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Forum Discussion
Router Recommendations
I am hopeful that a knowledgeable someone can save me some research time in selecting a new router. I have a few must haves and a few nice to haves:
Must Haves:
- VLAN support with wireless for each VLAN
- Port level VLAN with at least 3 ports
- Mesh capabilities that support both wired and wireless back-haul
- Gigabit or faster Ethernet ports (preferably 5+)
Nice Must Haves:
- Load balancing for multiple WANs
- Automatic switching to backup WAN if primary fails
- Port isolation configurable for each VLAN
I am using a much older, non-mesh router now, but it does have Fresh Tomato firmware on it that supports port-level VLANs with ability for each VLAN to have its own wireless. This allow me to keep my IoT devices separated from my primary VLAN. It also allows me to keep my guest network separate from both my primary and IoT VLANs. I am hopeful to upgrade to a new mesh router while keeping these abilities.
I currently have a primary and backup Internet provider and use a physical switch to toggle when needed. If possible, I would like to have the router either switch automatically for me or load balance.
5 Replies
- you won't get that all on a stock consumer route.
- build your own router using opnsense or pfsense and build it for the wired capabilities. Then just add the mesh network in access point mode that meets your needs.
I made a type in my headings. 'Nice Must Haves' should have been 'Nice to Haves'. I am pretty sure there are Orbis that have mesh capabilities with both wired and wireless back-haul since I know people with much older Orbis that offer this. I am also reasonably sure that there are versions that have gigabit Ethernet ports. So, the only other 'Must Have' is VLAN support with wireless for each VLAN. Do any of the Orbi mesh units offer VLAN capabilities? If so, can a VLAN be assigned to a specific port? If not, does it offer VLAN tagging. If yes to either, can I have a wired and wireless for each VLAN?
I am wishing to have 3 VLAN with both wired and wireless connections. I wish to have a VLAN for my primary computer as well as a guest network and IoT network.
JmsWhitlow from your must haves, the 970 series does have both wired and wireless backhaul - I have two 970 satellites using wired and I have had them on wireless backhaul too. They have a dedicated wireless backhaul band as well. Also, The 971s support ethernet connections with 2x2.5GB ports and 1 10GB port. I have my satellites and router wired with 10G. Sweet!
As for VLAN, as others have said - Home-class Orbi systems (like the 970) do not offer true VLAN configuration on the LAN side in the way a business or prosumer router would (e.g., defining custom VLAN IDs, assigning ports to VLANs). They also do not support VLAN tagging for individual SSIDs that map Wi-Fi traffic to specific VLANs for LAN segmentation. I have not used it or have any experience with it, but to get real VLAN capabilities that can be assigned to specific wired ports, tagged/trunked to a managed switch, and have wireless VLANs per SSID, you would need a business-class router/AP system such as Orbi Pro (supports VLAN tagging & SSID-VLAN mapping) or a different brand with true VLAN/802.1Q features. See this link for info:
Or as others have suggested, you can use the Orbi as a pure AP and place a separate router/firewall (with VLAN support) in front of it.
'Must Have' is VLAN support with wireless for each VLAN.
This requirement kills the idea of using one conventional mesh WiFi system. It would be possible to deploy the same number of mesh WiFi systems as desired wireless VLANs. i.e., if three VLANs are required, that means three mesh WiFi systems.
