the same ASUS router you have. Just did the same thing for my place, that had terrible signal strength in the living room.

1. Config main router how you would like.
2. Config 2nd router as a repeater (same SSID's, passwords, and security), and connect it to the 5G of the main router.

Make sure you update the firmware on both routers to the latest. And use a cable direct to the 2nd router to config it. (Alleviates your concern about not being able to talk to one of them during setup)

 

[TheInternet1980]

_130 is a very old firmware for that AC66U

_5517 is the latest

 

[ch33zw1z]

Well, since I'm now considering buying the same exact router I anticipate the problem of not being able to access one or the other if I don't change the IP address with both ending up 192.168.1.1. Currently let's call RT-AC66U Old 192.168.1.1. If I buy RT-AC66U New and don't assign a new ip it's default ip is the exact same. In anticipation of this potential issue I wanted to know if it would be wise to change my ip address setup now in advance so incorporation of 66new will be less difficult since with this strategy the default ip will be non-redundant/available. Otherwise I fear not being able to access one or the other. In theory it's all pretty easy but in practice when I try to apply some pretty simple logic little deviations I couldn't anticipate occur. This is why I referred to my current setup where when I tried assigning an ip to rt-ac52u (current bridge) with 192.168.1.220 and somehow I ended up with 216. I will accept that it is likely user error due to my lack of knowledge in this arena but I am very coachable so if you can put the effort in to help me I would very much appreciate what I'm missing conceptually or was most likely why this occurred. I'm more afraid to change the default ip of the main router due to lack of access but I guess worst case I can rescue/recover or whatever it's called and put it all back to default and start the whole process again.

In my mind it should be as simple as plug and play or if you have to change anything you should be able to assign whatever number is needed and have admin page access right thereafter but this has not been the case. I've needed to use the asus device discovery software and when implementing this after assigning an ip of .220 to my current bridge and specifying the router to follow this, somehow it chose to display .216 and I've gone with that since with much success but I just don't understand what I missed. This is all greek to me at this point. I just don't get it.

Thanks,

Justin S.

Just google "router as wap"

http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html

You'll want to leave the main router .1.1, and change the router that you're using as a wap to something outside of the DHCP range, usually .1.2 will work just fine.

 

[jnewegger23]

I must be missing that logic there...

First off, unless you have another network somewhere, there's no need for a static route. Assuming everything is within the same network, you'll be able to reach everything from anywhere.

Second, unless there's a very specific reason to change the IP of the main router, don't.

Third, where you change the IP is under the LAN IP tab, not the route tab.

Fourth, if you're going to assign a static anything, you need to ensure your DHCP scope is modified to exclude any IPs you will assign, else you should create reservations within the pool, under the DHCP Server tab.

As for setting up a bridge, I've done it with another AC66U, so I can't exactly comment on the settings for the 52U (is it an AC or N?) I'm assuming they're pretty much the same. It's as simple as telling it it's a bridge and configuring the wireless accordingly.

I also have a 3rd as a repeater and all works pretty well.

I'm following these instructions for adding a second router:

http://www.labnol.org/software/add-router-to-wireless-network/19716/

For my current needs the rt-ac52u has been sufficient and I've listed in detail my experience and process thus far to achieve my current home setup for my apartment. When my girlfriend and I move to a larger home I plan on using the old66u to bridge to the new66u and want to know how you would do it as I am following such instructions listed in the link above and after all the research I've done it makes the most sense to me but I'm all ears here...

 

[jnewegger23]

Just google "router as wap"

http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html

You'll want to leave the main router .1.1, and change the router that you're using as a wap to something outside of the DHCP range, usually .1.2 will work just fine.

I guess I'm just overthinking and anticipating issues that may not be that big of a deal once I get it going. I had replied to Railgun but Anandtech was doing maintenance so my reply did not show. In that reply I added the link to where I was following directions and in that instruction you will see the examples used where they used something other than the standard 192.168.1.1 for the router and then a small deviation of that number to the bridge/ap.

I followed everything and all is well but as I stated earlier it did not assign the the ac52u the ip I had initially designated. I want to know what I possibly did wrong so as not to repeat this mistake later.

As verbose as this all has been, to summarize I plan on using the newac66u as an AP and extend that with the ac52u as a repeater/bridge when we move with the oldac66u anchoring everything and from what you are saying leave old66u as the default 192.168.1.1 and just assign newac66u as I did ac52u some new ip and all will be well?

 

[jnewegger23]

Buy two of the same ASUS router you have. Just did the same thing for my place, that had terrible signal strength in the living room.

1. Config main router how you would like.
2. Config 2nd router as a repeater (same SSID's, passwords, and security), and connect it to the 5G of the main router.

Make sure you update the firmware on both routers to the latest. And use a cable direct to the 2nd router to config it. (Alleviates your concern about not being able to talk to one of them during setup)

I've now updated my firmware to the latest. I will keep your recommendations in mind and apply them when I try this. Thank you!

 

[TheInternet1980]

I've now updated my firmware to the latest. I will keep your recommendations in mind and apply them when I try this. Thank you!

If you're looking to boost signal strength, I would definitely recommend going this route.

I have the router setup as a repeater in between the modem and the dead spot. Repeater to main router = 500+mb link. From living room to server and a PC near the modem = about 1/2 that.

To the internet, I was at 2-3mb at best. Now I'm hitting my internet plan's cap in the living room.

 

[jnewegger23]

If you are just setting up the 2nd device as a bridge then you won't change the IP of the original router. The only thing you'll modify is the DHCP range to exclude the IP address of the 2nd router that will be used as a bridge.

If you go into the DHCP settings on the main router, you'll see a range. It will probably be something like 192.168.1.1-192.168.1.100.

Change it to 192.168.1.2-192.168.1.100. The choice is really arbitrary. Then you would assign the 192.168.1.1 to the 2nd router/bridge or whatever number you choose outside of the new DHCP range that you set. Make sure you turn off the DHCP and NAT services on the 2nd router, too and that's it.

I lose you at "Change it to 192.168.1.2-192.168.1.100". I don't understand the DHCP ranges. I didn't mess with that before. If I change the range like you said then won't this exclude the 192.168.1.1 (not in range). Is that on purpose or a typo? If on purpose what's the reason? I'm confused now.

 

[jnewegger23]

I must be missing that logic there...

First off, unless you have another network somewhere, there's no need for a static route. Assuming everything is within the same network, you'll be able to reach everything from anywhere.

Second, unless there's a very specific reason to change the IP of the main router, don't.

Third, where you change the IP is under the LAN IP tab, not the route tab.

Fourth, if you're going to assign a static anything, you need to ensure your DHCP scope is modified to exclude any IPs you will assign, else you should create reservations within the pool, under the DHCP Server tab.

As for setting up a bridge, I've done it with another AC66U, so I can't exactly comment on the settings for the 52U (is it an AC or N?) I'm assuming they're pretty much the same. It's as simple as telling it it's a bridge and configuring the wireless accordingly.

I also have a 3rd as a repeater and all works pretty well.

I was re-reading your post and I am learning a lot and I appreciate it. In my second read I picked up again that I "shouldn't" change the default gateway and many others have voiced this. What's the reason(s) one would and why is it a bad idea?

 

[ch33zw1z]

I lose you at "Change it to 192.168.1.2-192.168.1.100". I don't understand the DHCP ranges. I didn't mess with that before. If I change the range like you said then won't this exclude the 192.168.1.1 (not in range). Is that on purpose or a typo? If on purpose what's the reason? I'm confused now.

192.168.1.1 shouldn't be in the range. You want the main router to be static, and not in the range. It's also best practice to do the same for WAP's and repeaters

The DHCP range is the addresses that the DHCP servier (192.168.1.1) will hand out to DHCP clients.

For SOHO devices (small office home office), the default of 192.168.1.1 is almost universal, and it's a good idea just to leave it as is. The either leave the DHCP range default of .100-.150.

Setup the other devices with a static IP, or look into the GUI of the main router and find the office for "Static DHCP", this option allows you to tell the router that when it see's a certain MAC address, then give it a certain DHCP address. This is an easy way of mananging DHCP addresses that you don't want to change.

 

[ch33zw1z]

I was re-reading your post and I am learning a lot and I appreciate it. In my second read I picked up again that I "shouldn't" change the default gateway and many others have voiced this. What's the reason(s) one would and why is it a bad idea?

There's really no reason to as a SOHO user. It's a bad idea because it just adds another complication to an otherwise simple network.

 

[ch33zw1z]

I guess I'm just overthinking and anticipating issues that may not be that big of a deal once I get it going. I had replied to Railgun but Anandtech was doing maintenance so my reply did not show. In that reply I added the link to where I was following directions and in that instruction you will see the examples used where they used something other than the standard 192.168.1.1 for the router and then a small deviation of that number to the bridge/ap.

I followed everything and all is well but as I stated earlier it did not assign the the ac52u the ip I had initially designated. I want to know what I possibly did wrong so as not to repeat this mistake later.

As verbose as this all has been, to summarize I plan on using the newac66u as an AP and extend that with the ac52u as a repeater/bridge when we move with the oldac66u anchoring everything and from what you are saying leave old66u as the default 192.168.1.1 and just assign newac66u as I did ac52u some new ip and all will be well?

When I do setups like yours. It goes like this:

-Main router: 192.168.1.1
-WAP's and repeaters: static addresses from 192.168.1.2-192.168.1.10 (of course, I'll only use 1.2 and 1.3 typically)
-DHCP range is usually default of 192.168.1.100-192.168.1.150

 

[jnewegger23]

@ch33zw1z

I really want to thank you for taking the time to help guide me through all of this. When we finalize our move and have it all setup I'll update how it all went. In advance, thanks again for all of your help!

Also to everyone else on here thanks for your input! I always learn something new here and it is very much appreciated!

Thanks,

Justin S.