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Cascading is a term used when connecting a router to another router. This connection is done if
you want to:

Improve the performance of the network without removing your older router

Connect more devices (wired and wireless)

Expand the wireless network range

Isolate the network traffic

In this scenario, the main router can either be Linksys or a third party and will be referred to as
the main router. The second router should be Linksys and will be called secondary router. If you
want to cascade a non-Linksys router to the main router, you need to call its manufacturer for
support.
IMPORTANT: The main router should have an active Internet connection before cascading the
secondary router; otherwise you need to set it up first. Contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP)
if you cant connect to the Internet directly from your modem. If your main router is non-Linksys, you
need to contact the manufacturer for support; however, if it is Linksys, click here to learn how to set it
up.
NOTE: The wireless equivalent of cascading is called bridging. This method is officially supported
only by selected router models. For more information and instructions in setting your router as a
wireless bridge, click here.
There are two (2) ways to cascade a Linksys router to another router:
i. LAN to LAN Connecting one of the Ethernet ports (LAN ports) of the Linksys router (main
router) to one of the Ethernet ports (LAN ports) of another router (secondary router).
This type of cascading requires the main and the secondary routers to be on the same LAN IP
segment to allow the computers and other devices to connect to both routers. To do this, you
need to disable the secondary router's DHCP server. This configuration is recommended if
you want to share files and resources within the network. For a video tutorial on this setup,
click here.
NOTE: When cascading routers using this method, you will not be able to access the webbased setup page of the secondary router as it will have the same IP range as the primary
router.

ii. LAN to WAN Connecting one of the Ethernet ports (LAN ports) of the main router to the
Internet port (WAN port) of the secondary router.
This type of cascading requires the main router and the secondary router to have different IP
segments. This connection makes it easier to identify which router the computers and other
devices in the network are connected to since they will have different LAN IP segments.
However, computers that are connected to the main router will not be able to communicate
with the secondary router, and vice versa since there are two (2) different networks.
NOTE: Before you connect a Linksys router to another router, make sure that both routers
have different IP addresses. This is necessary to avoid conflict and connectivity issues in the
local network if they have similar IP addresses. In this case, you need to change the IP
address of the secondary router. For instructions on how to change the routers LAN IP
address, click here.
Cascading the Linksys router to another router (LAN-LAN)
Step 1:
Check and take note of the IP address of the main router. For detailed instructions on how to
do this, click here.
Step 2:
Connect your computer to one of the Ethernet ports of the secondary router.

Step 3:
Access the web-based setup page of the secondary router. For instructions, click here. If
youre using a Mac computer, click here.
Step 4:
Under the Basic Setup sub-tab, look for IP Address or Local IP Address.

NOTE: If the IP address is the same as the main router, change the fourth octet (the number
in the fourth box) to a different value.
Example:
Main router: 192.168.1.1 -> Secondary router should be: 192.168.1.2

Step 5:
For the DHCP Server Setting, set the DHCP Server to Disabled.

Step 6:
Click Save Settings.
Step 7:
Unplug the cable from your computer and connect it to one of the Ethernet ports on the main
router. Make sure the main router is still connected to the modem via its Internet port.

Step 8:
Powercycle the secondary router and once the Power light is solid, check whether you're able
to access the Internet on your devices.
QUICK TIP: If you have a wireless router, you can proceed in configuring its wireless settings. For
more information on how to do this, click here.
NOTE: A single router that is set in Bridge mode will disable the Guest access of the router. In
cascading routers, specifically LAN to LANconnections, setting the second router to Bridge mode
would not allow access for guests. However, Guest access is still permissible if the connections
are LAN to WAN.
Cascading the Linksys router to another router (LAN-WAN)
Step 1:
Check and take note of the IP address of the main router. For detailed instructions on how to
do this, click here. (this is what I want

Step 2:
Connect your computer to one of the Ethernet ports of the secondary router.

Step 3:
Access the setup page of the secondary router. For instructions, click here. If youre using a
Mac computer, click here.
Step 4:
Under the Basic Setup sub-tab, look for IP Address or Local IP Address.
NOTE: If the IP address is the same as the main router, change the third octet (the number in
the third box) to a different value. Make sure that the Subnet Mask is 255.255.255.0. This will
set the secondary router to a different IP segment from the main router.
Example:
Main router: 192.168.1.1 -> Secondary router should be: 192.168.2.1

NOTE: By default, the DHCP feature of Linksys routers is already enabled. However, if the
secondary router's DHCP isn't enabled, make sure to enable it by going to its web-based
setup page. Click Basic Setup, then click Enabled on the DHCP Server Setting section.
Step 5:
Click Save Settings.
Step 6:
Unplug the cable from your computer and connect it to one of the Ethernet ports on the main

router.
Step 7:
Transfer the Ethernet cable connected to the secondary router to its Internet port.

Step 8:
Powercycle the secondary router and once the Power light is solid, check whether you're
able to access the Internet on your devices.
QUICK TIP: If you have a wireless router, you can proceed in configuring its wireless settings. For
more information on how to do this, click here.
Cascading your Linksys router to another router is one way of expanding your local network. If you
want to further improve the performance of your local network without going through the cascading
process, you may install the following devices:

Switch

Access points

Range expanders

Powerline adapters

Simple Guide For Router To Router Cascading

When you extend your current network, you may need to add more routers to the existing
network. Without knowing how to perform router cascading, you will fail to add extra router
to the network successfully. In this tutorial you will learn how to connect extra routers to the
current network by cascading routers without having any network issues. There are two
ways to cascade a router to another router. Before configuring the second router for router
cascade, make sure that it is not connected to the main router (where the broadband
modem
is
connected).
Different Methods to Cascade Two Routers
1.
LAN
to
LAN

Router

Cascade

Connecting one of the Ethernet ports (LAN ports) of the second Router to one of the
Ethernet ports (LAN ports) of the main router. In this method, the devices connected to the
second router and the devices connected to the first router are in same network and can
communicate each other directly.
2.

WAN

to

LAN

Router

Cascade

Connecting the Internet port (WAN port) of the second Router to one of the Ethernet ports
(LAN ports) of the main router. In this method, we are creating two different networks with
different network addresses.
Let us check each methods to connect two routers to extend a network. Each methods have
different effect in extending a network. Before going to configure settings on second router,
you
must
have
the
IP
address
of
the
first
router.
LAN

to

LAN

Router

Cascading

Method

This method is used when you want to use same network address on devices connected to
the second router. Here the second router is acting like a switch to extend your current
network.
1.
Connect your computer to the LAN Port of the Router 2
2.

Login

to

Second

Router

Access the routers web-based setup page{Second Router}. To learn how to access the
web
based
setup
page
of
a
router,
visit
the
link
below.
How to Find Login Address Of My Router
3.

Change

the

IP

Address

of

Router

When the routers web-based setup page appears, look for Local IP Address and change it
to 192.168.X.Y { Most of the times router IP address is 192.168.X.1 where X and Y starts
from 0 to 255 }. We must ensure that Y is a number between 0 to 255 and is out of the

DHCP

range

of

router

1.

Eg: Assign IP address 192.168.X.200 (Where X is the same value as in the router 1. Eg X
value of router 1 with address 192.168.1.5 is 1) to second router where the IP address of
first router(main router connected to the modem) is 192.168.X.1
4.

Disable

DHCP

On

Router

When the web-based setup page opens, look for DHCP Server and click Disable. Do not
forget to save settings. Click Advanced Routing and change Operating Mode to Router.
(Depends on the router models and vendors this may change}.
5.

Connect

Router

to

Router

Connect LAN Port of Router 1 to LAN Port of Router 2 using an Ethernet cable. Connect a
standard Ethernet network cable to one of the numbered Ethernet ports on the main router,
where the broadband modem is connected. Then, connect the other end of the Ethernet
cable to the Ethernet port of the router that you have just configured.
If main router has IP address of 192.168.0.1 with DHCP range 100, then the second router
should have an IP address of 192.168.0.101. Then only this kind of router cascade works.
Many users use this method to cascade a new wireless router with existing wired router to
extend the router 1 to connect other wireless devices and still have the same network
addresses assigned by first router. This method is very popular when a user need to
cascade a wireless router with another existing router in the network. Do not confuse this
method
with
step
to
cascade
two
wireless
routers.
WAN

to

LAN

Router

Cascade(Method

2)

Before you connect a router to another router in WAN to LAN cascade Method, make sure
that both routers have different IP addresses. If both routers have the same IP address, you
need to change the IP address of the second router to prevent any conflict. Steps to
configure second router in WAN to LAN cascading method are:
1.
Make
sure
Both
Routers
have
Different
Network
Address
If both routers have same network address (check the third octet and make sure both
routers have different third octet number. Eg: 192.168.1.5 for router 1 and 192.168.2.1 for
second router). If both routers have same third octet number, proceed to step 2.
2.

Change

Third

Octet

of

Router

IP

Address

Access the second routers web-based setup page and look for Local IP Address and
change it to 192.168.X.1 Where X is any number between 0 to 255 except the number in
first router.[ie: If the IP address of the first router is 192.168.5.1 the X of second router is
any number between 0 to 255 other than 5]. Do not forget to save settings.
3.

Make sure DHCP server on second router is on

4.

Connect

Second

router

to

WAN

port

of

First

router

Connect a standard Ethernet network cable to one of the numbered Ethernet ports on the
main router, where the broadband modem is connected. Then connect the other end of the
Ethernet cable to the Internet port of the router that you have just configured.
One of the most asked question from my readers is about possible issues with cascading
routers from different vendors. There is no issues with cascading routers from different
vendors. You won't face any issues with cascading a Linksys router with Belkin router or DLink router because router cascading is vendor free.