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R7500 'Limitations' in Access Point Mode (Nighthawk X4 r7500 ac2350, r7500v2)
When Configured in "Access Point Mode" (or when manually configured as a swtich by turning off DHCP), the r7500 has many limitations.
A better know example is that the r7500 in "Access Point Mode" disables NetGear's "Quality of Service" (QoS) to function.
A lesser know example (at least I didn't know this, and nor do I find it in their literature): one might expect the r7500 to function as a normal switch in "Access Point Mode" (as does the r7000), but the r7500 does not... at not least in high traffic situations. I bought four units, all configured in "Access Point Mode" with DHCP disabled and manually entered Gateway/DNS info. The units seem to function as a normal switch for both Wired and WiFi, low traffic situations. But if put in a high traffic situation (more users, higher throughputs), the units would failing to pass all traffic (WiFi or wired) after 2-5 minutes of operation ... UNLESS the WLAN port (yellow) was connected directly to the upstream Gateway/DNS server, then it would function something like a switch, or at least it would pass all traffic upstream. If the Gateway/DNS server is connected to any other port, the unit fails. True for R7500 and R7500v2. I'm running the latest firmware (v1: 1.0.0.94; v2: 1.0.0.28)
Up to this point, NetGear's customer service has generally been very responsive and professional... but they did not seem to know about this problem until I pointed it out to them. (Problematic- I'm not a fan of relying of companies that rely on their customer base for testing and troubleshooting, or keeping secrets from consumers). They responded: "But as per the router is concerned, it is not designed to work as a switch, it has its own chipset for the firmware and hardware installed to work as a router or as an access point and there are limitations on this router when configured as an access point. " I'm not buying this. Many routers are designed to be configured as swtiches, and that is how thier "access point" mode works in the r7000. If what they say is the case, NetGear needs to disclose that in the user manual and elsewhere.
I am waiting to hear if they intend to fix this particular "limitation" or even see it as a problem (they seem a little bit flippant). If this router is to work for me, it will have to operate as a full feature switch while in Access Point (like the r7000). I would also expect them to disclose (inform, warn) their future customers of any such "limitations", with details in the user manuals to keep new users from wasting their time (as I have).
Has anyone else encountered this problem? Any solutions?
Update: limited failover protection.
Netgear engineers seem to have identified the "problem" and written an updated firware that allows limited failover protection (using the WAN and a LAN port). Awesome, thanks! Now the WAN and LAN ports R7500 should function more like the R7000 while in Access Point Mode ("switch-like" with limited "failover")
It is nice to know that NetGear did get the message and took the issue seriously and fixed it. While it was a bit more painful than necessary to get the feedback through to the design team so they could make the change (I think most customers would have given up long before me), I am confident that NetGear does listen to their customers needs and is committed to getting their products to work in the way their customers need.
Thanks again.
DK
22 Replies
I have an R7000, not an R7500, configured as an AP and don’t have any issues. I have the WAN port connected to the rest of my LAN, so it has a connection to the Gateway only on its WAN side. I believe this is the intended mode of operation when you have selected the AP mode function in the router GUI, and connecting the gateway to one of the LAN ports instead would not be following the intended design.
The initial setup of the R7000 is designed to detect this situation, a router connected to the WAN port, and in that case it will suggest to the user that AP mode is appropriate. If the user instead connected the gateway router to one of the LAN ports then that automatic setup detection would most likely fail.
If you manually configure the router as an AP by disabling DHCP, connecting only to LAN ports, but not selecting AP mode in the GUI do you see the same issue that you described? Or does the issue only occur if you select AP mode?
Thanks Andy.
Yeah, I have no problems with the r7000 either. (In fact, I probably should have just stuck with them rather than buying the more probalematic r7500.) The r7000 functions as a normal switch when in AP mode. And it doesn't matter if the WLAN port is connected. Try this yourself- change ports so you are not using the WLAN port. You will see it works just fine. (more info Below)
I assume your asking about configuring the r7500 by manually turning off the DHCP. With NetGear's customer service reps help (a few days ago) I did exactly that, I configured the r7500 as a "switch" by manually turning off the DHCP. It made no difference. It opperated exactly as if I had configured it using you wireless "Access Point" mode.
Any other ideas?
DK
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More info about AP Mode on the r7000 & r7500
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r7000. In my system the r7500 is replacing older r7000 units that I have. That r7000 is configured in AP mode and it works just fine as a switch. I have, in fact, configured multiple r7000 units, each one using a differnet LAN ports (not just the WLAN). When I set them to AP mode, these r7000's all acted like a switch should act. Tthe Gateway can be connected to any port (not just the WLAN, like any switch), and it routes peer to peer traffic (LAN to LAN) without need of routing the traffic upstream (using the WLAN port). When the r7500 fails, I am able to put the r7000 in its place without any worry about which cable is connected to which port.
r7500. The r7500 is able to be setup using ANY LAN port (not just the WLAN)... and then it acts like a switch. But that only for about 2-5 minutes in a high traffic situation. After that, it freezes all traffic, even peer to peer traffic. But I do have two r7500 units operating in a low traffic situation, and they seem to acting like switchs... operating just fine (not using the WLAN port at all). I don't know why they work. I have have been asuuming that it is because they are in a low traffic situation, but it may be some other reason...
Speculation about the Root Cuase. When the r7500 in AP Mode is put in high traffic scenario, does it actually begin to route ALL traffic -- even peer to peer (LAN port to LAN port) traffic -- upstream on the WAN for the upstream switch or router to sort out? If so, this is highly problematic... a major problem in the design. All traffic local traffic would unnecessarily be routed via the WLAN to the upstream device for sorting by the upstream switch/router. That would unnecssarily overloading the WLAN connection and the upstream switch. Or is it the case that the router is "forgetting" the setup info (gateway, routing tables, etc.). I've noticed another discussion thread where the r7500 was "forgetting" things...
You're just connecting it incorrectly. It's not a fault. When using the R7500 as a switch, the upstream connection has to be to the WAN port. I'm not sure what the problem is and why you find this a limitation?
