Merging two Routers
Merging two Routers
I have two internet connections, each with its own router. I need to combine them into one without using any software on Windows or similar tools. I'm aiming for a stronger connection, possibly using a third router or networking device. The ISP recently introduced monthly unlimited data packages—starting at 8Mbps, up to 175GB at that speed. If the data runs out, speeds drop to 1Mbps for a month. I'm thinking merging two 4Mbps links could give around 280GB total. I suspect my ISP is limiting data packages this way in 2020, but I'm hoping for some guidance.
You'd require a router with load-balancing features, such as setting it up yourself and installing pfSense, then consulting the official documentation at https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/late...index.html
According to @WereCatf, you should use a router like pfSense. Joining two 4Mbps links won’t give you 8Mbps directly; you can only manage traffic between them, such as assigning specific clients to different networks or ports.
It's understandable to be puzzled about why so many users have multiple ISPs. The idea of having backup options is good, but combining them can sometimes lead to issues when trying to achieve faster speeds.
I used standard load balancing with pfSense without any problems. My bank doesn’t seem concerned about IP changes, though some people might. I think it’s not wise to create websites that rely on a fixed IP since ISPs sometimes switch IPs regularly.
Cloudflare seems to generally dislike certain configurations, which isn't limited to financial institutions. It's reassuring if your load balancing setup works smoothly. For home users, IP addresses often shift multiple times daily depending on the ISP's policies. Although IPv4 is nearly exhausted based on my observations, I've kept the same IPv4 address for years. On the other hand, IPv6 addresses are constantly updating.
I've used a few Cloudflare proxied sites and its never complained. I have more problems with VPNs where sites tell you to get lost. The biggest drawback is you can't combine uploads, they just hit a random WAN, but both ISPs are more-or-less equal on upload speed so it doesn't matter too much - just would be nice for the one time I upload a video to get double the speed. Although there's always a chance if I upload two things at once I would have one on each connection. Its a fun lottery. The important thing is it works superb for Steam, Windows and Xbox downloads. PSN tends to have shitty servers that don't always hit the speed of one connection as it is though. Now actual gaming, that's another issue. I think it trips up GTA Online sometimes, but I don't spend long sessions on it because everyones a sniping asshole. Don't really care for online gaming these days anyway, I don't find playing games with strangers fun like the old days of Burnout 3 when you could choose a lobby with civilised human beings in it.
Everyone welcome! A router with multi-WAN and load balancing features offers a great option
It could depend on how the router manages your traffic flow. I've noticed patterns similar to those in a Cisco setup, where you might switch the default gateway route during a session but maintain the same connection in CEF/kernel until your session ends, relying on the prior path.