2 Routers 1 Home Network | Why Disable DHCP?

When you have 2 routers on 1 home network, is it really necessary to disable DHCP?

"I didn't disable DHCP on mine and it worked fine!"

Yes, it's true that it's not necessary to disable DHCP. Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol's whole purpose is to assign IP addresses to devices on your network. But if you don't disable it, you will have problems in the future.

Router 1 has a DHCP server that operates INDEPENDENTLY of Router 2, which also has its own DHCP server. They don't communicate with each other which IP addresses they are handing out.

It's possible that Router 1 can assign DIFFERENT IP addresses than Router 2. It's random.

However, it's also possible Router 1 can assign the SAME IP addresses as Router 2.

You can even plug everything in and have it working initially with no IP conflicts. But then later when you get back home from work you can be assigned a NEW IP address without even realizing it. So it's possible to have problems in the future even if you aren't adding "new" devices to your network. Your IP address is LEASED to your device from the DHCP server for a temporary amount of time. Like 1 day or 1 week. Then when that expires, it CAN be assigned the same IP address again. But it can ALSO be assigned a different IP address. This opens up the possibility for IP address conflicts days, weeks, or months down the road.

It is possible to make advanced configurations to your DHCP servers so that they are choosing different IP addresses independently so there will be no IP conflicts. But I believe in the KISS principle (Keep It Simple, Stupid). Just disable 1 of the DHCP servers. No need to make all kinds of configurations that achieve the same result as simply disabling DHCP on all but one router.

All devices that connect to the router with DHCP disabled can still obtain an IP address from the router with DHCP enabled. Basic networking concepts allow that to happen.

I hope this was clear and not more confusing. Thank you for your time and I hope I've helped you out!

[edwardreilly]

Finally - someone explains why the secondary router should be set up in AP mode with DHCP turned off. Thank you very much.

[wagonet]

This man can explain complex topics and simplify it for the regular peeps. Thanks!! This helped me a lot

[yukgaejang]

You don't how happy i am to have found your channel. Thank the 😌♥️

[chuizeng]

I found the major issues with multiple DHCPs at different routers are the resources sharing, such as printers, NASs, they won't able to cross all the routers. IP conflict is not really a issue as you can assign different IP ranges for each router/DHCP.

[TheRafalblog]

What you have said is common sense. The best solution is always to keep things simple. I have a couple of routers at home. The nightmare was setting up all the routers the other ways you have mentioned: setting up the IP ranges etc. Since I saw your other movie about how to set up routers disabling DHCP and changing IPs in every one of the routers, life has become easier.

[carlosmontana]

This guy is a beast he knows his shit i get calls with other ITs i explain this and they are lost, when i get calls with ITs like you i love it yall understand this my calls are done within 20 min tops, ITs that dont we will be hours on the phone and nothing i start thinking this ITs are ripping off their customers is not that hard but this guy knows his shit

[SamNjorogeOmweri]

Thank you so much, this is the best explanation of conflicts that I’ve received so far, was trying to figure out why my phone would just not work sometimes on Wi-Fi.

[CitizenFortress]

So, set your DHCP range on one router only up to 127 and the other from 128 to 255. Then they'll never assign the same network without ever getting an IP Address Conflict.

[Neo-poxw]

I had same kind of problem with my 2 routers. One is connected to cabe internet connection, out as WIFI(hotspot).
Other one used as wifi extender.

Now after turning the other router as wifi extender, there was no internet access. I researched a lot about it and found it got something to do with DHCP. Right after disabling DHCP of the other router, the Internet started to work. But I didn't knew what disabling DHCP means, now thanks to the video I get what was going on with those router. Thanks for the explanation.

[Soundman_Electronics]

Excellent video. Perfectly explains which DHCP setting to use for an access point. Thanks!

[SriTejaChilakapati]

Me at 7:21. So that's how a switch works! Believe me I learnt more about switch by watching this video rather than plenty others in youtube. Because apparantly nobody ever told me how a switch works in combination with a router. All they told was a router has DHCP where as a switch doesn't. This video gave me the complete idea. Thanks! This helped me a lot.

[harshitsukhija]

Thanku soo much for providing me this information.
I m not able to use the internet for 5 long hours. Now I get my solution.
Thanku soo much buddy 🥳

[dolandoxclub]

hey look, we want a lan party but it doesnt show us on the same network. yeah i didnt need youtube to explain this to people, but its finally nice to explain if your stranded in the middle of nowhere with too many computers, this is always good to know.

[UltimateTechHub]

I did a similar video and yes disable DHCP because it may or may not work and why take the chance. Its a simple one click disable tab. Its not a difficult task and its the same as disabling the UPNP which is also necessary. Good video Home Network Central. By the way I love Home Networking!!

[Humanist]

This man is genius in explaining complex things..appreciated

[aashishpandey]

Ran into problems after problems after problems, till i ran into this guy, then my internet ran like BOLT

[codycarr]

Man love how you explain it for us network dummies can understand it! Lol Thanks man been having this exact problem! 😆

[ruvelcuasito]

Man, you're totally one of those people who's effective in teaching... cuz a guy like me, who had no clue of this DHCP and other router terminologies etc., finally understood this sh** by only just watching this 10 min video of yours. 1 sub count from me? done.

[bradakan]

A friend told me to do this, i wanted to know why.
And this is a clear video with the info!

[mandarjoshi]

What if we add a network switch between the two routers? For example, I have two routers connected thru switch.
* My Modem is connected to Main Router.
* From my Main Router, I have a connection to Unmanaged Network Switch.
* From the Network Switch, I have connection to my Second Router.

Do I need to disable DHCP on second router? If I disable DHCP on my Second Router then I don't get internet connection thru the Second Router.