[SOLVED] Modems Ethernet Ports -- will they be on same network as Mesh Wifi ?

[jmwest1987]

I need to improve Wifi. I think something like a D-Link Covr-2202 is the way to go. Of course these have a very small number of wired connections. If I connect wired devices to my modem/router's Ethernet ports, will these be on the same network as devices connected to the Mesh routers automatically or will I need to do something to bridge the routers?

 

[kanewolf]

They should be. But I have not used that specific system. You can also add an ethernet switch to provide more wired ethernet capacity.

 

[jmwest1987]

Thanks for the reply. So I've now got the mesh wifi installed and so on. Sadly it seems I cannot access my NAS from the WiFi side of the network. The WiFi side accesses internet perfectly OK.

So I guess I could get an Ethernet switch and connect it to the D-Link - but does anyone know if there's something I can setup either on the D-Link or Zyxel side to make the networks bridge?

Zyxel VMG1312-B10D router - with three Ethernet devices connected (printer, desktop, NAS)
D-Link COVR-2202 - connected via Ethernet to router and Powerline adapter

D-Link default network configuration (not been able to view it yet as Chrome on iPad asks for the admin password every time I change page in Covr setup - but is handing out IP addresses like xxx)

Zyxel - xxx - mask 255.255.0.0 - handing out addresses xxx-
[edited]

 

[anotherdrew]

@jmwest1987 I'm afraid the Covr does not currently have bridge mode. It may one day with a firmware upgrade.

Sometimes you can bypass the routing functions of a device by plugging into a LAN port rather than a WAN port (port 1). It depends on the hardware.

Are you able to ping your Zyxel (192.168.128.254)? If so, a static route might work. Page 51 of your owners manual describes this.

 

[jmwest1987]

OK - so had a further play around. I found the Covr does have a Bridge Mode - but after enabling that all hell broke loose and my router lost its Internet and etc. - so after a couple of factory resets and much frustration, here's where I am (with Covr in Router not Bridge mode).

Router network - xxx.x
Covr network - xxx.x (...)

From the Covr network using an old laptop I've connected to wireless, I can ping the router (xxx) and the NAS (xxx). The laptop cannot ping the NAS by name.

So does this make a static route setup on the Zyxel an option? (Static route is not something I've learned about or understand... I have basic Ethernet network stuff learned when a software engineer... so I know about IP networks, subnet masks, DHCP and so on)

[edited]

 

[anotherdrew]

If you’re able to reach your Nas by ping, but not by name, then it’s probably a firewall blocking the protocol (SMB, I assume). A static route will not help in this case.

I would go ahead and try bridge mode one more time. Be aware that your wifi devices will have an IP address that is in a nonexistent network once bridge is activated. They will lose access to the Internet until a new IP address is assigned to them. Restarting them is the easiest way to obtain the new IP address. You could also turn on and off Wi-Fi.

 

[jmwest1987]

Having not used the Zyxel for a while I now see its Ethernet ports are 10/100 only - fine for Internet but limits NAS throughput. So I think maybe the best option (and simplest) is to buy a 1G Ethernet switch and plug into the second LAN port on the Covr.

I could try Covr bridge mode, and it also has some other settings I could play with ... but as I need to get hold of a switch (or faster Ethernet port modem/router) anyway - I think best solution is a new switch. Pretty cheap as well!

Thanks for the input - expanding my networking knowledge and getting the old grey cells working again!