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Knowledge document #3229

Setting up the FRITZ!Box as a cascaded router

You can set up your FRITZ!Box for use as a cascaded router and connect it to your other router using a network cable. The FRITZ!Box then uses the existing internet connection of your other router, but it still provides its own network that is separate from the other router. In this case

  • the firewall of the FRITZ!Box is enabled.
  • computers, smartphones, and other devices connected to the FRITZ!Box no longer obtain their IP settings from the other router. Instead, they obtain them from the FRITZ!Box.

Requirements / Restrictions

  • Some cable providers do not support this operating mode. The function "Internet connection via 'LAN 1'" is therefore not displayed if you have a FRITZ!Box from one of these providers.
  • It is not possible to access devices connected to the FRITZ!Box from the other router's network.
  • Depending on the other router, functions that require a public IP address (for example port sharing and receiving incoming VPN connections) can either not be used, or can only be used to a limited extent.
  • The FRITZ!Box and the other router must use different IP networks.

    Note:In the factory settings, the FRITZ!Box uses the IP network 192.168.178.0 (subnet mask 255.255.255.0). The IP network can be adjusted as described in the guide Changing the FRITZ!Box's IP address.

1 Configuring the operating mode

  1. Click "Internet" in the FRITZ!Box user interface.
  2. Click "Account Information" in the "Internet" menu.
  3. Enable the option "Internet connection via 'LAN 1'".
  4. If the other router provides a DHCP server, enable the option "Obtain the IP address automatically (DHCP)".
    • If the other router does not provide a DHCP server, enable the option "Configure the IP address manually" and enter IP settings that fit with the IP network of the router:
      1. "IP address": IP address from the router's network.

        Example:
        The router has the IP address 192.168.10.1 (subnet mask 255.255.255.0) and is therefore in the network 192.168.10.0. In this case you can enter 192.168.10.2 as the IP address.

        Important:The IP address you select may not already be used by any other device in the router's network.

      2. "Subnet mask": Subnet mask of the router
      3. "Default gateway": IP address of the router
      4. "Primary DNS server": IP address of the router
  5. Enter the speeds of your internet connection in the "Downstream" and "Upstream" fields.
  6. Click "Apply" to save the settings.

2 Connecting the FRITZ!Box with the network

  1. Use a network cable to connect the "LAN 1" port on the FRITZ!Box either directly to a LAN port on the router, or via a hub or switch.

3 Opening the user interface

Enter http://fritz.box to call up the user interface with devices connected to the ports "LAN 2" through "LAN 5" or to the FRITZ!Box's Wi-Fi network.

If you also want to open the FRITZ!Box user interface with devices that are connected to the other router, you must enable internet access via HTTPS in the FRITZ!Box and set up a FRITZ!Box user who is allowed to access the FRITZ!Box from the internet:

  1. Click "System" in the FRITZ!Box user interface.
  2. Click "FRITZ!Box Users" in the "System" menu.
  3. Click the "Add User" button.
  4. Enter a username and a password for the user.
  5. Enable the option "Access from the internet allowed".
  6. Enable the option "FRITZ!Box settings" under "Rights".
  7. Click "Apply" to save the settings.
  8. Click "Permit Access" in the "Internet" menu.
  9. Click on the "FRITZ!Box Services" tab.
  10. Enable the option "Internet access to the FRITZ!Box via HTTPS enabled".
  11. Click "Apply" to save the settings.

You can now also open the FRITZ!Box user interface with devices connected to the other router using the address in the field "Web address of your FRITZ!Box" (for example https://192.168.10.20:8596).

4 Setting up telephony

If you want to connect telephones to the FRITZ!Box and then use them to make telephone calls over the other router's internet connection:

  1. Set up the FRITZ!Box to make telephone calls over the other router.



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