can the arris bgw210-700be setup in a dual router config? I would like to use my dd-wrt router for a vpn behind it.

@JefferMC @ATTHelp  Jeff thank you for your response, I followed your instructions to the tee, and am just now getting back on line, thank you so much!!!

turning off the wifi on the only thing that works was not a good idea.

your instructions did not work. 

It did appear that the ip changed, to a .253 but nope , and let me spell this out on last time. DID NOT WORK. all jokes aside, jeff i thought you had it , even if you are grump. I appreciate you. thx

ATT no go, tried it. might have gotten closer but ... I dont know, i will continue my efforts, thanks to all!!!

@azelina27 ... Referencing Jeffer's excellent instructions above:

Items 9,10,11... Do not move any ethernet cables. Power cable only.

Item 10 ... allow 10 minutes and all lights normal.

Then: Item 11 ... allow 5 minutes.

Then: Item 12 ... unplug PC ethernet cable from Gateway LAN and plug it into a Linksys LAN port. Reboot PC if no connection.

Good luck!

I followed your instructions to the tee

...

turning off the wifi on the only thing that works was not a good idea.

Clearly you did not follow my instructions to a tee. Because if you had, you would not have turned off Wi-Fi until you had tested and found that that connections to the internet from your router were working. 

Good luck.

Dude,

WHY don't you want to run it on each computer? You give no reason... so, is it because you just are wedded to your initial schematic? Because you imagine it is more secure (because you don't understand VPN all that well)... , well, it isn't. Do what works!!!

Running VPN software on each computer works, and is more secure than  running the VPN on a router - any router. And it is a highly stable network configuration. And works with multiple operating systems.

If you want to get the second router connected to the internet, the LAN out of the first router has to connect to a LAN port on the second router, not the WAN port on the second router like in your drawing. I know it seems counterintuitive to a lot of folks, who fall into thinking of the WAN port as an input, and the LAN ports as outputs. That's not the way to think about ethernet and routers!!!

Connect LAN to LAN is what works in a dual router configuration. JUST TRY IT and you will see!

Also, you don't need to disconnect the wifi on the BGW210; just don't use it. Nobody is going to hack in on you over wifi. Give it a crazy long password if you're paranoid about it.

The scheme you started out with where the BGW LAN is "an output" on the BGW210 and goes into a WAN port (which you are thinking of as "an input" on the second router) won't work consistently, if you can even get it to work once. 

Before you try anything more, DO reset both routers to factory settings, as both are likely to be misconfigured to the point that, by now, the software keeps looking at previous screwy connections and parameters and justs goes around in circles trying to be "smart" and configure itself.

If you want to get the second router connected to the internet, the LAN out of the first router has to connect to a LAN port on the second router, not the WAN port on the second router like in your drawing. I know it seems counterintuitive to a lot of folks, who fall into thinking of the WAN port as an input, and the LAN ports as outputs.That's not the way to think about ethernet and routers!!!

Sorry, this is utter hogwash. EDIT: that's too strong.  Connecting LAN to LAN is fine if:

1. You don't actually want your router to be a router, but instead a switch/access point
2. Your router doesn't have a built-in access point feature.

Also, you don't need to disconnect the wifi on the BGW210; just don't use it. Nobody is going to hack in on you over wifi. Give it a crazy long password if you're paranoid about it.

Having a device generate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency RF for no reason is not logical.

@mrcoffeeee @ATTHelp @JefferMC 

Ok so I went a bought another router, tp link ax1500 . it set up in seconds as a 2 router setup... by itself. so I took pictures of every page and setting on both, and will try to get my dd-wrt up. I had to take a break, I was burnt out trying. @mrcoffeeee  I saw some stuff talking about the lan to lan, I appreciate your response. I think @JefferMC  might need a cup, he is a bit cranky. 

any how, i will try your suggestions for sure. I am now in research and development... (soley to get this hardware online. ) I wanted a dual router setup because i saw that was an option and seemed sensible, --- switching vpn to normal by switching networks is all sounded cool as well as fit my ATT locked box. I know nothing and truly appreciate all the responses,

@JefferMC , I can't thank you enough for your deep knowledge that you have in this area and your accurate description on how to configure the BGW210 modem/router. I got mine configured with IP Pass-through to a TP-Link WiFi router and it works flawlessly. Now I have PPTP VPN working and if I need I can also do OpenVPN. Not just that, I can also get my WEB server up and running from the internet.

I wish there were more good people like you.