Troubleshoot WRT54GS - WRT54GL connection problem.

Question

Here's the setup I had until recently: DSL -> (via wire) -> WRT54GS -> (via wire) -> WRT54GL -> (via wireless) -> computer.  Basically the GL was an access point.  Unfortunately yesterday this stopped working for some reason, so I did a hard reset on the router (30 seconds holding down the reset button), and I haven't been able to restore it. I've tried to do so via the following steps:
1) Make sure only my laptop and power are plugged into the GL via a LAN port (and the power port).  
2) Uncheck all the boxes in the firewall section.
3) Disable the built in firewall.
4) *Apply Settings*
5) Under setup, click on "advanced routing" and change it to "router" mode.  
6) *Apply Settings*
7) Under basic setup, disable DHCP.
8) Assign the router an IP address that's not in the GS's DHCP range (192.168.0.2). 
9) Adjust the time settings on the GL.
10) Unplug my laptop from the GL.
11) Plug the GS cable into the GL via a LAN port, not the WAN port.
12) Plug my laptop into the GL to test it via a LAN port.
Here's what I do to test it (with laptop (wire) -> gl (wire) -> gs (wire) -> dsl):
1) See if I can get a DHCP assignment from the GS on the laptop.  So far I've been unable to do this.  However, the GS's DHCP table (Status -> Local Network -> DHCP Clients Table) says it can not only see the laptop but it has assigned it a DHCP entry.
2) See if I can ping the GS, GL or another computer on the network from the laptop via a wired connection.  So far I've been unable to do this.
3) See if I can ping the GL or the laptop from a desktop connected wirelessly to the GS.  So far I've been unable to do this.  
4) When this fails, swear (it's cathatric at least), do a "hard reset" on the router by holding the rest button down for 30 seconds, and start over at the top.
(Please note: at this point the only active wireless is the GS.  The wireless on the GL is disabled.)
I've tried the above steps three times and it hasn't worked.  The only other thing I can think of is configure the GL to work in place of the GS and see if I can get a wired connection from my dsl.  DSL -> (wire) GL-> (wire) Laptop.
I don't know what else to try...does anyone have any suggestions?  Thanks in advance.
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Answer 1

Thank you for your suggestion, Carrot, but that didn't help.  I reset the GL, power cycled it, and set it with the following settings:
1) All firewall options disabled, firewall disabled.
2) Wireless disabled, ssid disabled.  I'm just trying to get this thing to work as a switch for now, after all.
3) Router changed to "router" mode instead of "gateway" mode.
4) IP address set to 192.168.0.2, which is out of the GS's dhcp pool (192.168.0.100 - 149).
5) DHCP disabled on the GL.  
6) Timezone set accordingly.  
I was unable, again, to get a DHCP assignment on the laptop when plugged in by cable to the GL, which is plugged into the GS.  (laptop (via wire) -> gl (via wire) -> gs)  I was also unable to ping anything, including the GL, even when plugged directly into it. 
Here's what makes me say "what the heck is going on:"   If I try to ping the GL, at 192.168.0.2, from a desktop connected wirelessly to the GS (so...desktop (wireless) -> gs (wire) -> gl), Windows spits a "request timed out" back at me.  If I try to ping 192.168.1.1, something replies with a 60ms response time. 
Out of curiosity, I ran a tracert from that same desktop to the GS, and it came back in 1 hop.  I also ran a tracert from this same computer to another computer, and it came back in 1 hop. I finally ran a tracert from the desktop to this "192.168.1.1" and it went out via my internet connection (it listed two ISP related hops) and found...something.  So what the heck does that mean? 
All I can think of at this point is set up the GL to take over for the GS and swap routers and see what happens.
Here's a thought: Is it possible I just need to power cycle the GS? 
Message Edited by TheBoyBlunder on 03-26-2010 02:25 PM