Network Set Up

Question

This one is a doozy, mainly due to me explaining to set ups. Initially, I set up a wired network with a Wireless Router (WRT54G2) as the lead router.
This is in a small office application style environment.5 wired pc's. We are using DSL (w/DSL modem) into a WRT54G2 ,with:
-#1 port going to a pc,
-#2 port going to a 5 port switch,that goes to another pc, a shared wired only network printer and another WRT54G2(For wireless access). -#3 port going to a decent Belkin wireless router for wireless access. -#4 port going to a 5 port switch,(here is where the pretzel comes into play)
The 5 port switch then goes to -#1 another WRT54G2 for wireless access. -#2 heads down to a linksys 8 port switch.
The 8 port linksys switch: -#1 to a wired PC -#2 to a wired PC -#3 to a WRT54G2 -#4 to a 5 port linksys switch which goes into a WRT300N and a 5 port switch which goes to another WRT300N,WRT600N. -#5 to a 5 port linksys switch which goes to a PC and a WRT54GS.
All these routers put out wireless access in their locations. Then a mysterious "Programmer" comes along and makes some changes to the lead router so he can access one of the wired PC's from his home. In turn the lead router stopped putting out wireless.So I set the puppy to factory settings ,removed his changes(Blocking him)
Then I read linksys routers should not be in line with each other.So like a genius I replaced the head router with a 5 port linksys switch and lost "Internet access" to everything after the switch except for 1 port on the second switch, that one port would not give internet to anything along the line except for one wired PC.
For the hell of it I placed a router where the second switch was and was granted internet all over once again,but had issues with the one wired pc and shared files with the other wired PC's at the head switch. Seems things would work fine with a router after the modem and switches into routers there after.
So my questions would be
-Is it a problem running a router after a router ?
-Why would switches lose internet access on some ports but not all?
There is No firewalls up. No uplink ports are being used.
How would you choose to route for a wired network that needs to toss out wireless at different points around the building ? I didnt want to go about linking up wireless to wirless using wireless.The goal here was to use the wired to unleash wireless at certain sections and using the wired due to the fact that the building design and material would surely block wireless to wireless,as well as trying to keep the items out of site. Suggestions and ty for reading

Answer 1

This is difficult to troubleshoot without knowing the exact configuration of all those wireless routers and the exact LAN setup, in particular:
* How is each router connected to the LAN? Through its WAN/Internet port or a numbered LAN port?
* Configuration of each router: internet connection setup (DHCP, Static IP, etc.) and the details if applicable (i.e. static IP address, subnet mask, dns, gateway, etc.)
* Configuration of each router: LAN connection setup, LAN IP address, subnet mask, DHCP server enabled/disabled, if enabled, address pool.
* Configuration of each router: running in gateway (NAT) mode or router mode. Any added static routes.
* Configuration of computers, i.e. do they get their IP address through DHCP from the router, from a server or do they use static IP addresses.
* Do you want a single LAN (all devices are connected to the same LAN and can communicate with each other) or do you need separated LANs. If the latter for what purpose (e.g. security).
* How many wireless networks do you need? Do you want a single roaming network or dedicated networks at different places?
* How do you do the wireless channel assigments of those wireless routers? Which channels do you use?
If some computers on a switch have internet and some not it is often because you have two DHCP server running in your network one of which gives out bogus settings.