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Re: Can I use wifi router as a switch?

swaasje
Aspirant

Can I use wifi router as a switch?

Can i disable the wifi and the DHCP table to use the router as a switch?

Model: WNR2000v5|N300 WiFi Router
Message 1 of 15

Accepted Solutions
antinode
Guru

Re: Can I use wifi router as a switch?

> All done. [...]

 

   _What_, exactly?

 

> I am worried that the status says DHCP ON

 

   I'd guess that that's accurate only if the router is acting as a
router, not when it's configured as a WAP.

 

> The Genie offered to use the Netgear as an AP

 

   After a settings reset, if it sees a private address on its
WAN/Internet interface, then it might draw the correct conclusion
automatically.

 

> I kept SSID broadcast on recommendation. [...]

 

   That doesn't matter much if the radio is disabled.  The point was
that "Enable SSID Broadcast" and "Enable Wireless Router Radio" do
different things.


> So DHCP organises the different ports? [...]

 

   I'd say "connected devices", not "ports".

 

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_Host_Configuration_Protocol

 

> I had problems in the past with WAP acting like a router and
> distributing weird IP addresses on our network.

 

   Generally, you want one DHCP server per LAN.  Multiple uncoordinated
DHCP servers can cause many problems.  Which is why the one-step WAP
mode option disables the DHCP server.  (And, why you would need to
disable it explictitly, if you don't use the one-step WAP mode option.)

 

   So, it works as expected now?  (What could go wrong?)

 

   Possibly interesting:

 

      https://kb.netgear.com/26765

View solution in original post

Message 15 of 15

All Replies
antinode
Guru

Re: Can I use wifi router as a switch?

> Can i disable the wifi and the DHCP table to use the router as a
> switch?

 

   Should be possible.  Visit http://netgear.com/support , put in your
model number, and look for Documentation.  Get the User Manual.  Read.
Look for "Use the Router as a Wireless Access Point".  If you really
want to disable the radio, then look for "Control the Wireless Radio".

Message 2 of 15
swaasje
Aspirant

Re: Can I use wifi router as a switch?

Thanks. I can't go in with the IP address or the routerlogin.net or .com

So can't change settings.

Message 3 of 15
antinode
Guru

Re: Can I use wifi router as a switch?

> [...] I can't go in with the IP address or the routerlogin.net or .com
> [...]

 

   "can't" is not a useful problem description.  It does not say what
you did.  It does not say what happened when you did it.  As usual,
showing actual actions (commands) with their actual results (error
messages, LED indicators, ...) can be more helpful than vague
descriptions or interpretations.

 

   Which "the IP address"?  From what?  Connected how?  Even the
slightest trace of useful information might be helpful.

 

   In the User Manual, look for the LED descriptions and "Troubleshoot".
Also, "Factory Settings" or "Reset".

Message 4 of 15
swaasje
Aspirant

Re: Can I use wifi router as a switch?

Indeed! You are quite right.

 

Well I was preparing a detailed email to explain my problem when the problem resolved itself.

I could log in with routerlogin.net

 

I don't know why it wasn't working before. Thank you

Message 5 of 15
swaasje
Aspirant

Re: Can I use wifi router as a switch?

I turned off wifi, DHCP table and still see "operation mode: router"

and

"Wireless AP ON"

See picts.

 

The wifi light is ON 

Message 6 of 15
Dan32
Apprentice

Re: Can I use wifi router as a switch?

if you are setting it up a Netgear router as an Access Point, then in most Netgear routers, you need to go into ADVANCED SETUP then WIRELESS SETTINGs and can uncheck 'ENABLE WIRELESS RADIO' on both bands (or more if tri-band).  

 

With real switches costing under $20 (USD/CAD), you're better off just buying a switch unless you intend to turn the wireless radios on occassionally.

Message 7 of 15
antinode
Guru

Re: Can I use wifi router as a switch?

> I turned off wifi, DHCP table and still see "operation mode: router"
> and
> "Wireless AP ON"

 

   How, exactly, did you "[turn] off wifi, DHCP table"?  See "As usual,
[...]", above.  My psychic powers remain very weak.

 

> [...] still see [...]"

 

   Where, exactly, do you see what, exactly?

 

> See picts.

 

   I see one, which tells me very little.  "Enable SSID Broadcast" and
"Enable Wireless Router Radio" are spelled differently for a reason.

 

   Remember this?:

 

> [...] Look for "Use the Router as a Wireless Access Point". [...]

 

   Did you?  Did you do what it says there?  (Why not?)

 

 

> [...] you need to [...]

 

   Not really.  It's possible to do it the hard way, but there are some
advantages to following the instructions.

 

> [...] on both bands [...]

 

> Model: WNR2000v5|N300 WiFi Router

Message 8 of 15
swaasje
Aspirant

Re: Can I use wifi router as a switch?

> I turned off wifi, DHCP table and still see "operation mode: router"
> and
> "Wireless AP ON"

 

   How, exactly, did you "[turn] off wifi, DHCP table"?  See "As usual,
[...]", above.  My psychic powers remain very weak.

In "Setup" "LanSetup" there's the option to turn the DHCP table off.

So the Netgear should not show (on the pict) "Operation Mode: Router"?

"Connection" (on the pict) should not show "DHCP" or is it from my main router?

 

> [...] still see [...]"

 

   Where, exactly, do you see what, exactly?

 

> See picts.

 

   I see one, which tells me very little.  "Enable SSID Broadcast" and
"Enable Wireless Router Radio" are spelled differently for a reason.

SSID doesn't mean much does it? if I don't use the Netgear as an AP, nobody will notice if it has a SSID or not?

   Remember this?:

Same with fixing IP. Either fixing not fixing would not change anything to the use of the Netgear as a switch?

> [...] Look for "Use the Router as a Wireless Access Point". [...]

 

   Did you?  Did you do what it says there?  (Why not?)

Actually, 

  1. "Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Wireless AP." doesn't say much?! I don't want the Netgear to be an AP but a switch. If AP means wifi Access Point

 

> [...] you need to [...]

 

   Not really.  It's possible to do it the hard way, but there are some
advantages to following the instructions.

 

> [...] on both bands [...]

 

> Model: WNR2000v5|N300 WiFi Router

Message 9 of 15
Dan32
Apprentice

Re: Can I use wifi router as a switch?

The short answer for you here, if you want to use the router as an ethernet-only switch:

 

(Some of the names below might be slightly spelled differently on different routers but the context is the same.)

 

- Configure it as a Wireless Access Point, which you appear to have done.

 

- DO NOT uncheck "Enable SSID Broadcast", all that does is configure a HIDDEN SSID that still broadcasts, that's why you still see the wireless status light.  You can keep it unchecked if you want but it does not do what you originally thought it does)  

 

- as I described in my previous post, find and uncheck "enable wireless radio" for each band that you have.

 

Now you basically have an ethernet only switch.  That's all an Access Point really is, a switch with wireless radios.

 

That's all there is to it.

Message 10 of 15
antinode
Guru

Re: Can I use wifi router as a switch?

> In "Setup" "LanSetup" there's the option to turn the DHCP table off.

 

   I'd say that it disables the DHCP server ("Use Router as DHCP
Server"), but that's not an important difference.  Following the
suggested instructions ("Use the Router as a Wireless Access Point")
should do that, too.

 

> [...] So the Netgear should not show (on the pict) "Operation Mode:
> Router"?

 

   First, you seem to be looking at a different picture.  Second,
disabling the DHCP server does not stop the router from being a router.

 

> "Connection" (on the pict) should not show "DHCP" or is it from my
> main router?

 

   I don't see "DHCP" on the one picture which you attached.


> SSID doesn't mean much does it? if I don't use the Netgear as an AP,
> nobody will notice if it has a SSID or not?

 

   An SSID the name used to identify a wireless-network signal.  If you
don't use the radio, then no one will care about the SSID.  But "Enable
SSID Broadcast" does not control the radio.  "Enable Wireless Router
Radio" controls the radio.

 

> Same with fixing IP. Either fixing not fixing would not change
> anything to the use of the Netgear as a switch?

 

   I don't care very much about the LAN IP address of the WNR2000v5, but
it _will_ have one.  To me, it makes more sense to know what that
address is, and for it to be on the same subnet as your main-router LAN.
Someday, you might want to talk to the WNR2000v5-as-WAP.

 

> I don't want the Netgear to be an AP but a switch. If AP means wifi
> Access Point


   No, you really _do_ want that.  Configuring the WNR2000v5 as a WAP
stops the router functions of the WNR2000v5 (such as the DHCP server),
leaving only the network-switch and wireless-network functions.  You do
want the network-switch functions, right?

 

   It also configures the WNR2000v5 WAN/Internet port as (effectively)
another LAN port, which gives you one more LAN port.  (_I_ would want
that.)

 

   It does _not_ disable the wireless-network radios, but you should be
able to do that elsewhere.  (Remember "Enable Wireless Router Radio"?)

 

   You don't understand this stuff as well as you seem to think that you
do.  If you simply follow the instructions provided in the first reply,
then you should get exactly what you want.  Or, you can try do it your
way, which would be more work, and which will give you one fewer
available LAN port.  I don't care.  Do whatever makes you happy.

 


> - Configure it as a Wireless Access Point, which you appear to have
> done.

 

   If he _had_ done that, then this discussion might have been very much
shorter.

 

> [...] That's all an Access Point really is, a switch with wireless
> radios.

 

   That's (at least approximately) true.  (A WAP might not provide a
network switch.  More precisely, a wireless router which includes a
network switch (like, for example, a WNR2000v5), when configured as a
WAP, acts as a network switch with one or more wireless-network radios.
And the radio(s) can be disabled, if desired.)

Message 11 of 15
antinode
Guru

Re: Can I use wifi router as a switch?

> [...] Or, you can try do it your way, which would be more work, and
> which will give you one fewer available LAN port. [...]

 

   For a more detailed procedure to use when the router lacks a one-step
WAP option, see, for example:

      https://community.netgear.com/t5/x/x/m-p/1463500

 

That's written for a Netgear C6300-as-WAP, but the steps are about the
same for any other router (any make/model) which lacks a one-step WAP
option.

 

   Note that that scheme leaves the WAN/Internet port on the
router-as-WAP unconnected.  (A WAP is all-LAN.  A model with the
one-step WAP option effectively reconfigures its WAN/Internet port as
another LAN port.  Without the one-step WAP option, you need to use only
the LAN ports.)

 

   Of course, if you want to disable the wireless-network radio on your
WNR2000v5, then that's an extra step (as explained, repeatedly, above).

Message 12 of 15
swaasje
Aspirant

Re: Can I use wifi router as a switch?

All done. Thanks

I am worried that the status says DHCP ON

I thought DHCP was the router part of the Netgear that gives IP addresses to connected devices?

Message 13 of 15
swaasje
Aspirant

Re: Can I use wifi router as a switch?

I surely know my knowledge limits! That's why i'm on this community. Thanks for your light.

 

The Genie offered to use the Netgear as an AP

Then unchecked the box "Enable Wireless Router Radio" which i don't want.

 

I kept SSID broadcast on recommendation. Thank you.

Wireless light is now OFF

 

 You say "  No, you really _do_ want that.  Configuring the WNR2000v5 as a WAP
stops the router functions of the WNR2000v5 (such as the DHCP server),
leaving only the network-switch and wireless-network functions.  You do
want the network-switch functions, right?"

So DHCP organises the different ports? essential to a switch?

I had problems in the past with WAP acting like a router and distributing weird IP addresses on our network.

 

 

Message 14 of 15
antinode
Guru

Re: Can I use wifi router as a switch?

> All done. [...]

 

   _What_, exactly?

 

> I am worried that the status says DHCP ON

 

   I'd guess that that's accurate only if the router is acting as a
router, not when it's configured as a WAP.

 

> The Genie offered to use the Netgear as an AP

 

   After a settings reset, if it sees a private address on its
WAN/Internet interface, then it might draw the correct conclusion
automatically.

 

> I kept SSID broadcast on recommendation. [...]

 

   That doesn't matter much if the radio is disabled.  The point was
that "Enable SSID Broadcast" and "Enable Wireless Router Radio" do
different things.


> So DHCP organises the different ports? [...]

 

   I'd say "connected devices", not "ports".

 

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_Host_Configuration_Protocol

 

> I had problems in the past with WAP acting like a router and
> distributing weird IP addresses on our network.

 

   Generally, you want one DHCP server per LAN.  Multiple uncoordinated
DHCP servers can cause many problems.  Which is why the one-step WAP
mode option disables the DHCP server.  (And, why you would need to
disable it explictitly, if you don't use the one-step WAP mode option.)

 

   So, it works as expected now?  (What could go wrong?)

 

   Possibly interesting:

 

      https://kb.netgear.com/26765

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