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simdim's avatar
simdim
Tutor
Oct 13, 2022

RBR750/RBS750 AP mode grayed out

Hi all,

I need to put real firewall in front of my Orbi RBR750 (V4.6.9.11_2.3.5), but AP MODE/Router is grayed out

 

 

Am I doing something wrong?

Also do I need RBSes to be physically plugged into RBR LAN ports or I can put them on separate VLAN to appear behind RBR?

 

11 Replies


  • simdim wrote:

    Also do I need RBSes to be physically plugged into RBR LAN ports or I can put them on separate VLAN to appear behind RBR?


    Perhaps you could explain the reasons behind wanting to put the satellites on a VLAN.  As long as the satellites appear to the router as being connected to the router LAN port(s), the router does not care how data packets flow between the devices.

    For example, there could be a managed switch connected to one of the router LAN ports with the switch port being on LAN x.  Other  managed switches could be connected to that switch and (eventually) the satellites could be connected to ports that are also on LAN x.  That was actually the solution devised for how to share WAN and LAN traffic over a single Ethernet cable:

    https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Disabling-automatic-subnet-reconfig/m-p/2031354#M110164 

     

    So, what's the goal?

    • simdim's avatar
      simdim
      Tutor

      It is my understanding that in AP mode RBR has to be connected via WAN port and satellites need to be delivered to LAN ports or RBR in order to maintain "mesh" functionality. I just wanted to carve out "satellite" segment on the switch for RBSes in order not create loops.

      If only RBR had more flexibility in FW rules ...

      • CrimpOn's avatar
        CrimpOn
        Guru

        "Loops" is a topic that comes up on the forum, but usually in the context of satellites having simultaneous WiFi and Ethernet connection to the router.  Not certain that creating a VLAN on the switch side would affect this.

         


        simdim wrote:

        If only RBR had more flexibility in FW rules ...


        My guess is that you seek for the firewall to control outgoing connections?  The Firewall already rejects all incoming connections except for those specifically allowed by the user. (Port Forwarding).  Yes, for that purpose an external firewall is the only option.

  • iyang's avatar
    iyang
    NETGEAR Expert

    Hi simdim ,

     

    Can we know what's function do you enable ?

    Does RBR750 is Router mode or AP mode ?

     

     

    Thanks,

    Iris

    • simdim's avatar
      simdim
      Tutor

      Mystery of "grayed out" is solved:

       

      If WAN aggregation is set to enabled (WAN port and 1st LAN port are LACP bound) you can not switch to AP mode.

      After disabling WAN aggregation - it is allowed.

       

      But here comes a huge BUT with AP mode and wired backhaul ...

       

       

      Consider the setup:

      This works

       Internet router  -> switch -> WAN port RBR | LAN Port RBR -> LAN port RBS

       

      This is what I need and it does not:

       

      Internet router  -> switch VLAN 1 (802.1Q or Port Based)-> WAN port RBR | LAN Port RBR- > switch VLAN 1 (802.1Q or Port Based -> LAN port RBS

      VLAN based setup creates a loop with RBR

      I had to resort to 2 additional Physical switches and additional cable run to make that setup work .

      All my cat6 from RBS are in the basement, in order to get wiring to the first floor where I want RBR I need to run 4 wires between the floors if no additional switches are used, instead of riding a VLAN trunk between basement and first floor switches - this is not good thinking from Netgear ... may be it is time to look somewhere else ... the Orbi product line is just too consumer oriented and it is just too simplistic.