Network Topology Question

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I have an unusual network topology and have recently started having recurring issues. My cloud access begins with an AT&amp;T gateway/router [Arris&nbsp;BGW210-700 (fiber)] configured as a router with NO passthrough but does have NAT for Plex and a locally hosted website [Wifi is enabled, though seldom used]. All I have connected to it are my R7000 and two VOIP devices. The R7000 is also acting as a router and contains a no-ip config (for the self hosted site) and is configured to use Cloudflare for DNS. It has IPv6 enabled and port forwarding configured (again for Plex and the self hosted website). It has Wifi enabled as well but is typically constrained to just wired connections. The R7000 feeds the entirety of the home network (with the exception of the VOIP devices). At one end of this configuration I have a RAX30 connected. The entire layout is demonstrated below.&nbsp;&nbsp;Current Topology&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;/-&gt; Networked hard drive&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; /Internet -&gt; AT&amp;T Gateway -&gt; R7000 -&gt; switch(es) -&gt; RAX30 -&gt; wireless devices&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;\&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; \&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; \-&gt;VOIP devices&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; \-&gt;PCs, printers, etc&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Originally, I had the RAX30 and the R7000 swapped but similar issues started happening. Both R7000 and RAX30 are on the latest firmware [V1.0.11.136_10.2.120 &amp;&nbsp;V1.0.11.96_2 respectively]. The problem is that after a few hours the DNS will stop responding or the network will show as disconnected. Currently resetting [power cycling] the R7000 resolves the issue but I would prefer to not have the issue at all.&nbsp;My most desired topology would be for the AT&amp;T gateway to be IP Passthrough to the RAX30 (effectively making the AT&amp;T gateway a modem), the RAX 30 to be the only router in the house and the R7000 to just be an AP with ALL the IP's handed out by the RAX30. If only I could get my RAX30 to be reliable enough to make that happen.&nbsp;Desired topology&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;/-&gt; Networked hard drive&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; /Internet -&gt; AT&amp;T Gateway -&gt; RAX30 -&gt; switch(es) -&gt; R7000[AP] -&gt; wireless devices&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (effectively a modem)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;\&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;\&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;\-&gt;VOIP&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;\-&gt; PCs, printer(s), wireless devices, etc&nbsp;&nbsp;Here are my questions for the community1 - What is the most stable firmware version for both the RAX30 and the R7000?2 - If I place the R7000 in AP mode will it automatically configure to use the RAX30 as the DHCP server or would I need to turn off DHCP on the R7000? And does turning it off automatically fall back to the RAX30 if it is in the desired topology?3 - Is IP Passthrough on the AT&amp;T gateway a good idea or should I just continue using it with NAT configured?4 - Does the RAX30 support DNS over TLS or DNS over HTTPS or DNSCrypt? I have not found any place to turn on HTTPS, TLS or Crypt.&nbsp;&nbsp;

FURRYe38 · Accepted Answer

Internet -&gt; AT&amp;T Gateway using IP passthru to RAX router -&gt; RAX30 -&gt; switch(es) -&gt; R7000[AP] -&gt;
Use the IP pass thru to help with and avoid double NAT issues since the ATT gateway can't be fully bridged to the RAX router.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
1 - What is the most stable firmware version for both the RAX30 and the R7000? Most current.&nbsp;
2 - If I place the R7000 in AP mode will it automatically configure to use the RAX30 as the DHCP server or would I need to turn off DHCP on the R7000? I recommend setting a static IP address on the R7000 to 192.168.1.70. Set the Default DHCP IP address pool range to .100 to .200. And does turning it off automatically fall back to the RAX30 if it is in the desired topology? NO
3 - Is IP Passthrough on the AT&amp;T gateway a good idea or should I just continue using it with NAT configured? Yes. Helps avoid double NAT issues and DNS issues.&nbsp;
4 - Does the RAX30 support DNS over TLS or DNS over HTTPS or DNSCrypt? I have not found any place to turn on HTTPS, TLS or Crypt. No. all that's done with in supporting web browsers.&nbsp;

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Network Topology Question

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