I have eight client pc's in a warehouse all on a CAT5 backbone. I have one DSL connection patched into a switch, and all clients are patched into that switch - all have internet connectivity. All clients can share files and printers.

All clients have static IP's - 192.168.1.x

I have a second unused Eircom DSL connection and I want to bring four more client pc's and one server into the warehouse, assign them a static configuration in the same Subnet - be able to share files etc among the existing pc's and use the second DSL connection for them only.

Do I just plug a second switch into the patch panel, label this 'DSL connection 2' and then patch the new clients into this and away I go??

Thanks..

You need a second router with a static IP assignment outside the DHCP scope of the DHCP server on the first router.  Disable the DHCP server on the router.

Then the four PCs to use this switch will have static IPs, the same Subnet Mask (255.255.255.0) as the original PCs but with a different Gateway address -- the IP of the new router.

Finally, using the uplink port on the existing switch, cable to a regular LAN port on the new switch to cascade them.

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You are my life saver as usual.

So to clarify:

Existing setup stays as it is - static IP's (192.168.1.1 - 192.168.1.8)

First Router = 192.168.1.254

New Setup has statically assigned IP's (192.168.1.10 - 192.168.1.15)

Second Router - Do I change the IP address to 192.168.1.253, for example?

If the new batch of clients have a different Gateway, this doesnt affect internal traffic? Only traffic going out to the net?

I'm not in front of the Switch right now, but (forgive the stupid question) does every Switch have an Uplink Port?

The different Gateway only affects traffic going out the net because the router will make sure of that.

I have never seen a switch without an uplink port or MDX capability, but I guess some might exist. The only purpose of the Uplink port is so that you can cascade routers without having to use cross-over patch cables.

Newer routers do not have the port because every port is auto-sensing (this is the MDX);  they will reconfigure internally to adjust to straight-thru and cross-over cables as needed.

So do I change the Internal address of the second router to 192.168.1.253 or something similar - via the config page?

The just connect a CAT5 cable from Uplink on Switch 1 to Lan port on Switch 2 and plug the four new pc's into Switch 2?

Thanks..

For info, the DSL Routers are Netopia Cayman 3346

The two Switches are Bay Networks Base Stack 303 & Netgear 24 Port Stackable Fast Ethernet Switch.

Should the Uplink Port I'm looking for, be labelled 'Link'?

Thanks...

Uplink, Link, MDX , C-X.
Or just use a cross-over cable between two regular LAN ports.

Thats fine thanks.

Should I change the address of the second Router?

You need a second router with a static IP assignment outside the DHCP scope of the DHCP server on the first router.

If router #1's DHCP service is set to hand out IPs in the range xxx.xxxx.xxxx.50 -- xxx,xxx,xxx,149, then you want an router #2 to have anIP ending in less than 50 and greater  than 149.

youde be better off to go buy a two wan port device to effectivly load balance your links...
with the setup above your going to be deciding which link to use purely on who wins the dhcp battle...

for all you know dsl router 1 might win every time and youll never use dsl link2...

with cisco you could use policy based routing...
but there are netopia.. and linksys products that will support multiple dsl links and do all that work for you...

Yes, change the IP address of the second router (192.168.1.253).  Since you're using static IP addresses, turn off DHCP on both routers.