Re: Ethernet backhaul kills entire network

RocketSquirrel · ‎2018-02-22

I'm just setting up my Orbi system today for the first time. I have a big house which is wired for Cat5e, and I want to use Ethernet backhaul. I have 2 satellites. All 3 units are updated to the latest firmware as of today.

The problem is that when I connect either satellite to my LAN via Ethernet, the entire network becomes inaccessible. I can't even ping the router from my wired PC. When I unplug Ethernet from the satellites and reboot them, the network works, but the satellites are too far from the router to connect.

Is there perhaps a conflicting setting which prevents Ethernet backhaul? Any suggestions welcome!

FURRYe38 · ‎2018-02-22

How is the network set up? Can you give us a diagram?

Any swtiches being used in the mix?

Does the System work with out any ethernet connected?

What other devices are connected?

RocketSquirrel · ‎2018-02-22

@FURRYe38wrote:
How is the network set up? Can you give us a diagram?
Any swtiches being used in the mix?
Does the System work with out any ethernet connected?
What other devices are connected?

I have switches everywhere. I think 7 or 8 total. I don't have a diagram, and it would take me a while to make one. The main router is in the middle of my sprawling 4800 square foot house, constrained to be there due to the Comcast cable connection. It connects to a switch in my structured wiring cabinet, which connects to all the other switches in the house.

Because the house is wired, every one of my devices with an Ethernet jack is wired. The only wireless devices are portable ones, like phones & tablets, and those which lack jacks, like a Harmony (remote control) hub. I have about 20 network devices total.

My network has been working OK for over 5 years, but with random old access points that I'd accumulated over the years. 2 Asus routers (1 used as a WAP) and a really old Netgear WAP. Wired performance has been fine, but WiFi has sort of been decaying over the years, with roaming from room to room being a pain point.

I found that placing the Orbi satellites where the 2 WAPs used to be killed my network until I unplugged them from Ethernet. I moved them a little closer to the router and now they work, but I would prefer wired speeds.

I tried to use the iOS Orbi app to install, but it gave me an error, saying it did not support my new Orbi hardware. So I went manual. This became difficult when the router and paired satellite updated their firmware without asking. Then I had to update the unpaired satellite's firmware manually. What should have taken a half hour took over 3 hours until my brain realized the problem was the wired connections to the Orbi satellites.

Any ideas?

st_shaw · ‎2018-02-22

With wired Ethernet everywhere, you should be able to locate the router centrally, so as to get a good wireless backhaul connection to the satellites. Sounds like you did that. I'd recommend you just leave it. The throughput of the client radio is far slower (~400 Mbps) than the backhaul radio (~600 Mbps), and much slower than wired Ethernet (900 Mbps). This means having the wired backhaul should not make your wireless clients noticeably faster than a wireless backhaul, because the client radio is the bottleneck.

Ethernet backhaul is only supported in the latest firmware versions, which are still unstable for some, so it's still a work in progress anyway. Maybe in a future firmware you can try again.

FURRYe38 · ‎2018-02-22

Mines a 5000sq ft house two story, I currently have my Orbi AC2200 router set up on 2nd story of one side of my house and the Satellite at the far end of the house and after getting up and running, the range and performances are wonderful. I'm only using 1 Satallite. I have a NG wireless bridge connected to the Satellite at the far end that services a DISH Joey for my mom in law and Bro in laws PC LAN connected to the back of the Satellite. IT's not using any ethernet currently however i do have LAN there if needed. I have a few switches, however all non manages swtiches. I haven't tried connecting the Satellite with LAN yet.

I recommend leaving the LAN disconnected like previously mentioned. There maybe issues in FW preventing LAN connection with the Satellite. You could run a test and connect the Satellite directly to the Orbi router to make sure the switches involvement is ruled out.

FURRYe38 · ‎2018-02-23

Wanted to let you know that I asked someone about this and they said to give it a try with connecting the Satellite to LAN while already wirelessly connected to the Orbi router. It should work.

Here's my network path:

ISP Modem>Orbi router>24pt Gb non-managed switch in main closet>HP 8 port Gb non-managed switch in living room>50ft CAT6 cable to far office>Orbi Satellite<1 LAN wired PC and 1 NG wireless bridge connected to the Satellite in far office room. Connected the main network cable and tested PC. Got internet. Able to access NG wireless bridge from router side. No problems.

FURRYe38 · ‎2018-02-23

Sorry, posted wrong picture:

budy · ‎2018-02-24

Check, if any of your other switches has STP enabled and if yes, check with bridge IDs are in place. Also… the Orbi gear seems to make heavy use of multicats for configuration, it might be also worth wile to take a look at that. Maybethe Orbi and you cable provicer utilize the same multicast groups, that woudl surely disrupt your traffic.

FURRYe38 · ‎2018-02-27

Was curious about the status on this? You get this working?

@RocketSquirrelwrote:
I'm just setting up my Orbi system today for the first time. I have a big house which is wired for Cat5e, and I want to use Ethernet backhaul. I have 2 satellites. All 3 units are updated to the latest firmware as of today.

The problem is that when I connect either satellite to my LAN via Ethernet, the entire network becomes inaccessible. I can't even ping the router from my wired PC. When I unplug Ethernet from the satellites and reboot them, the network works, but the satellites are too far from the router to connect.

Is there perhaps a conflicting setting which prevents Ethernet backhaul? Any suggestions welcome!

RocketSquirrel · ‎2018-03-01

@FURRYe38wrote:

Was curious about the status on this? You get this working?

Not yet. I have a newer firmware to try, but need to wait until other users won’t be disrupted.

FURRYe38 · ‎2018-03-01

OK. I need to test this again as well with newer FW. Last time it was working fine. I had to disconnect as I was testing a different configuration with the Satellite.

Keep us posted.

@RocketSquirrelwrote:
@FURRYe38wrote:
Was curious about the status on this? You get this working?

Not yet. I have a newer firmware to try, but need to wait until other users won’t be disrupted.

RocketSquirrel · ‎2018-03-02

The 2.2 firmware remedies this issue and seems to work well overall. Hopefully Netgear will promote it to full public release soon.

FURRYe38 · ‎2018-03-03

Good to hear. I re-enabled back haul here as well. Working great. Hope it will be relased soon.