Obri with ATT&T Arris BGW210-700 and NO Passthrough Setup - Orbi DHCP Server

[Boomerang3]

Hi All,

I currently have my Orbi acting as the DHCP server / Router, NO PASSTHROUGH.

I have read there may be some issues with the Orbi resolving server names.  I have a home automation servier, Polisy, it relies on being accessed via https://polisy.  

I cannot access it via the Orbi via the CNAME ( I believe this is the correct terminology), BUT I can access it via the IP address.

1. Is this normal with the Orbi?

2. I believe during some testing with passthrough mode I was able to acces it by using the Arris as the DHCP server, but not sure.  I just received the Arris and before I had a cable modem that all of this worked with using the Orbi as the DHCP server.

3. So my question is #1, is this normal, #2, am I doing something wrong, #3, should I just go back and test using the Arris as the DHCP server with passthrough on the Orbi.  

4. What are the best practices and best performance, passthrough or NOT, or does it make a difference?

Thanks.

[CrimpOn · Accepted solution]

If the Orbi WAN IP address is a "public" IP address, then I have taken us off in a tangent.

I got misled by "low hanging fruit."  Sorry.

Neglected to ask some basic questions:

• What is the automation server connected to?
  Orbi or Arris?
• Were you able to access the home automation server using the CNAME before removing the modem and installing the Arris?
  The reason I ask stems from my limited understanding of how web browsers resolve URL's.
  "polisy" is definitely not something that can be resolved into an IP address by a DNS server. (no "dot" - com, org, gov, etc.)

Going back to the original post, I recall seeing a number of posts complaining that the Orbi does not resolve local DNS names.  (My Pi-hole DNS has the option to add local names, and they require "dot something" to resolve.  i.e. http://printer doesn't work, whereas http://printer.local or http://printer.x does.

I also neglected to detect that this is an Orbi "Pro" system, with which I have absolutely no experience at all.  There is a separate community forum for the Pro product: https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-Pro-WiFi-for-Small-Business/bd-p/en-business-pro-wifi 

People who participate in that forum are much more likely to have experience with how the Pro Orbi functions.

[CrimpOn]

You went from having one router (Orbi) to having two routers (Arris and Orbi).  This is generally felt to be not a good idea:

https://kb.netgear.com/30186/What-is-Double-NAT 

Either the Arris should be put into "bridge" mode so that the Orbi remains the only router, or the Orbi should be put into Access Point (AP) mode so that the Arris is the only router.

[Boomerang3]

I'm pretty sure, but maybe not, that I have the Arris in "bridge" / "passthrough" mode.  Here are the parms from the modem.

IP Passthrough = passthrough

Passthrough Mode - manual

Passthrough Fixed MAC address = Orbi MAC address

Is there somethign I missed?

Suggestions would be appreciated before I go about changing things up.

[CrimpOn · Accepted solution]

If the Orbi WAN IP address is a "public" IP address, then I have taken us off in a tangent.

I got misled by "low hanging fruit."  Sorry.

Neglected to ask some basic questions:

• What is the automation server connected to?
  Orbi or Arris?
• Were you able to access the home automation server using the CNAME before removing the modem and installing the Arris?
  The reason I ask stems from my limited understanding of how web browsers resolve URL's.
  "polisy" is definitely not something that can be resolved into an IP address by a DNS server. (no "dot" - com, org, gov, etc.)

Going back to the original post, I recall seeing a number of posts complaining that the Orbi does not resolve local DNS names.  (My Pi-hole DNS has the option to add local names, and they require "dot something" to resolve.  i.e. http://printer doesn't work, whereas http://printer.local or http://printer.x does.

I also neglected to detect that this is an Orbi "Pro" system, with which I have absolutely no experience at all.  There is a separate community forum for the Pro product: https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-Pro-WiFi-for-Small-Business/bd-p/en-business-pro-wifi 

People who participate in that forum are much more likely to have experience with how the Pro Orbi functions.

[Boomerang3]

Thanks again for the reply CrimpOn, really appreciate it.

So, here is what I have done and so far so good, I can finally access my polisy with the URL https://polisy instead of the IP address.

I reconfigured the Arris and Orbi so that the Orbi and Satelites are in Access Point mode not router and setup the Arris as the router / DHCP server.

All is better now and I can access my polisy with the CNAME.  

If it's true that the Orbi has issues with DNS / CNAMES that's a problem that they should fix immediately.  If I had something configured wrong, well my bad.  But as I stated, looks like others have the same issue and no way to manually enter a DNS name.  Not good.

As a side note, my wired connections are faster and getting close to max speeds, 925Mbps, where through the Orbi when it was acting as a router, they were 750Mbps ish....

So all is finally looking good and it appears the above configururation is idea for speed.

Jeff...