How to Bridge an E2000 to a Modem

Use the "AP Mode" when supported by your wireless router to bridge the wireless network to a modem.

Deploy a Linksys E2000 to add wireless networking capability to a small office or home network when the broadband modem supports firewall, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol and routing but not wireless networking. The low cost Linksys E2000 can add high speed (104 Mbps) wireless 802.11n capability to the network; however, you must disable and bypass the routing and firewall features so it operates as a bridge. Disable the Linksys E2000 DHCP feature and configure network connections so that it serves as a wireless bridge to a broadband modem.

Things You'll Need

• Windows 7 computer with Internet Explorer enabled
• Linksys E2000 router
• Administrator user name and password for the Linksys E2000 router
• Broadband modem with Internet access enabled
• Two CAT 5 or CAT 6 Ethernet patch cable

Instructions

1. Plug one end of a CAT 5 or CAT 6 Ethernet network patch cable into the Ethernet port on the broadband modem. Connect the other end of the Ethernet network cable into the "Internet" port on the Linksys E2000 router.

2. Connect one end of a CAT 5 or CAT 6 Ethernet patch cable into the network port on the Windows 7 computer. Connect the other end of the network cable into a "LAN" port on the Linksys E2000 router. Reboot the Windows 7 computer.

3. Click the "Start" button on the Windows 7 taskbar and type "cmd" into the "Search" box. Press the "Enter" key and the command line window will appear.

4. Enter "ipconfig /all" at the command prompt and tap the "Enter" key. Note the gateway IP address listed in the command line output.

5. Click the "Start" button on the Windows 7 desktop taskbar and click "Internet Explorer" in the menu that appears. Type the gateway IP address noted in the previous step into the address bar located near the top of the "Windows Internet Explorer" window that appears. Press the "Enter" key.

6. Enter the user name and password of the Linksys E2000 Administrator account into the Web page that appears. If you do not know the Administrator credentials for the E2000 router, type "admin" in both the "User name" and the "Password" text boxes and click the "OK" button.

7. Click the "Setup" tab and click "Basic Setup." Click the "Disabled" radio button located next to the "DHCP Server Setting" label. Click the "Save Settings" button.

8. Plug one end of a CAT 5 or CAT 6 network patch cable into one of the "LAN" ports on the Linksys E2000 and connect the other end of the network patch cable into an Ethernet port on the broadband modem. Devices connected by network cable or wireless will now receive IP addresses from the modem and bypass routing on the Linksys E2000 router.

References

• Cisco: Linksys E2000 User Guide
• "PCMag": Cisco Linksys E2000 Advanced Wireless-N Router Review & Rating