Re: How to connect router to modem/router?

On 04/18/2011 02:09 AM, Len Lawrence wrote:
> On 18/04/11 00:59, Jim Beard wrote:
>> On 04/17/2011 05:57 PM, Len Lawrence wrote:
>>> Any Virgin Media customers here?
>>>
>>> Recently replaced my Belkin router with a Buffalo nFiniti
>>> wireless
>>> router and reconfigured the LAN to include a network printer.
>>> There
>>> was a fair bit of work involved and I like the web interface
>>> for the
>>> new router so am reluctant to give it up. In order to upgrade my
>>> cable bandwidth, from 10 to 50 Mbits/sec, Virgin will install
>>> a new
>>> combined modem/router, but the bad news from the forums is that I
>>> would not be able to plug in the Buffalo via the uplink port to
>>> one of
>>> the LAN ports on the Virgin device. However, there are hints
>>> that it
>>> has been done. No links to the prescription though. So does
>>> anybody
>>> know if it can be done in principle?
>>
>> Depends on the device. Buffalo makes a bunch of them.
>>
>> Cheers!
>>
>> jim b.
>>
>>
> It is a standard four port router with a WAN connection and
> wireless access. My understanding is that any standard router can
> be connected to any other using a WAN to LAN connection.

This implies that the Buffalo uses ethernet to send its signals 
on to the WAN device in the chain.  That does not have to be the 
case, and if different would depend on the capabilities of the 
specific router and the protocols it can handle.

In this
> case the Virgin Media Superhub is not a standard router but a
> modem combined with a four port wireless router.

This seems to imply the "four ports" are ethernet ports (but they 
literally could in fact be four wireless ports or X.25 ports or 
something else entirely).  Again, the question is precisely what 
are the Superhub's capabilities and the protocols it can handle. 
  When you write "port" do you mean a socket you can plug 
something into, or a logical address used for communication 
between two devices?

That is the way
> they choose to play it for XXL broadband. Virgin does not
> currently support uplink connections to its LAN ports but the
> impression given on the support forum is that it is under
> consideration.

If the ports on the Superhub are ethernet ports, and the Superhub 
supports the normal ethernet capabilities, you should be able to 
connect any modem or switch supplying an ethernet transmission.

Questions:  Does the Buffalo use ethernet on the WAN side?  Does 
the Superhub have normal ethernet ports on the LAN side, or 
ethernet ports with some capabilities disabled (the manufacturer 
will not disable them unless required to), or something else 
(unlikely).

If those questions cannot be answered, your question cannot be 
answered.

FWIW, most suppliers of computer equipment will sell you a device 
with the understanding that you will install it according to 
instructions and if it does not work they will take the thing 
back and give you your money back.  Recognize that when this is 
the deal you may be handed something that someone else has 
already tried and returned (but if the techs check it and say it 
works fine, it probably does).  This is the definitive way to 
find out if something will work for you.

Cheers!

jim b.

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