Is BTNet compatible with the BT Business Smart Hub?

We recently ordered BTNet 21CN HE Fibre - 200mb for our small office.

The fibre optic switch is an ADVA and the CPE is a Cisco C8200L-1N-4T.

Would this kit be compatible with our existing BT Business Smart Hub? It is the latest model with the red ethernet WAN port. Ideally we want to use the Smart Hub for DHCP, Wi-Fi and Firewall using the existing IP range of 192.168.1.254.

Does this sound feasible as we've had conflicting advice from the BTNet commissioning team and support team!

BT Business Smart Hubs are designed as the CPE supplied for FTTP or FTTC based broadband connections, which is possibly why the BTnet commissioning and support teams are struggling slightly…

It’s not really their area of business - which is dedicated Ethernet / leased circuits and the like.

Saying that, and I’m not super familiar with their Smart Hubs - it should work fine, via the managed Cisco box. You’ll need to configure the WAN IP address settings in the S/Hub to reflect what BTnet have assigned you. Switch off any PPPoE etc. should be a matter of correctly assigning the address details you’ve been issued.

I've not seen anything that would suggest the BT Business Smart Hub can have a static IP configured on the WAN, all the documentation I can find says that it's PPPoE which won't be how BTnet is presented.

That’s a shame. Are they hard coded on the WAN side?

Yes they are hard coded to PPPoE
The only thing that can change is username and password

Thanks
Dan

Currently what is the BT Business Smart Hub being used for? you do know that BT own it? if your going to take it off a service that you're planning on ceasing then it needs to be sent back to BT.

Secondly why on earth would you pay all the money for a leased line to then put a cheap and cheerful piece of kit on it like that.

To be fair if the SH3 could be setup to do a regular static IP connection on the WAN (which is now evident it can’t) then it would otherwise be able to handle the rigorous 😅 demands of a 200 Mbps symmetric conn. Doesn’t sound like the OP needs bells and whistles.

OK now it’s clear that the BT Biz Smart Hub you have can’t be configured correctly (or at all) on its WAN interface, then you’re only option is finding another router that can do what you need.

A 200 Mbps connection isn’t really going to stress most modern router gear, with what is likely to be a small number of concurrent users? What’s more important is what skillset you have in house for configuration and ongoing maintenance etc.

If you don’t really have a lot of detailed IT and networking knowledge then I’d suggest you look at something which is relatively simple and intuitive to configure. Possibly something from Ubiquiti. Their WiFi kit is pretty decent too and fairly well priced.

In reply to a post by Pheasant:

To be fair if the SH3 could be setup to do a regular static IP connection on the WAN (which is now evident it can’t) then it would otherwise be able to handle the rigorous 😅 demands of a 200 Mbps symmetric conn. Doesn’t sound like the OP needs bells and whistles.

Be honest, would you use it instead of the kit you're currently running??

My suggestion to the OP above. 🙏👍