Router Cascading Not Working for TP-Link Router

Case: Whatever the settings scheme, using an old TP-Link TL-WR340G as a second/slave router doesn’t work, showing various symptoms.

Symptoms

• WAN or LAN port LED not lit
• Router not assigning IP addresses (when DHCP is enabled)
• Router not getting an IP address

Solution

Perform a loopback test:

1. Unplug any Ethernet cables from the router.
2. Power on the router.
3. Make sure the router is done booting.
4. Connect an Ethernet cable – one end to the WAN and the other to the a LAN port.
5. LED’s on the connected WAN and LAN ports should be both lit.
   1. If needed, do this test for all LAN ports.
   2. If the LED’s don’t light up, either your router or the switch in it is fried. Get a new router.
   3. If only your WAN is working, use it as a wireless repeater.