Managing "Guest" access

k9kids
Guide
Nov 26, 2016
Logged into my Orbi account and saw that a new update was available. 1.4.0.16

This update includes Guest access. Set it up and it works like a champ. I'm happy now.
- thetalm
  Aspirant
  Nov 26, 2016
  just placed order on Amazon :smileyvery-happy:
Hoff
Aspirant
Nov 27, 2016
thetalm, download the 1.3.0.26. I couldn't find the 1.4.0.16 either, so I went ahead and updated to 1.3.0.26 since I just unboxed my orbi and was running firmware 1.1.x. When the 1.3.0.26 finished installing, the Orbi said that it was on firmware version 1.4.0.16 and there was an option to enable guest account. I guess Netgear has some issues with version naming. So just DL the 'latest' update on the Netgear site http://downloadcenter.netgear.com/ (search for rbr50 and go with the 1.3.0.26 update), extrct the .img file from it and install using the "manual update" process on orbi and it will do the rest. You have to also download the rbs50 firmware seperately to update the satellite using the same process. Hope this helps, and hope that all the users on this thread stop complaining about their guest account now. IDK why it was such an issue. If you have a guest in your home, then you likely trust the guest with access to your network and files: why you need a guest account is beyond me (unless you're using this in a hotel or business or something). I guess it would make sense putting them on a seperate LAN if you want to hide your stash of kiddie pron, but other than that I don't see the big deal . . . just give them access to the main SSID if you want to give them access to the internet.
- thetalm
  Aspirant
  Nov 27, 2016
  Hoff
  thank you for your suggestions. They will be useful tomorrow when i'll receive my Orbi.
  As far as Guest network is concerned, at home I host several kind of guest:, close friends, relatives, occasional friends, plus other - technicians, consultants, and so on. The guest network (with a very simple and readable password) allow them access Internet only, without any access to my NAS, computers and other devices, The private network has a very strong password that would be complicated to tell to others, also because this could provide information on my password creating scheme. The isolation from my data and devices ensures also that any threat or malware hosted in my guests' devices could affect my internal network. Furthermore, this allows me to keep a less complicated security scheme in my internal devices, costing me less effort to maintain.
  In brief, that's because I consider mandatory the availability of guest network fucionality in a wireless router.
  - Hoff
    Aspirant
    Nov 27, 2016
    thetalm Nice! You'll love the orbi! I just finished setting it up today (started yesterday, had a lot of devices to migrate over). The biggest reason I switched over was because of the seamless transition between router and satellite, as well as the large coverage area. That plus I got it for free since I'm an Amazon Vine tester!!
    
    I suppose I'm somewhat of a Nihlist when it comes to the Guest Network security. I've yet to test the actual security of the guest network and what exactly it does/does not allow (i suppose it only allows port 80 and other applicable internet traffic?). But the way I see it: if a guest user wants to be malicious, they have physical access to all your devices anyway since they are guests in your home! Physical access trumps any security key and any segregated LAN, no matter how good your setup is. You do make a good point about the unknown malware though. Unintentional insider threat is the #1 security risk with any large organization, and I would presume this applies to the home, too (<cough> mother-in-law <cough>). I never thought about it from that angle, and it's probably the best argument I've seen for a Guest network. I will probably put it into action now, thanks for the tip!

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