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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 ...
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...
I looked briefly on Amazon to see if I could find a new non-green gigabit switch. The Tenda TEG1005D and TEG1008D 5 and 8-port switches do not appear to support 802.3az green, or at least their data sheet does not list it. It could be worth trying one of them and returning it if it is green.
I do not know why the Orbi backhaul does not work with green network switches. If your Orbi is still under support, I would open a ticket with them to find out why that is the case, and why don't they publish a list of supported Netgear switches that do work. I do not expect them to list other manufacturers. IMHO, current green switches should be supported for the wired backhaul, and their Orbi firmware should support that.
hackwright, one more option that may work for you. I assume you have a network patch cable coming from the RBR50 to your GS108v3, then another network patch cable from it to your RBS50. Search for "RJ45 female to female coupler" on Amazon or your favorite vendor, this would allow the 2 patch cables to direct connect to each other instead of going through a switch. It would end up being like you had a single cable between your RBR50 and RBS50.
tomschmidt wrote:hackwright, one more option that may work for you. I assume you have a network patch cable coming from the RBR50 to your GS108v3, then another network patch cable from it to your RBS50. Search for "RJ45 female to female coupler" on Amazon or your favorite vendor, this would allow the 2 patch cables to direct connect to each other instead of going through a switch. It would end up being like you had a single cable between your RBR50 and RBS50.
Although I'm sure that would solve my ethernet backhaul issue, the concern with that approach is it would exclude the rest of my (wired) network from Internet access because the direct coupling would bypass that GS108v3. Net result is the vast majority of my existing wired network would be useless.
tomschmidt wrote:I looked briefly on Amazon to see if I could find a new non-green gigabit switch. The Tenda TEG1005D and TEG1008D 5 and 8-port switches do not appear to support 802.3az green, or at least their data sheet does not list it. It could be worth trying one of them and returning it if it is green.
I do not know why the Orbi backhaul does not work with green network switches. If your Orbi is still under support, I would open a ticket with them to find out why that is the case, and why don't they publish a list of supported Netgear switches that do work. I do not expect them to list other manufacturers. IMHO, current green switches should be supported for the wired backhaul, and their Orbi firmware should support that.
Thank you -- I've never used Tenda before (or even heard of them) but I'll run with both suggestions and will update this topic with the results!