WAN and LAN

L

Lectrician

New Member
WAN and LAN

I understand what they do and where they connect.

A modem would have a WAN port, and this would connect to a routers WAN port. The routers LAN ports then supplying the computers the 'safe side' of the firewall and routing.

If I had a router with built in modem, there is no WAN port.

If I then had an additional router, with OUT a modem built in, could I connect the WAN port of this second router to a LAN port of the first main router with internal modem? Would this provide the second router with the internet connection?

Reason I ask....

I am looking to buy a router which bonds two ADSL lines together, the router has TWO WAN ports. No built in modems. I have two routers with built in modems currently connected, and wondered if I can simply connect the 2 two WANS to a LAN on each router/modem.

I think I have made that sound far more complicated than it really is!
 
Your right, your question was confusing.
The WAN is the area of the 'WORLD AREA NETWORK'.
the LAN is the 'LOCAL AREA NETWORK'

The wan is the path on the outside world to the internet.
The lan side is on the inside of the router network of all your computers.

If you have cable or DSL get a router that also supports wireless.
You'll find out why later.

hope that helped.
 
To be honest, I found your answer rather confusing and a little bit 'down trodden'.

World Area Network? WIDE area network.

I am sure in the past I have allowed other areas of my building to connect to one of my LAN ports to give them a temporary connection due to line issues. I am sure they simply used a router, and connected their WAN port to my LAN Port.

I am aware of terminoligy, seemingly a little more than you are. I was just unsure if this configuration would actually work. If you are unsure too, maybe you should follow this thread and hope for some knowledgable advice aswell.

Thanks.
 
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Your configuration is a little messy, hard to do, and kind of pointless. If you're looking to gain extra speed from having 2 DSL, you're not going to get it. Downloads/uploads or any type of connection can "talk" though only one channel at a time. What are you trying to do here? What's your thought behind getting 2 DSL lines?
 
I am looking to have a second DSL line installed for extra bandwidth. Free WiFi access is eating through bandwidth at the moment.

I have spoken with a company who supply bonded ADSL lines. These do infact litterally double your up and down speed. It is not traffic sharing, although that would also help my situation.

There are a list of routers the company have given me which they support, and none of them have built in modems - just two WAN ports.

Regards.
 
if i understand correctaly,

Yes you can connect lan to wan. however, you need a different privet ip address, the router at the end HAS to be a dhcp server. However you can just hook the lan to the lan to create a switch so to say. so it does not have to be a dhcp server...
 
A modem generally just has one LAN port, which is then connected to the WAN port on your router.

If you have a modem/router combo, then you can connect the LAN port to either another router (wireless for instance), into it's WAN port, or into the LAN port on a switch (best option).

BTW, WAN = Wide Area Network
LAN = Local Area Network
 
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