I always seem to have networking issues and I need to settle them. I think I get confused with routers, hubs, switches and the DHCP stuff. I currently have a fios router, an time machine (that serves as my wireless access point) and a few other random wireless AP to boost the signal around the house. I have my fios router handing out ips (I think) and it only has four ports so I have some servers plugged into it (unraid being one) and some into the time machine. Sometimes i get ip conflicts when I open my computer and it wont connect to the internet. Should I get a nice switch and use that for everything? How would the Time Machine and fios router work with that? Thanks.

ruh roh...frustrating, huh?

Short answer

Turn off DHCP in all routers EXCEPT the FIOS router.

Some hints follow below...but this is off topic for unRAID...the forums.verizon.com site will have better help than I can provide.

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Explanation:

Verizon gives your house an IP number that is unique. (its WAN or Broadband IP address). Your fiber comes into the house and touches your FIOS router--everything from that point inside your house is a single local area network (LAN). 

(if every house on your street had this same broadband IP number, whose mail would you get?)  (You can see this by logging into the FIOS router. On the dashboard screen, under 'my router' in the MAIN screen, it's the 'Broadband Connection'  'IP Address'. It'll be something like "71.126.xxx.xxx".)

 

One of the jobs of your FIOS router is to manage the local LAN 'mail' by translating from the Broadband address to a 'local address'. Each device inside your LAN can have only ONE address....these must be unique numbers. ...and they are assigned and managed by your FIOS or 'gateway' router.

(using the street and house metaphor, the local mail is like an apartment within a building. Every apartment number within the building MUST be unique. And only one set of apartment numbers can be used within the building.  (But, every apartment building on your street can have the same internal numbering scheme. (#101, #102, #201, #301, etc.) )

 

Your FIOS router assigns that 'local IP' to every device on your LAN. (on the FIOS dashboard, these are shown in the 'My Network' panel.  They start at 192.168.1.1 for the FIOS router itself and then go from 192.168.1.2 and up.)  As IP comes and goes from the fiber, the FIOS router translates the addresses to and from the local device(apartment) numbers and forwards the traffic. (and that's why its called a 'router'. ) The FIOS router, and ONLY the FIOS router MUST do this, otherwise your traffic would end up at the wrong apartment, or end up as 'address unknown' and 'fall into the bit bucket!  ) )

 

Routers-by default when you buy them-assume that they sit between your LAN and a wide area network.  They don't know that you've already got a router installed...they assume that it will be THEIR job to translate addresses and route.  This management of local addresses by the router is done using a protocol called 'DHCP' (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol).  If you have two or more routers on the same LAN running DHCP, both will try to assign 'device' numbers to everything they can see within the LAN. So a single device (like your PC) could end up with two conflicting addresses...NOT GOOD because the device can only have ONE valid address!

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What you can do is either of two things:

1. Simplify your network...the simplest solution is to have just ONE ROUTER by using ethernet HUBs, not Routers.  Wired hubs are cheap. ($5 on sale!).

2. log in to each of your local routers (except FIOS) and turn OFF the DHCP. 

  a.  (Remember, your FIOS router is locally #192.168.1.1 , the routers you want to change are numbered 192.168.1.2 or higher.)

  b.  if you've got another router inside your network, a Belkin or a D-link or a Linksys or an Apple for example, it'll have a local IP assigned by FIOS router of something like '192.168.1.7'. (you get that IP number from the FIOS dashboard mentioned earlier.)

  d.  Login to the Belkin (etc.) by opening a web browser and typing in its local IP address (192.168.1.7) . (Note that if your local addressing is really hosed up, you may have to do this from your PC connected via a wired ethernet directly to the FIOS router to ensure you're using the FIOS set of local addresses.) 

  e.  ...sorry...from here it depends upon the brand of the router...but you'll get a login/password screen. Try 'admin' and 'admin' ...otherwise Google for the default password.  Once  you're logged in, look through the screens until you find something that says, "DHCP addressing".  (Verizon hides it behind a link called 'Local IP address distribution'.  You want to turn OFF the DHCP ability in each of your non-FIOS routers.) This may require a reboot of the non-FIOS local router.  DO NOT TURN OFF DHCP IN YOUR FIOS ROUTER.

 

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Apple TimeMachine.

TimeMachine (the program) itself will work fine with all of the above.

If what you have is a Time Capsule, then it has a builtin router and provides DHCP. (just like the discussion above, you need to login and turn that OFF)...also be sure it has up to date firmware...a TC firmware version about a year ago fixed a number of compatibility issues.  If your TC has a 'BRIDGE mode', then use that!  See the Apple forums for more info on this.)

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Multiple wireless access points

If you do not need multiple wireless access points, then use just the wireless from your FIOS router.

 

If you do need more wireless access points-- because you have devices that aren't wireless, and you can't run wire to them-- then what you really want is not a distant 'router', but a 'wireless bridge'. Unfortunately, not every FIOS router plays nicely with wireless bridges. Check the FIOS forums for compatibility. (forums.verizon.com) (Have the exact model number, version number and manufacture date of your FIOS router handy.). In my case, I keep my servers in the basement..they aren't wireless, and I can't run wire, so I use 'ethernet over powerline' adapters. (newegg or amazon).  These devices use the existing inside the house electric wiring as ethernet cable.

 

If you do need more wireless access points--because your FIOS router's signal doesn't go far enough, then your best bet is to search the Verizon site...I believe they have an extended range antenna option. You can also try putting a 'reflector' behind the antenna that points the signal. (google for instructions...or try sites like makezine.com, makershed.com, etc.  Using a pringle can seems to be popular. )

 

It is also possible to add a wireless bridge that extends the wi-fi range...variously called 'wi-fi range extenders', etc.  They basically rebroadcast the wifi signal. However, they are often slow and there are real compatibility issues with many FIOS routers. Read the verizon forums carefully before spending your cash.

It is possible to buy wireless access points (without the router). Or you can research how to disable/by-pass the router function of those "extra" wireless routers you already own. Because wireless routers are often cheaper, I use them, but only connect to the LAN ports, nothing in the WAN port. And of course disable the DHCP function.

 

Wireless Access Points

 

Wireless Routers

 

Yeah, I bet you can find a router in the access point list.

thank you, that makes sense. Would a switch help? speed things up?

Additionally, turn off any firewall functions on all of the access points. Leave the firewall on the FIOS router ON. If you disable Firewall and DHCP in the access point routers they should function as a simple switch/bridge. I've done this with 2 older routers in my house. The 3rd and newest router is the Internet gateway and it alone does DHCP and Firewall for the local LAN.

Yes, ethernet hubs or ethernet switches would work. 

(I'm sorry, I mentioned 'hubs' in my first post, but those are older tech...these days ethernet switches are much faster/cheaper/more reliable.)

 

The answer to '...speed things up?' is more complex...

It will certainly stop the problem you're having with your PC connecting with a bad local address.

It will also reduce the traffic internal to your LAN, and therefore speed it up.  (you're still constrained to the outside world by the FIOS speed, of course.)

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One reminder about something I mentioned earlier...Verizon's support with FIOS of 'wireless bridging' is really suspect.

Wireless bridging

If you must go WIRELESS from your ActionTec FIOS router to another router where you will redistribute to other devices, then I urge caution. The ActionTec routers do not support the Wireless Distribution System (WDS) protocol... And that's why I ended up using 'Powerline' adapters to simulate ethernet wiring.

 

There's a lot of activity looking for a work around, but before you buy a wireless bridge or range extender be sure to read up on compatibility. Here's a start:

http://forums.verizon.com/t5/FiOS-Internet/Does-FIOS-Internet-Support-Bridging/m-p/533967/highlight/true#M35070

I spent hours and hours trying to root a Linksys (DD-WRT) router to act as a wireless bridge...no joy

(if anyone knows how to do this in a way that is compatible with the ActionTec router, please toss me a clue on how you did it!  I was so mad I ended up bricking the router and throwing it away. But if someone's figured it out, I'll try again!)