Setting Up Multiple Upstream Routers: A Comprehensive Guide

Abstract: Learn how to correctly set up multiple upstream routers in your network topology, including a modem, OPNSense Router, L2 Managed Network Switch, various LAN clients, and another TP-Link Router.

Created: 2024-03-14 by UserComp.com Editors

Setting Multiple Upstream Routers: A Comprehensive Guide

In this article, we will discuss the process of setting up multiple upstream routers in a physical network topology that includes a modem, OPNsense router (subnet 192.168.0.0/24), L2 managed network switch, and various LAN clients, including a TP-Link router (subnet 192.168.1.0/24).

Understanding the Network Topology

A network topology refers to the arrangement of different elements in a communication network. In our case, the network topology includes a modem, which connects to the internet, an OPNsense router that manages the primary subnet (192.168.0.0/24), an L2 managed network switch that connects different devices in the network, and various LAN clients, including a TP-Link router that manages a secondary subnet (192.168.1.0/24).

Setting Up Multiple Upstream Routers

Setting up multiple upstream routers involves configuring each router to communicate with each other and manage different subnets. Here are the steps to follow:

Connect the modem to the WAN port of the OPNsense router using an Ethernet cable.
Connect the LAN port of the OPNsense router to the L2 managed network switch using another Ethernet cable.
Connect the WAN port of the TP-Link router to one of the LAN ports of the L2 managed network switch using yet another Ethernet cable.
Configure the OPNsense router to manage the primary subnet (192.168.0.0/24). To do this, log in to the OPNsense web interface, navigate to the Interfaces menu, and select the WAN interface. Set the IP address to a static IP address that is within the range of the modem's DHCP pool but outside its DHCP range. For example, if the modem's DHCP range is 192.168.0.100 to 192.168.0.200, set the OPNsense WAN IP address to 192.168.0.2.
Configure the LAN interface of the OPNsense router to manage the primary subnet (192.168.0.0/24). To do this, navigate to the Interfaces menu, select the LAN interface, and set the IP address to the network's gateway address. For example, if the primary subnet is 192.168.0.0/24, set the LAN IP address to 192.168.0.1.
Configure the TP-Link router to manage the secondary subnet (192.168.1.0/24). To do this, log in to the TP-Link web interface, navigate to the Network menu, and select the WAN interface. Set the IP address to a static IP address that is within the range of the L2 managed network switch's DHCP pool but outside its DHCP range. For example, if the L2 managed network switch's DHCP range is 192.168.0.100 to 192.168.0.200, set the TP-Link WAN IP address to 192.168.0.3.
Configure the LAN interface of the TP-Link router to manage the secondary subnet (192.168.1.0/24). To do this, navigate to the Network menu, select the LAN interface, and set the IP address to the network's gateway address. For example, if the secondary subnet is 192.168.1.0/24, set the LAN IP address to 192.168.1.1.
Configure the L2 managed network switch to manage the primary and secondary subnets. To do this, log in to the switch's web interface, navigate to the VLAN menu, and create two VLANs - one for the primary subnet and another for the secondary subnet. Assign the appropriate IP addresses to each VLAN.

Code Block: Configuring the OPNsense Router


# Configuring the OPNsense Router

interface: WAN
ip address: 192.168.0.2/24

interface: LAN
ip address: 192.168.0.1/24

Code Block: Configuring the TP-Link Router


# Configuring the TP-Link Router

interface: WAN
ip address: 192.168.0.3/24

interface: LAN
ip address: 192.168.1.1/24

Setting up multiple upstream routers in a physical network topology that includes a modem, OPNsense router, L2 managed network switch, and various LAN clients requires configuring each router to communicate with each other and manage different subnets. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can successfully set up multiple upstream routers in your network.

References

OPNsense documentation: https://docs.opnsense.org/manual/index.html
TP-Link documentation: https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/
L2 managed network switch documentation: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/lan/catalyst2960/software/release/15-0_2_e/configuration/guide/2960scg/swvlan.html

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