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Forum Discussion
Orbi Guest network question
I enabled the guest wifi today in anticipation of having some people over tomorrow. I changed the ssid but left it with no security. My intention was to enable it while people are here then turn it o...
Possible that integration of all the wireless componets that it takes a reboot and disconnect of the wireless radios to set up the Guest Network so it works through out the system. I would post this to one of the forum moderators to see what the behavior should be...DarrenM would be one to contact.
I did some tests early this morning before everyone was awake. Enabling and disabling the guest wifi is a slow and disruptive event, not something I want to do when a freind stops by. I opted to leave it enabled but added a password.
Ok, Ya, I'll give this a try with mine as well. See what happens. AFter hours LOL.
I would contact DarrenM and give him a link to this and give him all your info. I'll post back here with anything I find.
FURRYe38 ... You replied to his question with a conjecture that you didn't test - even though you had the hardware handy to conduct a test - and told him to ask somebody else. That has to be most pointless thing.
Roamabout You already know the answer to this question, but I want to add a touch of context. This isn't a netgear-specific behavior. In general, whenever you change the exposed SSIDs or their settings on a radio, the radio needs to be restarted. Since the Orbi's replicate their configuration from the router this chaining reboot is required.
Said differently, Orbi restarts are required for any SSID changes - guest or otherwise. Unfortunately, the Orbi's take a while to reboot :-(.
t_kwrote:FURRYe38 ... You replied to his question with a conjecture that you didn't test - even though you had the hardware handy to conduct a test - and told him to ask somebody else. That has to be most pointless thing.
Roamabout You already know the answer to this question, but I want to add a touch of context. This isn't a netgear-specific behavior. In general, whenever you change the exposed SSIDs or their settings on a radio, the radio needs to be restarted. Since the Orbi's replicate their configuration from the router this chaining reboot is required.
Said differently, Orbi restarts are required for any SSID changes - guest or otherwise. Unfortunately, the Orbi's take a while to reboot :-(.
Understood, thanks. I was not expecting it to be quite that disruptive and the combination of the slow start and synch in addition to the somewhat unpredictable behavior after a restart led me to realise that this was not a feature that you just turn on and off when you need it without consequences.
I'm fine with enabling it and leaving it on with some security that is not too hard for my visitors to configure.
I've asked about this in a different forum to see if others have experienced anything simiar. Soon as I get an opportunity, I'll give this a check as well with my system. I don't use Guest network since most anyone I know that visits are close friends and family. No big deal using main wifi network.
Roamaboutwrote:I did some tests early this morning before everyone was awake. Enabling and disabling the guest wifi is a slow and disruptive event, not something I want to do when a freind stops by. I opted to leave it enabled but added a password.
You may want to check CAUTION: Orbi's Wifi Guest Network does not really isolate guests from main network
In my case it seems like devices on the guest network can see devices on the main network.
So yes definitely think about having a password on your guest network (!) - and also think if you want your guests being able to see your network?
Vandergraffwrote:You may want to check CAUTION: Orbi's Wifi Guest Network does not really isolate guests from main network
In my case it seems like devices on the guest network can see devices on the main network.
So yes definitely think about having a password on your guest network (!) - and also think if you want your guests being able to see your network?
I have read through that thread previously and it is a concern that the guest network is not properly isolated. I'm doing this so my freinds have a network to connect to when they vsit. We live in the middle of nowhere and there is poor cell phone service. Most phones have wifi calling so I can give them a connection for an hour to two if needed. My freinds are not the hacker types and the file server has access controls. Leaving the guest network open as Netgear does by default strikes me as a very bad idea.
You can secure the Guest Network when you enabled it for those wishing to keep the system secure.
I presume the reason for default is OPEN is that in some Guest Networks, most of them are left unsecure for guest accessibility and not have to keep giving out PW words since some guests are only connected for a short period of time. And the Guest network is tied to the WAN side of the router which, unless the allow access to the LAN side is enabled, will not have any access to the LAN side resources in most cases.
