Unsolved CompTia Network+ (N10-006) Port Forwarding - NAT & Sharing Printers

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Is this a technique that I could use to configure printer sharing? I have a Motorola home router from Comcast cable on the 10.10 range and an Actiontec router on the 192.168 range. Can you give me a link to directions that you think might work. Printers and PCs on both networks.

@Matt-Hieter,

Can you help me out a little more, I'm trying to envision your topology:

Comcast ---------->Motorola Router (10.10.x.x)------------------>Actiontec router (192.168.x.x)

You have pcs & printers on 10.10.x.x
You have pcs & printers on 192.168.x.x

is the above a fair representation of the topology?

Yes! I have two providers with the cheapest plans available on each and the traffic spread out so we have enough speed to watch Netflix on one network while a PC is downloading windows updates on the other network and no unhappy family members. Plus if one network goes down we still have access via the other.

@Matt-Hieter,

Ok I wasn't understanding your topology at all, in my mind.

If you're going across the internet to the connect the two networks together, you may want to consider something like the Google Cloud Print ( https://www.google.com/cloudprint/#printers ) follow directions.

Though you could build a VPN between your networks, the google cloud print may be the easier way to go. I'm hoping others may offer an alternative that I haven't thought about.

You currently have four networks on two routers:
   Router 1: Connection to ISP1
   Router 1: The 10.10.x.x local network
   Router 2: Connection to ISP2
   Router 2: The 192.168.x.x local network

The ISP connection networks will have public addresses, normally configured with DHCP so you don't have to worry about them. To connect the two local networks without going through the Internet, you need to configure a fifth network connected to both routers (so each router will have three networks):
   Router 1: Connection to ISP1
   Router 1: The 10.10.x.x local network
   Router 1: Connection to Router 2
   Router 2: Connection to ISP2
   Router 2: The 192.168.x.x local network
   Router 2: Connection to Router 1

You need a separate address for the new network, say 172.16.x.x, and statically assign addresses to each router. Finally, you add a route in Router 1 to send packets for 192.168.x.x to Router 2, and a route in Router 2 to send packets for 10.10.x.x to Router 1. Now the local networks can talk to each other!

Unfortunately, most home routers only support two layer 3 interfaces: the Internet or WAN interface (connected to the ISP) and the LAN/Wireless interface (connected to your local network). They may have multiple physical layer 2 interfaces, but they are all connected to one of these layer 3 interfaces. To add a third layer 3 interface, you'll probably need to replace your home routers with business routers.

Another approach (probably even better now that I consider it) would be to add a third router connected to the two local networks:
   Router 1: Connection to ISP1
   Router 1: The 10.10.x.x local network
   Router 2: Connection to ISP2
   Router 2: The 192.168.x.x local network
   Router 3: The 10.10.x.x local network
   Router 3: The 192.168.x.x local network

You need to assign static addresses for both Router 3 interfaces and add static routes to Routers 1 and 2 to forward packets for the other network to Router 3. A home router would probably work for this if you disable NAT, DHCP server and Wi-Fi.

Your configuration is not typical! I don't know of any step-by-step directions to make it work. But a Network+ technician should be able to do this easily. For extra credit, configure a routing protocol instead of using static routes.

I was intrigued with Rick Sidewells suggestion of adding a third router. since the routers are in different areas of the house and no easy way to connect them with Ethernet cable. I opted for Ronnie's cloud print and it worked as follows:

• On the PC that is on the other network open Google Chrome. and login to your Google account.

• In a new tab, open chrome://devices

• You’ll see a list of devices already registered with Google Cloud Print, and new devices available on the network.

• Under "Classic printers,” click Add printers.

• I added the printer
  You'll see a confirmation that Google Cloud Print has been enabled..

• I then logged out of my Google account on this computer.
  I now see the printer that is on my wife's network in my list of available printers to print to

@Matt-Hieter,

I was impressed with Rick's suggestion myself. I knew it could be done. I was thinking of the "quickest" way to accomplish this; Rick was thinking of very practical and doable way to accomplish, given the equipment and knowledge of someone with Network+ level skills! I applaud his answer here: practical, step by step and hands on!

Also, of course, glad you go a solution from either of the answers presented and they both work!