OK i have 2 routers and i am using both of them as switches. i have one upstairs and one downstairs i have them hooked together with a cross over cable. and the upstairs one is connected to my main 2wire router. in the basement i have 2 computers connected to it my white box linux and an xp the xp connects to the router and works fine but when ever i try to get and ip on my linux box it all ways gives me a address from my router i am using as a switch and not connecting to my 2wire switch. if that is confusing just say so i will try to clarify

Try disabling dhcp on the downstairs router and make sure that it is enabled on the upstairs router.

ty for your help i got mad at it and whent out and bot a 24 port switch (only $23)works gread now.