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Is there a way to get the VPN to connect with the primary (not guest) network?
I find the built-in VPN to be very useful for personal network security when on shared/public networks -- and when traveling internationally (I appear to be home, which is what I want). However, I'd...
You are the first person to report that Orbi's guest network is on a separate subnet from the main network. See post #1 and many other posts in the below thread.
I switched my Orbi to router mode just to test, and confirmed that for my Orbi the guest network is on the same subnet as the main network. In my case the Orbi is at 192.168.1.1 and the guest gets an IP of 192.168.1.5, which is on the same subnet. This is what I mean by "Orbi does not have a separate guest network." Yes, there is a separate SSID, but all clients are on the same subnet.
Furthermore, there is no setting in Orbi that I see that allows one to choose a different subnet for the guest network.
So, either you are using a different router than Orbi, you are using some new unreleased firmware, or there is something misconfigured with your network.
Where is the Orbi setup page where you can set a different IP for the guest network?
What firmware version are you running?
Jeremyinsf wrote:
I am using the same version.
I appreciate that you are trying to help, but, since you aren't actually using this feature, you can't see the effect of the settings. And it's very frustrating to many on here when the response is to reset the whole thing and start all over, every time a feature/setting doesn't work. I've been through all that, and don't need that suggestion from you (or Furry) every time it doesn't work the way you think it should. I'm not trying to be rude here, I just don't want others to go down this rabbit hole again and again for no reason, especially when you aren't even using this feature or able to fully test it to see the effect of what you are talking about.
Well, I did turn on the guest network and I did turn on the VPN, so I am using both of those features, and it does not behave like yours. You are also the only one to report the guest network is on a separate subnet, while there are dozens of people complaining that Orbi doesn't do this.
I also spent significant time on this. If you don't "need" my suggestion, then good luck solving this on your own.
I appreciate your time, but you said:
"I didn't go as far as connecting to the VPN, because I don't currently use OpenVPN and that would require extensive reconfiguration."
So you aren't actually duplicating the problem here - and you want us to just go ahead and erase everything and start all over for no real reason. Someone else on here always tells people the same thing, and it starts to drag down the forum. Please don't take offense for my push back. I do appreciate you are trying to help, and thought I made that point.
Jeremyinsf I resonate with your sentiment. Frequently when I post an issue to a forum like this, the going-in assumption by frequent posters is that I’m a “retractable cup-holder user” (total novice, didn’t even bother to read the manual before writing in— very much not the case here) or that I’ve done something uninformed and screwed up a configuration — so the only solution offered is to wipe it and start over (which is nearly always a complete waste of time). The idea that the system may not work as expected (and it is not user problem) usually takes five to ten back-and-forths before it is considered. I think we are finally getting there.
I very much appreciate the effort that people have put into responding to our inquiries. Unfortunately, I don’t think we are any closer to a solution than we were at the start.
It would be great if someone from Netgear engaged in this discussion, someone who could confirm (or refute) there is a problem. I suspect that this issue is tied into some of the other posts I’ve seen where the operation of the guest network is inconsistent (incomplete isolation, etc.). I have discovered that the guest network is NOT on a different MAC than the primary network — unlike other router/access points I’ve owned (and tested). I think that’s a flaw — one that may be tied into this whole situation.
Thank you Stev3D for taking the time to reply and chime in here. I realize I'm not alone with my feelings (and frustrations) with responses here in the Community - or, as you point out, the lack thereof from those at Netgear.
When working properly, it's a great product with even greater potential. It's too bad so many have had problems, and I do feel bad for those without technical know-how to work around issues or even determine when there is a real problem (i.e. bug) or what expected behavior should be. I hope it gets better, and I do expect the firmware to be more stable in the future.
Thank you again for your reply.
