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Forum Discussion
Orbi Ethernet Backhaul/Compatible Switches
I've been (unsuccessfully) trying to setup my ethernet backhaul between my Orbi RBR50 and RBS50 and have recently stumbled across a decent number of conversations/posts describing the woes of Orbi's ...
Is it physically impossible to bypass the GS108 and connect directly from the RBR50 to RBS50?
I have a GS116v1 switch between my RBR50v1 and RBS50v1 and it works fine. It is a non-green network switch. If you do not have any non-green switches, then I suggest getting a small 4-5 port non-green gigabit switch to add next to your GS108v3 for the backhaul connection. You can find these cheap from Amazon and other retailers.
tomschmidt wrote:I have a GS116v1 switch between my RBR50v1 and RBS50v1 and it works fine. It is a non-green network switch. If you do not have any non-green switches, then I suggest getting a small 4-5 port non-green gigabit switch to add next to your GS108v3 for the backhaul connection. You can find these cheap from Amazon and other retailers.
That sounds like a great approach (i.e., bringing a separate "non-green" gigabit switch into my enclosure and, I'm assuming, connecting the cable leading to the RBR50 and independently the cable leading to the RBS50 to that switch and then connecting the two switches via another cable). However, I'm not sold on how easy it is these days to find a new (not used or refurbished) gigabit switch that doesn't support 802.3az...
Do you have specific examples? Because if there was a new 8-port "non-green" gigabit switch available, I could just pick up a few and replace every switch that "touches" one of these Orbi devices...
I've also seen conversations where Orbi has difficulty with switches that support IGMP snooping -- is that a potential issue with backhaul support too? Or does that just cause other problems? Or is it not a real issue? Like I said, I'd be most interested in a list of switches the Netgear folks use to test the ethernet backhaul (or their Orbi implementation in general) for new launches of both Orbi firmware and launches of their own switches as I'm ASSUMING they're not using out-of-support switches or their enterprise-grade switches for their testing. "Certified for Orbi" perhaps....
To be fair, I'm assuming they actually include a sampling of switches in their general testing AND specifically for the ethernet backhaul. You know, because they're a Network company.... And I'm assuming they actually don't only test the ethernet backhaul using a direct connection between the RBR50 and RBS50...
CrimpOn wrote:Is it physically impossible to bypass the GS108 and connect directly from the RBR50 to RBS50?
I would never say "impossible" but certainly it's "extremely impractical" as the devices are separated by different floors/walls/rooms. I would hasten to add that I really don't want to make any physical changes to my house (i.e., independent cabling between the floors/rooms) just to support this poor design.
[NOTE: I should mention I call this a poor design not because the engineering isn't great, but based on its inability to work in real-world situations as I would ASSUME that non-enterprise grade switches would have been part of the ethernet backhaul testing or separately support for same would have been ASSUMED as a requirement in the design]
- Thanks for clarifying. I ad pictured the modem, Router, and switch all being located at the wiring hub. Sounds like the modem and router are in one location and the wiring hub in another.
