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Forum Discussion
Disabling Guest Access to LAN on R6300v2
I am unable to Disable access to LAN resources on my Guest Accounts. The option "Allow guests to see each other and access my local network" on the "GUEST NETWORK" tab is checked and disabled (Grayed out) so I cannot change it.
It was disabled at some point, but I do not know what change I made to enable it in this state. If anyone can help, I'd appreciate it.
This feature actually makes no sense to me. Why have a guest account that can access my LAN? how is that different from the non-guest access.. No need to respond to that..
6 Replies
There are two different reasons to have a "Guest WiFi".
- Because it is intended for "guests", the name (SSID) and password can be changed at any time without disturbing WiFi access for permanent devices.
Have an event and want guests to have access to the internet. Fine. Turn on Guest WiFi with some simple SSID/password. After they leave, turn it back off or change the credentials. - Create a WiFi network that cannot communicate with the primary network.
The option to enable/disable "Allow guests to see each other and access..." allows customers to decide which is more important.
On the Orbi mesh platform, Netgear started with Guest WiFi having this same choice. When the AX platform came out, the ability for guest WiFi devices to communicate with the primary network was removed. Perhaps a firmware update on the R6300 made the same change to the Nighthawk platform.
(personally, I would rather that the user have the option to enable/disable Guest WiFi features. But.... Netgear never asks my opinion about anything.)
- Because it is intended for "guests", the name (SSID) and password can be changed at any time without disturbing WiFi access for permanent devices.
(Grayed out) so I cannot change it.
When the web interface does not function correctly, perhaps a Factory Reset may help.
CrimpOn
I was hoping to avoid a factory reset, but took your advice and did the reset. Initial Setup had the Guest Network option "Allow guests to see each other and access my local network" Active (un-grayed) and disabled (un-checked). As I configured the router I checked the status of this option.
The option was Inactivated and enabled when I selected the Advanced setup option to ENABLE AP Mode. I thought about this and believe it a limitation of the R6300 when used as an Access Point. I guess it could look at the protocols/ports the Guests were attempting to access and exclude "LAN" requests, but that would likely be problematic. The preferred way to do this, I presume, is to place Guests on a separate subnet using DHCP and have the main router restrict that subnet's access to other "LAN" resources.
So, given the R6300 limitations in this area (and by the way I am a bog Fan of this model otherwise) I will either have to create a "LAN MAC access list" on my main router to control access there or Live with Guests having access to my LAN, where critical devices remain password protected.
BTW.. While experimenting with the AP mode on the R6300, I found that you can get better throughput by placing the "upstream router" connection on a LAN port, rather than the internet port as recommended in the documentation.
-Ed
AP mode disables SO many features of Netgear WiFi routers.
All of this is fun, but I have to ask, why are you running a router that is 12 years old?
The R6300v2 was a rock solid router (had one) but its getting pretty old. Its specs/security/performance is way out of date.
You can pick up a cheap used AX router and absolutely crush it in performance.
I'm not a fan of throwing away electronices (especially speakers) but after a decade, its put in its time and I'd keep a eye on the used/refurb market if you like to keep it cheaper.
plemans,
While a bit off topic, lets just say that the R6300 more than meets the bandwidth needs of my home when used as an access point. I also don't pay my ISP for more bandwidth than I can possibly use.
