I am trying to increase my upload speed, but I am currently using the Belkin N600DB as a router (no gigabit ethernet). I would have preferred to buy a better router altogether, but for some reason my mother will not allow me to upgrade the family router. So I have to work under these conditions.
I am using the Linksys CM3024 DOCSIS modem, which says it has gigabit ethernet. So this is where I ask my question. Can I use a switch on the modem and then plug the router to the switch? That way my mother can keep her attachment to the overpriced and badly performing Belkin N600DB while I can finally get some gigabit ethernet.
42 Answers
No, your Linksys CM3024 is a pure DOCSIS modem (that is, it does not include any gateway/router functionality), and the DOCSIS specification doesn't allow a modem to talk to more than one device. DOCSIS modems only talk to the first MAC address they see after boot. If you had a switch connected to it, and a computer and a router connected to the switch, it would be a coin toss to see which device the modem would talk to after each reboot.
7Use a Second Router
Not ideal, but really not that unusual. Put a gigabit router between the modem and the N600DB. To avoid confusion (and "being found out"), get a router that does not have WiFi - a small gigabit router with no WiFi won't look much different from a switch. Set it up with a different subnet from the existing router. The new router will get an external IP address from the modem and provide IP addresses within the designated subnet to your computer and to the N600DB. The N600DB should be set up for simple DHCP for the external address (it may be different in the current configuration).
The only drawbacks are:
- Your computer won't be able to share any printers or other devices that are connected to the N600DB, unless you map ports to those devices through the N600DB.
- If you need external access to any devices on the N600DB, you will need to map ports through both routers.
